What Would MLK, Jr. Say Today?

Engaging Scripture more deeply around issues of race

I wonder what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would say to us on Monday if he were still alive. Have we furthered his vision? What call to action would he ask us to take?

Dr. King saw racial reconciliation as intrinsically connected with Scripture. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” he identifies himself first and foremost a preacher of the Gospel. It was his primary call and the basis of his work. He sought to live out Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor (Mark 12:29-31). And he attempted to embody Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes through modeling nonviolence and praying for those who persecuted him (Matthew 5:1-11).

His words drew his listeners into a vision of the Kingdom of God on earth, drawing from the Bible in a way that made it available to all people. In his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” he spoke of God leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. But like Moses, he didn’t get to receive the promise, only point others forward into its fullness.

“I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

As leaders in the Church, we continue to carry out the biblical vision that Dr. King helped to articulate, and the work he began. We continue to walk boldly into a Promised Land where all people are treated equally and with dignity—as we participate in God’s Kingdom on earth. But how can we lead our people into this reality? How can we help others engage with Scripture in a way that calls this promise into being?

I recently had the privilege of speaking with the Rev. Dr. Malcolm T. Byrd, Philadelphia Mayor Nutter’s former Director of Faith-Based Initiatives, Associate Minister of the Monumental Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and adjunct faculty member at Eastern University. Dr. Byrd draws on the teachings of Scripture and his research on Martin Luther King, Jr. in his own work on racial reconciliation in his city.

Byrd offered three valuable insights in leading our people into deeper engagement with Scripture around issues of race, and I add some practical suggestions for ways to apply these points in your church and community.

1. Define Justice

Scripture gives us a way to define and understand justice. It provides an ethos and common values. It helps us discern right from wrong and equality from inequality. It leads us in how to treat one another with dignity. As we read Scripture, we can hear from God and know what God says and loves. Then we can commit to honoring those words through our actions. For Dr. King, engaging with Scripture was foundational because of its call for all nations to live out biblical teaching regarding justice.

Begin by leading your people in reading Isaiah 61, Micah 6:8 and Matthew 5:1-11. How do these passages define justice? What values, ethos or standards of living do they call us to?

2. Collaborate

Scripture gives us powerful examples of partnership. During his earthly ministry, Jesus made himself available to everyone—no matter their social status. He modeled loving service and opened God’s Kingdom to all people. King followed this example of unity in his own partnerships, leading conversations with religious and civic leaders around racial reconciliation. He knew the potential for healing and change when people began to talk seriously with one another.

Read Scripture within a racially diverse community. It is easy to read the Bible through our own limited lenses. Encourage people to learn from others who have different perspectives. This may mean facilitating small groups with a partnering church. It may also include selecting a wider range of authors to quote in your sermon, read in your small groups or include in church devotions.

3. Challenge Interpretations

Martin Luther King, Jr. had to challenge people’s interpretation of Scripture to be faithful to his own calling. Many in the religious community rallied against him while he was incarcerated in Birmingham. He took this as an opportunity to explain his understanding of the Bible and how his pursuit of justice was in line with its teachings. He didn’t accommodate his reading to social pressure. And he didn’t stay silent when he saw other readings as misguided. He argued from the Scriptures in his call for others to reevaluate how they read God’s Word and aligned themselves to God’s values and standards.

Encourage your people to turn to the Bible for their definition of justice. Is something in your congregation or community out of alignment with God’s standards? Urge them to speak up—in love. Have them initiate a conversation with you, other pastors on staff, or their small groups. Invite everyone to contribute their voice as you work together in understanding and applying God’s Word. Pray together that God’s will be done on earth.

For further resources on working towards racial reconciliation in your faith community,
download the free PDF, “The Prophetic Voice: What Can the Bible Teach Us About Race Relations”.

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