50 Years after Martin Luther King Jr

The Lorraine Motel on a recent visit to Memphis

Today, April 4, 2018, marks 50 years since pastor and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee at 6:01 p.m. by James Earl Ray. King was a leader in the nonviolent civil rights movement at that time. Billy Graham and King were friends who both focused on the social injustice of racism.

How have things changed 50 years later?

I think any fair-minded person would acknowledge that in many ways things are much better than 1968 in terms of racial equality. However, the past decade has been the worst in my adult lifetime. The politics of race continue to create division between black and white Americans, break up the fabric of the home, and posits neighbor against neighbor in so many communities.

I was recently shocked when in a conversation, two friends shared how their families viewed black Americans. The attitudes and words hurt my heart as I listened to these men describe how relatives discuss race and treat minorities. As I listened, I again remembered three critical Bible texts that guide us on how we view people generally and minorities specifically.

In Christ, we are all one (Colossians 3:11).

Paul describes those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. He writes, “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Here Paul teaches that all Christians are part of one group, the group where Christ is all and in all. As in-Christ ones, all distinctions that tear down unity are demolished. People are no longer known by class or category, such as Greek vs Jew, circumcised vs uncircumcised, barbarian vs Scythian, or slave vs free. Instead, we are all one in Christ.

That is equally true today related to all matters of race. The body of Christ consists of those who are Christians and saints, not white Christians, black Christians, or any other type of Christian. Christ is all and in all. We are equals in Christ. There should be unity across all races because the barriers are destroyed in Christ. Status distinctions? Absolutely not. Christ is the Savior and Lord of all who are equally in Him. Any distinction between Christians is contrary to the message of the Gospel (James 2:1-13). The standard categories of race and social status that normally divide people do not apply to those who are in Christ (cf. Gal 3:28) – instead, there is equality.[1]

Look past the color of the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Paul describes what life in Christ looks like. With the love of Christ motivating our behavior and with an understanding of the sacrificial death of Jesus (2 Cor 5:14), the follower of Christ lives differently. The first difference relates to how we see other people around us. He writes, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2 Cor 5:16). In other words, having a relationship with Christ changes the way we see other people.

Paul uses his relationship with Jesus as the example and standard. Prior to his conversion on the Road to Damascus, Paul saw Jesus simply according to the flesh – a Jew who claimed to be the Son of God. Paul hated Jesus and His followers. He went about to capture and kill as many as he could. But on the day he was saved, all of that changed. He no longer saw Jesus according to His flesh – what He could see and know of Him as a person; He began to see Jesus for Who He is spiritually. So what does that mean to all of us? Paul teaches us that as followers of Jesus we should see people not according to their flesh – skin color, hair, body images, piercings, etc.; instead, we see people as those who have souls and are in some type of relationship with God. We do not look at a person and see him or her as black versus white; rather, we see an individual who possesses a soul and either has a positive or negative relationship with his or her Creator God through Christ.

Recognize we are all in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28).

All mankind was made and is in the image of God. At creation God said, “‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”

Every person alive is made in the image of God. This is true even though Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. It is confirmed when God talks with Noah (Genesis 9:6-7). God prohibits murder because to murder is to kill image. Instead, image is to be fruitful, multiply, and increase abundantly. Furthermore, cursing another person is also prohibited because when we curse, we curse image (James 3:8-12).

Regardless if it is a black person or a white person, an European or an African, a white collar or blue collar individual, all people are in the image of God. Therefore, it is essential that we treat each other as fellow image-bearers of God. We demonstrate respect for God’s creation and our fellow man (1 Peter 2:17).

Where do we go from here?

On this day that we celebrate the person and work of Martin Luther King Jr., we must resolve to see each other as the Bible teaches us to see. We must commit to work toward the beneficial good of all mankind, regardless of color or race. We must devote ourselves to living in light of the Bible instead of cultural dictates, prejudices, or influences.

In regard to the men I talked with recently, may God change the hearts of their relatives and people like them who sinfully treat others as less than God intended.