Notes From Jon

(January 10, 2007 Edition)

Next Monday, most of us will celebrate a day that we probably take for granted most years. The observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday was established as a federal holiday in 1986, 18 years after his untimely death on the balcony of a Memphis hotel. Sadly, to most of us it has become simply a day off from work, school, or whatever we do on a normal basis; certainly not a day to celebrate the life of a man who made a profound impact on his century.

King was a controversial figure during his own lifetime, and still remains a controversy today. Like many historical figures who are no longer able to defend themselves, King today finds his legacy threatened. He has posthumously been called a Communist and, ironically enough, both a Republican and a Democrat. He was either in league with the government or secretly trying to overthrow it. Some allege he cheated on his wife. He has been accused of plagiarism.

But no matter your opinion of King’s political and private activities, his was a life to celebrate – not just for the racial message he preached, but for the spiritual lessons he taught us. Two such lessons come immediately to my mind.

First, as a pastor, King was able to help Christians of all races see that God does not look on us as black, white, Hispanic or Asian. When God looks at us, he does not see our accomplishments or our failures. He sees us as beloved creations made in his image, as children who need his love and care. And if that is how God sees others, that is how we should see others as well.

Second, King chose a surprising way to fight the inequality faced by black Americans of his day – a way that endures as an example of Christ-like resistance. Rather than join in the violent attacks that others had launched against an unfair system, King chose to lead his followers to resist by non-violent means: sit-ins, marches, protests and boycotts.

King did this because he took to heart a lesson Jesus has tried to impress on us time and time again: When we use violence to combat violence, the only result is more pain and death. While war is sometimes necessary (and how thankful we are for those who fight for us), Jesus showed us that in the end, love and forgiveness are the only ways to break the cycle of sin and hatred.

Have we learned these lessons ourselves? They are not sideline issues. I am constantly confronted with both of these decisions on an almost daily basis. Will I strike back when I am attacked, continuing the cycle of violence and sin that has consumed the human race for millennia? Will I look at and treat others according to the things they appear to be – black or white, rich or poor, success or failure, Christian or other? Or will I see and treat people as the precious children of God, whom God has given to my care? No matter what I may think, I really am my brother’s keeper.

Let’s take a moment this MLK Day to celebrate the work of a man who gave his life – figuratively and literally – to fight the unjust and unequal treatment of all God’s children. And let us, like him, learn the lessons of Christ and allow King’s spiritual legacy to live on through us.