I am home today because Legacy Church observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with our nation. I always pause to reflect on the power of Dr. King's influence at least once on this day to remember the freedom that can come through the Good News of Jesus.I grew up in Southeast Texas in a predominately white neighborhood, and the events of the civil rights movement flew past me on the evening news--if I watched the news.
It was not until I got into seminary and began to study the art and history of preaching did I realize the significance of Dr. King's impact on our nation as a Baptist preacher. We herald Dr. King as a leader of social justice these days, but we have forgotten he was first and foremost one who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus and who challenged the status quo through non-violent resistance because of that Gospel.
Dr. Mervyn A. Warren of Oakwood University began his book, King Came Preaching, by quoting King. He identified himself as, "...the son of a Baptist preacher, the grandson of a Baptist preacher, and the great grandson of a Baptist preacher. The Church is my life and I have given my life to the Church." All King did in the arena of social change grew from his roots as a pastor and preacher in a local church who addressed a national injustice from that pulpit. Yes, politics, planning, organizing and effort were involved, but from what I understand all that was birthed out of a message of equality and freedom in Christ preached to a local body of believers who gathered as Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Take some time if you have it today to remember the heritage of a Baptist pastor who lived out the Gospel he preached and changed an entire nation and its people.
And, don't forget: if you embrace that same Gospel message, you with that same message can change the world.