Civil rights movements have a been a critical part in fighting for equality and civil rights, specifically focusing on the minority communities, in seeking to ensure that rights of persons from the minority communities are protected and upheld. The role of Christianity in civil rights movements cannot be ignored, taking into account the position that some of the leaders in Christianity took as part of their engagement in these movements. Religious leaders from some of the African American churches were on the forefront in the movements in seeking to highlight the extent to which the government is failing in its protection of rights and freedoms (Branch, 1989, p.350). One of the notable leaders involved in fighting for the rights of the minority groups in America is Martin Luther King, Jr., who was among the influential clergymen that ever existed in the world.
The engagement of the religious leaders in the civil rights movements was more than a holy crusade taking into account that they believed that this would be a fundamental expectation in seeking to protect the position of the minority communities (Marsh, 2008, p.114). For leaders such as Dr King, Jr., the idea of having to ensure that the minority communities are protected one of their critical missions in seeking to spread their evangelism. Dr King, Jr. believed in the fact that it was important for religion to go hand-in-hand with social change in which all persons would be considered as being equal regardless of the existing differences associated with race and ethnicity (Garrow, 1986, p.25). It is from this perspective that this report seeks to examine the role played by Martin Luther King, Jr. that focused towards elevating the role of Christianity in civil rights while highlighting his continued impact among Christians today.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Biography
Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of the most significant leaders that ever lived in the 20th century attributed to his role and leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, leading up to his assassination in 1968. Having being born in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1929, Dr King, Jr. experienced firsthand the challenges that the African American community, which was viewed as a minority community, was facing in the context of the American society (McWhorter, 2001, 152). Dr King, Jr. grew up to become a preacher at the Baptist Church but regularly encountered instances where some of the African Americans were segregated. That led to his desire to take up his advancements of civil rights, which were projected through nonviolence and civil disobedience while ensuring that he drew his inspiration from his Christian beliefs.
Between 1955 and his ultimate death in 1968, Dr King, Jr. was involved in a wide array of nonviolent protests including the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and the struggle against segregation in 1962. In each of these protests, what was clear is that Dr King, Jr. believed in the fact that his role as a preacher and clergyman would help in ensuring that the government would listen to the plight of the African American families. In 1963, during the march on Washington, Dr King, Jr. gave one of the most famous speeches, which has been dubbed the 'I Have a Dream' speech, which was seen as a critical source of hope for a majority of those engaged in the struggle for equality within the American social institution.
In 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. won the Nobel Peace Prize, which was to his role in the right against racial inequality taking into account that he had sought to use a non-violent approach towards ensuring that got his message across. Before his assassination, Dr King, Jr. had expanded his civil rights activism beyond the context of the United States, focusing on other countries such as Vietnam, which was facing a vital issue attributed to poverty. The idea was to help create a world that promoted equality for all regardless of one's social, racial, or ethnic backgrounds. Dr King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in Memphis, Tennessee leading to a wide array of riots held in different cities within the United States. The riots sought to show the influence that Dr King, Jr. had built within the African American society in attempting to fight for equality.
Theological Thought
From a religious perspective, it is clear that Christians have a crucial role towards ensuring that the society remains equal and just in every aspect, which served as a source of the passionate flame held by some of the religious leaders including Dr King, Jr. and others. Christianity teaches of a just and fair society that is accommodative to all persons regardless of the existing diversities that are likely to create a significant difference in society (Marsh, 2008, p.161). Consequently, that reflects on the fact that the decision by religious leaders to engage in the movement that focused on the civil rights was a fundamental approach through which to ensure that they would highlight the position that the church held on the matter. The expectation was that this would help in extending the spiritual doctrine of equal souls.
All Persons are Equal
From the beginning, the Bible makes it clear that all persons are spiritually equal taking into account that they are created in His image and likeness but are separated from Him by sin (McWhorter, 2001, p.343). In the movement, this was a critical doctrine that the religious leaders considered, as it provided them with a clear understanding of the fact that they have a pivotal role to play in ensuring that they educate the community on the need for having to promote and advance an avenue supporting equality. Dr King, Jr. and other clergymen, who were engaged in the movement campaigning for civil rights used religion as a critical tool allowing them to influence the society towards embracing equal rights and freedoms focusing on the African American community.
The Bible talks about all men having being created equally and in the image of God (King Jr, 1994, p.23). When engaging in movement, Dr King, Jr. and his fellow clergymen held the theological thought concerning their demand for equal rights. They built their argument on the basis that God created everyone in a manner that reflects on His likeness; thus, meaning that the existence of segregation goes against the God's expectation on humanity. The Bible teaches how Christians ought to love and serve everyone regardless of the difference in colour, age, gender, or association. That serves as a basis through which to define the call for equality for African Americans as a way of establishing a clear front through which to ensure that every person is not only loved but also respected in equal measure.
Men and Women Serve the Unique Purpose of God
The Bible also teaches on God’s purpose for all men and women indicating that every person has a unique role to play in ensuring that he or she promotes love and respect to others, which is in fulfilment of God’s glory on earth (Branch, 1989, p.399). The clergymen involved in activism within the civil rights movement believed that it was within their expectations to ensure that they protected those around them as an act of love and respect. That meant that they would to engage in actions that included protests, among others as a way of trying to show the fact that indeed they loved and cared for the community. In his 'I Have a Dream' speech, Dr King, Jr. was able to highlight his dream society, which was socially inclusive for all persons regardless of the existing diversities.
Importance to Christian History
The importance of the roles that the clergymen to Christian history can be seen from the fact that they sought to project the fact that Christianity was a religion that supported social inclusion for all regardless of their race or ethnicity. Through their engagement in the movement, the leaders had the ability to show that Christianity is not a religion that was based on any community or society. Instead, they projected the fact that Christianity was a religion that was built based on social inclusion and equality. Dr King, Jr. and the other clergymen were able to create a positive connection between justice and civil rights and the Christian faith and doctrine.
Another critical importance of involving the clergymen in the movement for civil rights to the history of Christianity is that it sought to highlight some of the underlying teachings that can be considered as key within the Christian faith. The involvement of Dr King, Jr. and other clergymen in the movement suggested that indeed Christianity was built on the teachings of love and respect for all regardless of the existing diversities. The clergymen engaged in protests with the sole intention being towards highlighting the fact that a majority of the African Americans from the issue of segregation. Their views echoed in the teachings of the Christian faith with the sole intention being towards projecting what was expected of every individual in serving God's purpose. The outcome was that the clergymen helped in shaping the history of Christianity as a religion that believes in the need for equality.
How Martin Luther King, Jr. Continues to Impact Christianity Today
Even though he died in the 1960s, Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact can be felt to date. One of the key aspects to note when evaluating his influence on Christianity is the fact that the words in his infamous 'I Have a Dream' speech has become a symbolic gesture of faith and hope that every Christian ought to embrace. Majority of the Christians today can connect with the values and teachings that Dr King Jr. focused on as part of his life. In this particular speech, he sought to suggest the need for all persons to learn the importance of having to create a society that would be considered as being free and fair for all regardless of their racial and ethnic backgrounds,
Another critical aspect to note is that Dr King Jr. inspired the need for Christians always to put God ahead of everything that they do, which is one of the fundamental teachings that can be associated with his decision to engage in the movement. For Dr King Jr., one of the key aspects to note is that he always believed in the need for having to ensure that he remained a Christian in all his actions. He also believed in the need for having to ensure that God’s teachings are connected to everything that the society achieves, as this would be of great value towards glorifying God’s position in the world. For the majority of Christians today, this one of the critical aspects that define their faith taking into account that they seek to ensure that they put God ahead of every aspect of their lives (Garrow, 1986, p.57). That serves to show the extent to which Dr King Jr. was influential towards teaching God’s word.
Conclusion
Civil rights movements have a been a critical part in the fight for equality and civil rights in seeking to ensure that rights of persons from the minority communities are protected and upheld. One of the notable leaders involved in fighting for the rights of African Americans is Martin Luther King, Jr., who was among the influential clergymen not only within the African American community but equally in the United States. Having being born in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1929, Dr King, Jr. experienced firsthand the challenges that the African American community, which was viewed as a minority community, was facing in the context of the American society. Between 1955 and his ultimate death in 1968, Dr King, Jr. was involved in a wide array of nonviolent protests including the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and the struggle against segregation in 1962. From a theological perspective, it is clear that Christians have a crucial role towards ensuring that the society remains equal and just in every perspective, which served as a source of the passionate flame held by some of the religious leaders including Dr King, Jr. and others.
References
Branch, T. (1989). Parting the Waters: America in the King years 1954-63 . Simon and Schuster.
Garrow, D. J. (1986). Bearing the cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the southern Christian leadership conference . Open Road Media.
King Jr, M. L. (1994). Letter from Birmingham jail . Harper San Francisco.
Marsh, C. (2008). The beloved community: How faith shapes social justice from the civil rights movement to today . Basic Books.
McWhorter, D. (2001). Carry Me Home: The Climatic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution . Simon and Schuster.
