Flowing Justice – The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in America
Flowing Justice – The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in America
“But let justice flow like water, and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.” (Amos 5:24, HCSB)
He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States. It is also Inauguration Day for the second term of President Barack Obama. The fact that we have witnessed this country electing a black president for a second term is a monumental achievement in itself.
In the fall of 2010, I went to Atlanta one day on family business. While I was there, I toured the Ebenezer Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. was the pastor. I also viewed the memorial which laid across the street from the church in an adjacent park. In the park, there was a museum housing all kinds of information about the history and legacy of the civil rights leader.
As I reflect on my experience in Atlanta, as well as today’s events, as well as the Scripture verse today, I am amazed that we have this much progress at all. The rhetoric which comes out of Washington is still divisive. Some churches share an un-Christlike quality which communicates the idea that we are still a sinful people. Justice and righteousness, which should flow easily, seems to be trickling in a polluted stream.
The Bible gives us an idea of justice and righteousness, which can only be fulfilled by following Christ. Even then, it is hard to do. The legacy of Martin Luther King teaches that it is at least possible for one good man (or woman) to stand against evil in the world. Society may have its own views about injustice in the world. However, the example of Dr. King should inspire me as well as others to stand for biblical standards of justice and righteousness.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In