MLK is an example of justice, righteousness and equality

On the South Face of the iconic Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument in Washington, DC is one of the prophetic leader’s most memorable and poignant quotes. Attributed to Dr. King’s 1963 book “Strength to Love,” he famously said, “"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Although published nearly 6 decades ago, the prophetic wisdom of these words ring powerfully true today. In Mathew 12, Jesus Christ was confronted with conflicting ideologies and false accusations regarding his messiahship—with people putting him in league with Satan. “Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.’”

Throughout his powerful and prophetic ministry as one of the most influential Christian leaders in history, Dr. King not only embodied this quote, but lived—and ultimately died—for the sentiment of shining light and spreading love in order to overcome the bitter hatred and division that permeated America at the time. Yet, unfortunately, many of his most bitter adversaries were Christians.

In Dr. King’s famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the Civil Rights leader calls to task the opposition he had received from white clergymen who were more interested in quelling his activism and letting the status quo continue unabated rather that embrace the authentic and Biblical equality, justice, and righteousness for which King was calling. Recognizing that the Church, when divided against itself with many fueled with hatred toward the opposing side was a recipe for catastrophic failure for both sides. King was not afraid to stand in opposition to the shortcoming of a Church that would profess Jesus on Sunday morning and promote hatred the rest of the week. As the Civil Rights Movement continued, many on King’s side of the struggle would also succumb to hatred and violence. Various militant movements arose out of King’s nonviolent movement of peaceful transformation which sewed the seeds of hate-filled violence and senseless destruction.

Through it all, Dr. King refused to give into the darkness, embrace the hate, or give up on his desire to see genuine Christian unity. Whether one was hating him for challenging the predominant white culture or hating him for what was perceived as not doing enough to empower black power, King never stopped loving and shining God’s light into the world. King recognized that the power of light and love was the only way to achieve God’s peace, justice, righteousness, and equality while overcoming the deeply divisive mutual hatred that was dividing the nation along ideological lines. It is a message Christians need to hear today.

This afternoon at Carlsbad’s First Baptist Church, the Rev. Delmus L. Gillis II, Senior Pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clovis, N.M., will be preaching on the occasion of the annual Martin Luther King Church Observance and will be lifting King’s dream of genuine unity, peace, justice, righteousness, and equality in the name of Jesus Christ. Worship begins at 2:30 PM and all of Carlsbad is welcome. Then, tomorrow Dr. King’s dream will be celebrated beginning at 10:00 AM at the Court House Lawn for the annual March to the MLK Park for a program and Carlsbad’s first ever KUUMBA festival. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: MLK is an example of justice, righteousness and equality