Martin Luther King Jr.’s theology Essay Example

creation. King believed that human immorality stemmed from a lack of knowledge and stressed the importance of individual thinking and reasoning abilities (Livingston, 444). Livingston also stated that all African Americans are creations of God. Growing up in Ebenezer Baptist Church instilled in King a sense of community and taught him not to separate church from societal life according to Baldwin (2010;5-6). He criticized those who focused solely on spirituality without actively contributing to society through activism and informed actions. His approach aimed to improve discipline standards, education opportunities, social well-being while promoting independence from oppressive forces. Ultimately, King envisioned a united humanity guided by God's grace (Livingston, 443). The text highlights that African Americans were created in God's image and that God actively participates in every person's life. The goal of the civil rights movement was to establish a new social and political order where individuals would be evaluated based on their character rather than their skin color (Livingston, 445). Unfortunately, even white theologians failed to uphold this principle. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings sought to promote equality for all individuals regardless of race or ethnicityKing preached the importance of accepting adversity with grace, enduring abuse on behalf of others, and forgiving oppressors without dehumanizing them. The main issue was not just about skin color but about treating all individuals equally as fellow human beings. In 1964, two white civil rights activists were killed while working to register voters, possibly motivated by racial discrimination and a lack of empathy for their cause. Malcolm X advocated for self-defense because he believed there was no need to show respect and love towards those who did

not reciprocate these feelings. This conflict represented a struggle between justice and injustice, as well as good and evil forces. Cone mentioned in his book "A Dream or a Nightmare" that black individuals believed that if white people truly followed Christian principles, they would treat everyone as equal in the eyes of God. Black preachers emphasized a Gospel centered on justice and love where all individuals should be treated as brothers and sisters. The Greek word "Agape" refers to a divine kind of love. Passive resistance means loving your enemies without expecting anything in return, enduring without seeking revenge, and understanding that God supports the truth. Luther opposed America's involvement in the Vietnam War based on principles of justice (Dorrien 2011; Aquina 153; Cone 6).King questioned why America would invest money and deploy troops to Vietnam while its own citizens suffered from poverty. He viewed America's actions in Vietnam as insane and urged them to cease, declaring, "I speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor people of Vietnam" (Livingston, 446-447). The development of ghettos in the South further deepened the divide between African Americans and Caucasians. Martin Luther King once stated that power without love was irresponsible and reprehensible, whereas love without power was sentimental and weak (King, 38). He believed that it was not inherently wrong for Caucasians to possess power but emphasized the unequal distribution of power. By citing examples such as the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and God's intervention on behalf of the oppressed, it is evident that God is a deity who supports those who labor under oppression (Cone, 1991). In John 1:3 NRSV, it states

that God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. By sending Jesus to liberate humanity from sin and responding to His people's plea by dispatching Moses with the message "Let my people go so they may worship me in the wilderness" (Exodus 17:6 NRSV), God demonstrated unwavering support throughout their journey despite Pharaoh's reluctance. This narrative of Hebrew enslavement in Egypt bears resemblance to African American slavery.In his final address, Martin Luther King expressed that he had witnessed the glory of the Lord at the mountaintop (Martin Luther King, 2010), which served as his last message before being assassinated due to imminent danger. The people were commanded to journey towards a prosperous land but stubbornly refused (Exodus 33:3 NRSV). Similarly, Moses saw Canaan as promised by God but was never able to reach it. Christian theology seeks to liberate those oppressed; if it fails to provide justice for the broken and abused within society, it cannot be considered genuine Christian theology according to Cone (1991). Jesus understood how economic, political, and social factors impacted the poor and therefore proclaimed that he was anointed by God to bring good news to the poor, freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, and release for the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). Broad Theology offers hope for humanity's unhindered positive path (Livingston, 445). Cone argues that King followed a theology taught by white Christians and highlights how white theologians could justify any action in Christ's name (Trinity institutes, 2008). This perspective suggests that Christianity could be used by white oppressors to validate their oppressive acts. Luther embraced

Gandhi's nonviolent strategies in his pursuit of liberation with the intention of winning over his adversaries' hearts rather than outsmarting them. Nonviolent resistance took various forms such as civil disobedience and boycotts.Despite their different approaches, both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X recognized the importance of negotiating with oppressors. King focused on equality and justice, addressing the wealth gap created by capitalism that left the poor without basic needs while enriching the wealthy. He highlighted how black individuals remained at society's bottom despite contributing economically, ultimately resulting in slavery. The introduction of robotics worsened this situation as workers lost their jobs while those in power profited. Gandhi's nonviolent resistance served as an inspiration for King and guided him throughout his journey. Passive resistance was seen as a solution to mend societal relationships not only in America but also globally. Thoreau's concept of civil disobedience required moral persuasion for success. King acknowledged that fairness and equality between oppressors and the oppressed were necessary to establish common ground, which led to his isolation within American politics, FBI harassment, and being ignored by former friends of all races.
He remained steadfast in his ethical beliefs and drew guidance from his religious faith in Jesus Christ, despite the challenges he faced. In contrast, white theologians failed to adequately address the issues faced by the black community, which posed a threat to their own social and political interests. Black theology sought to bring freedom to oppressed blacks based on their unique circumstances, viewing it as God's liberation. White individuals struggled to empathize with this struggle and needed to reject their own theology that did not align with Jesus Christ's teachings

in order to fully embrace black theology. The embraced theology of white Americans showed little concern for the fight for black liberation (Livingston, 2006; Cone, 1991:9). The text rejects the concept of an impartial divine being by supporting the oppressed in Palestine and opposing wealthy oppressors in Israel. The black liberation movement within the Black American community is seen as a divine act (Cone, 1991). The prophets of Israel advocated for social justice. According to Ezekiel 37:1-14 regarding dry bones, God can intervene in desperate situations. In verse 3, God questions if the bones can live and Ezekiel acknowledges that only God knows. Verses 4-5 depict Ezekiel prophesying to revive the bones.Similarly,African Americans needed leaders like King who would speak against white oppression,but they also needed a Black Jesus who would listen to their pleas for justiceProphet Ezra, in Ezra 7:15-17, called on people to willingly contribute to the rebuilding of the temple, similar to how the Israelites were freed from Babylonian captivity. This call for commitment and dedication also applies to African Americans in their pursuit of justice and freedom. The role of a prophet should not be underestimated as they have the ability to expose governmental wrongdoings during their time. Baldwin criticizes modern mega churches by pointing out that King's prophetic model was not motivated by monetary gain but rather served as a means of revival. King had numerous mentors, advisors, role models, and friends who positively influenced him throughout his early life (Baldwin, 2010;5). Nurturing young individuals appropriately is crucial for both the present-day church and society. Every church member should have guidance while young individuals should strive to use their talents

and gifts in service to God and humanity. If Luther's rational voice had been heeded by the church, many African-Americans would not be facing current issues in America. The themes found in King's Theology can inspire today's church to become society's "voice of conscience". Recently, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed shock at hunger being prevalent not only in Africa but also in Britain despite it being one of the wealthiest nations globally (Smith, 2014).He expressed concerns about food wastage and urged retailers to make it easier for those in need to donate excess food. He also mentioned the establishment of "la Caritas di Roma" by the Catholic Church in Rome, which provides assistance to individuals in need, particularly immigrants who receive nutritious meals there. Other services offered include social services, medical access through identity cards, and counseling (Smith, 2014). The church must go beyond relying solely on government assistance and venture outside its comfort zone. Individual-operated food banks not only provide nourishment but also lend a listening ear to those facing hardship since hunger often indicates underlying issues (Smith, 2014). Insufficient housing, lack of proper kitchen and storage facilities, and inadequate accommodations can contribute to people experiencing hunger. Moreover, hungry individuals may also be grappling with untreated mental health problems, financial management difficulties despite having enough funds, substance abuse issues or living in violent households. Therefore, it is crucial to address not only the provision of food for these hungry family members but also their underlying problems (Smith, 2014). In Africa, the scarcity of food is frequently attributed to unfavorable weather conditions as well as a lack of political support. Poor planning becomes apparent during

times when there is an ample harvest.The story of Joseph in the Old Testament, who effectively stored food to save the Egyptians, can serve as a lesson for third world governments. Despite facing failed weather conditions multiple times, Australia has managed to avoid famine (Smith, 2014). It is important to note that hunger is not solely caused by a lack of money; political corruption, broken households, and able-bodied individuals refusing to work also contribute to scarcity in Britain (Smith, 2014).

Providing nourishment alone is not sufficient; guidance is crucial. The church must be involved in this process. Priests can offer counseling through confession while seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. Similar to Martin Luther (Smith, 2014), the Archbishop of Canterbury leads the community towards righteousness and actively opposes Wanga.com. He has pledged to remove the company from business and extend his campaign to Church of England schools where he aims to educate them about responsible adoption.

Sir Hector Sants, a Barclays executive, heads a task force dedicated to promoting community savings and credit unions (Craven, 2014). Sants believes that primary schools and churches have the potential to make a significant difference. He commits himself to establishing credit unions in churches so members can access loans with low interest rates and plans on targeting Wonga in his efforts.New regulations are on the horizon that will lead to the closure of 25% of payday lenders, which will ultimately assist the community in breaking free from the cycle of debt. Martin Luther King, a Prophet who fearlessly confronted oppressors' misdeeds without vilifying them, was even willing to sacrifice his own life for justice and truth. Through his Ministry, King advocated

for those who were voiceless. Unfortunately, in some parts of the world, particularly third-world countries, authorities silence certain reverends by accepting contributions that ultimately undermine autonomy. Despite facing isolation, King boldly used his prophetic voice to speak out against oppression. However, today there are only a few reverends courageous enough to oppose government actions openly. As stated by King himself, America's history is marked by its unnecessary involvement in foreign wars and its ongoing global patrol - a theme that continues till this day. Our moral values should not be determined by our skin color or level of education; rather it is the choices we make that truly define us. Luther's fight for freedom benefited both African American and white Americans alike and inspired young individuals to pursue higher education - exemplified by Atlanta University having the largest number of black students in America at that time.
Lastly, let us not overlook the significance conveyed by stating that an individual will have spent 25,555 days on Earth once they reach 70 years old - this serves as a reminder of life's brevity and emphasizes how crucial it is to wisely utilize our timeThe sources for this text include various books and online articles, as well as videos found on websites such as YouTube. The titles of the books mentioned are "A Black Theology of Liberation" by J. Cone (1991), "Martin and Malcolm and America: A dream or an incubus" by J. Cone (1995), "Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition" by G. Dorrien (2011), and "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community" by M. King (2010).

There is also a mention of

an article written by Father Alexander Lucie-Smith in 2014, which can be found at catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs. Another online source mentioned is a video titled "I've been to the mountain," featuring Martin Luther King Jr., which can be accessed at youtube.com/watch/I’ve been to the mountain.

Additionally, there is a reference to the New Revised Standard Version Bible translated by M. Metzger in 1995 published by Oxford University Press UK.

Lastly, there are two more online sources referenced - one being an article written by Neil Poltroon in 2014, which can be found at thisismoney.co.uk/mone/cardsloas/artcle, and another video titled "a conversation with James Cone" available at youtube.com/watch/a conversation with James Cone on Trinity Institutes' website.

Please note that some of the URLs provided may not be accurate due to limitations within this text-based platform.