Perhaps the most famous person connected to the civil rights movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You cannot mention his name and not think about the work he committed to do addressing racism, segregation, poverty, and inequality—work that ultimately cost him his life.
As I take a moment to reflect on his life, the truth about America is that as far as our nation has come, there is still a long way to go. Sadly, over 50 years have passed since his death, and we are still dealing with many of these same issues. They may not be as overt as they once were, but let’s not put blinders on and falsely believe they have all gone away. That is simply not true.
As we take a brief peek into his life, it is important not just to remember his actions. We must also consider the lessons we can learn from them. If we identify as followers of Christ, what does that mean? How does following Christ look in a world as polarized as it is today? In considering the life of Dr. King, can we find lessons that help us become a greater light in a dark world?
Important Events in the Life of Martin Luther King Jr
Because his life had so many important events, it would be impossible to list all of them. So, I have limited the list to 10.
1. January 15, 1929: King is born in Atlanta, Georgia.
2. August 6, 1946: King, a junior at Morehouse College, writes a letter to the editor of the Atlanta Constitution. This letter was most likely written in response to the murder of two black couples, which was racially motivated. This letter represents one of King’s first forays into the Civil Rights Movement. Here is a direct quote from the letter.
“We want and are entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens: The right to earn a living at work for which we are fitted by training and ability; equal opportunities in education, health, recreation, and similar public services; the right to vote; equality before the law; some of the same courtesy and good manners that we ourselves bring to all human relations.”
3. June 18, 1953: King marries Coretta Scott. Coretta would play a key role in King’s Civil Rights efforts, supporting him in the worst moments. The same year, King made a vital connection at Boston University: he met the university chaplain, Howard Thurman. Thurman’s emphasis on Christians pursuing non-violent means to fight racism became a core part of King’s approach to Civil Rights.
4. December 1, 1955: The police arrest Rosa Parks for refusing to give up her front seat on a segregated bus. Her arrest leads to the Montgomery bus boycott, where King emerges as a prominent young leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
5. May 17, 1957: King delivers his first national address in Washington, D.C., at the Lincoln Memorial. He titles his address “Give Us The Ballot.”
6. October 16, 1961: King meets with President John F. Kennedy. During this meeting, King seeks to persuade Kennedy to issue a second Emancipation Proclamation—this one serving to eliminate racial segregation.
7. April 16, 1963: King writes his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” after being arrested during the Birmingham Campaign, a protest and boycott against segregated businesses. His letter responds to Jewish and Christian clergy who disagreed with the protest.
8. August 28, 1963: King leads the march on Washington and delivers the iconic “I Have A Dream” speech.
9. April 3, 1968: While in Memphis to lead the charge in the sanitation workers’ strike, King delivers his last speech, “I Have Been To The Mountaintop.”
10. April 4, 1968: King is shot and killed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
What Were Martin Luther King Jr’s Key Theological Themes?
As a pastor and a Civil Rights campaigner who based his campaign on biblical themes, King spoke about many theological ideas. The keys ones that informed his work were:
1. Imago Dei
Imago Dei means “the Image of God” and reflects the doctrine that God created men and women in his image, which comes straight from Genesis 1:26-27. As human beings, we carry qualities and characteristics that reflect our creator. Because God created all humans in this fashion, this gives value and dignity to every human being. King’s belief in this doctrine was central to his push for equality. He advocated by emphasizing that all people deserved to have the same treatment, the same opportunities, and all shared the same value.
“There are no gradations in the image of God. Every man from a treble white to a bass black are significant on God’s keyboard, precisely because everyone is made in the image of God.” — “The American Dream”
2. The Personal God
The fact that God is a personal God means he is a God who is aware of and empathizes with the sufferings of humans. God does not sit outside your suffering, nor is he indifferent to it. Because God is personal, he walks with you through your trials and does not desert you in your time of need.
“God has been profoundly real to me in recent years. In the midst of outer dangers I have felt an inner calm. In the midst of lonely days and dreary nights I have heard an inner voice saying, “Lo, I will be with you.” — “Pilgrimage to Nonviolence”
3. Loving Your Enemies
On November 17, 1957, Dr. King preached a sermon titled “Loving Your Enemies” at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. This message was based on Matthew 5:43-45, where Jesus instructs us to love our enemies and pray for those persecuting us. This idea defines King’s approach to bringing about societal changes: responding with love to the hate he received. He embraced this not as a recommendation but as a necessity and saw this as the only remedy to conquer hate.
“Because you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they’re mistreating you.”
What Can We Learn from Martin Luther King Jr Today?
Putting all the lessons you can learn from Martin Luther King Jr’s life in one article is impossible. For this reason, I want to focus on one: your life matters, and you are here for a purpose.
Most of us will never have the platform of Martin Luther King Jr. Most of us will live in relative obscurity compared to a man of his stature. Yet this does not diminish your value, your worth, or your purpose. Stay dedicated to whatever God has called you to do for as long as you are able. There are no guarantees that you will see the fruit of your labor in your lifetime, but don’t stop working anyway.
In his last public message from the Mason Temple in Memphis, titled “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” Dr. King uttered these words.
“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will.”
When you look at our nation’s condition and consider the speed at which life goes by, shouldn’t this be the cry of all our hearts? Yes, take care of your body and do everything you can to live a long life. However, what matters more is completing the purpose for which God has called you.
Martin Luther King Jr. only lived 39 years on this planet, yet his commitment to doing what God called him to do has left a legacy that will continue to challenge and inspire lives for many generations to come.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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