Martin Luther King, Jr.-- No Favoritism Between Races

Background Check:
In the 1950’s the United States’ governments were run by racially white people, even though in many states most people were black. For almost a hundred years, since blacks had been released from slavery by a civil war, there had been laws which separated the whites from the blacks and restricted blacks from many places and activities that would be of benefit to them. Whites and blacks could not go to school together, they couldn’t drink from the same water fountains, they couldn’t even ride on buses together.

His Story:
A young preacher named Martin Luther King spoke against these injustices, but it didn’t seem that he could do anything—after all, he was black himself and was just a preacher. But when an outrage happened against an older black woman on a bus, then Martin organized protests there in his home town, Montgomery, Alabama. Many blacks followed him and they all publicly protested the segregation of blacks and whites on the buses—which gave the blacks the worst seats in the back. Martin would preach on the steps of city hall, preaching that Jesus taught that all people were the same in the eyes of God, no matter what their race. He also taught that if public policy and laws were insisting on favoritism against one race, then they are standing against Jesus. The bus laws were changed because of these protests and the seats were no longer segregated.

Both blacks and whites understood the power of what had happened. The blacks had a new sense of power and a realization that the Jim Crow laws might be overthrown. Many whites stood with Martin Luther King and wanted to see the favoritism stop. But many other whites were angry with the blacks and with Martin especially because they felt that they were losing their power to rule. Some of these whites were using violence in order to keep their power. One man stabbed Martin with a knife. Another group of men murdered blacks who were peacefully protesting. The police would attack protesters. Another group of men burned churches with people in them.

Martin was insistent, however, that he and his people would not fight back, nor do any kind of violence toward them. Some blacks didn’t like this policy, but Martin said that Jesus taught not to do evil back to those who do evil to you. Rather, he said, we are to love our enemies. At the same time Martin was bold in proclaiming the hard righteousness of Jesus—that of not harming others, giving to others what you want to receive for yourself.

Martin also wanted the government to stop the violence of their war in Vietnam. This made Martin very unpopular, even among his closest supporters. Martin also tried to stop the systems that caused poverty for both blacks and whites, but few listened to his message.

WWJD
Martin was preaching the message Jesus gave him—change the nation, but only through non-violence. However, Martin also saw America as being his salvation, not the kingdom of God. And Martin struggled with the sin of cheating on his wife all of his life. Jesus used Martin, but Martin was not the one to bring people to Jesus.

The Final Word
After one speech in 1967, Martin was shot and killed. This event woke people up to the evil in the segregationist party. Eventually, the whole United States eventually changed their laws and stopped segregation between whites and blacks—on buses, in education and even where they lived. However, the church did not want to listen to Martin’s message against war and against poverty. They praise him for his work against racism, but neglect to speak of his whole message.

A Word From Our Sponsor:
The woman said to Him, "Sir, our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:20-24

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

Helpful Hint: Enduring Rejection and Persecution
Every one of the faithful received persecution and rejection for their stand with Jesus. As Paul said, “No one will enter into the kingdom of God without tribulation.” Even so, there isn’t a single one of the Faithful that did not face opposition, difficulties and even death for their stand for Jesus. Montanus was rejected by his own people for listening to the Spirit. Martin Luther was formally cut off from the Roman church for his stand with the word of God. Paul, Michael Sattler, Jim Elliot and Martin Luther King all were killed because of their stand for God. If you want to be one of the Faithful, expect rejection—lots of it. Rejection is bread and butter for one remaining in Jesus.