There is a 1900 year gap between Paul and Martin Luther King, and now a 55 year gap between Dr King and us now, in this moment of 2011. Goodness how the times have changed, and just as King says in his speech, we have made many advances, though where has it left us morally as a country? Has our moral and spiritual developments kept pace with everything else?
He speaks of our technological advancements, capitalism, segregation in the church both racially and denominationally. He brings these things to the table to be seen in a eternal perspective. These things that in 1956 were at the heart of the speaker, the eyes of the nation, and the pulpits of the church.
The speech is ended in an exhortation to LOVE; and before I loose you because the first thing that comes to mind is SEX, let me bring back a lesson in Greek that many of us learned in Jr High youth group (but have not been able to truly comprehend until now that our hormones aren't crazy!) the LOVE he is speaking of is not EROS love, but AGAPE love, love unconditionally, love in spite of our failures, love that makes us do crazy things even though we have thought them through logically, love that builds, love that endures. Love for those who do not deserve or have earned it. This is what we are called to.
Oh! Christian, that you would take up your cross, bring forth the life that you have been called to. Let not your burdens hold you back, let not your failures intimidate you, stop over thinking and analyzing and start DOING.
Link to Martin Luther King Jr's speech "Paul's Letters to American Christians"
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