Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Civil Rights, and Racial Unity: One Source of MLK's Ideas

We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on the third Monday in January each year. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought nonviolently for civil rights. He dreamed not only of equal civil rights, but of true racial unity, as he revealed in his "I Have a Dream" address at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In working toward equal civil rights and promoting unity, Martin Luther King, Jr., followed somebody far more important than he.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., followed Jesus in promoting equal civil rights and unity. Jesus and God the Father offer equality and two kinds of unity. As Martin Luther King, Jr., Day approaches, consider one of the roots of Dr. King's ideas.

Equality and Unity Between People

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., strove for equal civil rights and unity between people of different racial backgrounds, he directly followed the lead of Jesus and the Bible. Jesus and God the Father favor equality and unity between people.

Both God the Father and Jesus promote equality, aiding outcasts and the helpless while casting down the prideful. King David wrote, "For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar" (Psalm 138:6). When some disciples asked Jesus to grant them high positions, "Jesus summoned them, and said to them, 'You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant'" (Matt 10:42-43). When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for civil rights, he followed Jesus' teachings of equality.

Jesus and God the Father promote not only equality, but unity between people. A psalmist wrote, "See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity" (Psalm 133:1)! Paul told the Galatian church of Jesus' focus on unity, writing, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28). The Revelation of John gives a wonderful promise of unity: "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Rev 7:9a). Martin Luther King, Jr., followed Jesus by dreaming not only of equal civil rights, but of true unity.

Unity Between People and God

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day celebrates the struggle for civil rights and for unity between people. These are important, but Jesus offers a more crucial unity - unity between a person and God.

The Bible shows that each person was created to be in a relationship of unity with God. We destroy that relationship when we sin, or willfully break God's Law. God is holy (see Leviticus 19:2), and He will not let sin come into His presence in this life or in eternity.

Jesus chose to be born and live as a man, but never sinned. Because Jesus never sinned, He did not need to die, "for the wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23a). When Jesus paid the price for sins he had not committed, "him who knew no sin he (God the Father) made to be sin on our behalf" (2Cor 5:21a). That is, Jesus' death is offered as payment for our sins. Jesus then rose from the dead, proving His Godhood and His victory over death.

If you accept Jesus' offer of payment for sin, He will restore your relationship of unity with God, both in this life to the extent that you follow Him and perfectly in eternity. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself" (2Cor 5:19). This unity does not mean that you are equal to or part of God. Rather, "as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children" (John 1:12a). The unity granted is one of purpose and of mutual love between the Creator and a created person.

To receive the gift of Jesus' sacrifice, admit to God that you're a sinner. Repent of, or turn away from, your sins. Ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse you, as well as to send His Spirit to live in your heart and guide you. Then, thank Him for doing so. A Christian may guide you in a prayer to do this, but only you and God will know whether you meant it from your heart.

Whom Will You Follow?

As we approach Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for his work toward equal civil rights and toward racial unity. Decide, though, whether to merely follow in Dr. King's footsteps or to join him in following Jesus' footsteps. If you follow Jesus, then a concern for civil rights and unity between people will flow from unity of purpose with God.

All Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
Martin Luther King, Jr., "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute.