Also, in his letter his tone was strong, but neither violent nor threatening towards the clergymen. Similarly, King portrays a sense of concern for the clergymen and they ways in which they are willing to obtain the peaceful ends they seek. He senses the still-present fear of the white community in the letter of complaints from the clergymen. King was offended by how the clergymen only planned on addressing the African American community for their actions while letting the whites go on with their violent and oppressive actions. Dr. King fought his whole career for equality amongst the races, meaning all communities with violent, racist actions should be addressed.
More and more, especially since this movement, churches promote equality. Whether it is equality based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or age, contemporary churches promote equality. During the Civil Rights Movement, many churches did not support the movement because it would mean they are going against their own race to support black people. This is surprising to hear because the contemporary church would support heroic fights, like the fight for civil rights. The contemporary churches promote equality and support their followers, yet during the movement the churches “remained silent” or were “outright opponents” (5).
Luther was also disappointed in man and felt that they should take the consequences that go with their sins and hope that these lessons could be taught to them before it would become too late. In expressing his disappointment with the church, Luther goes on to discuss the real ways a man should repentance his sins and not the way the church is having them repent at the current time; which is by having them pay for pardon of their sins and guilt. He states what he believes is to be worthy of god when it comes to recognizing the wrong in something that you have done and now want to be sorry about. He also goes on to state that the pope does not have the power to forgive someone’s sins that is the power of the lord and only him. The pope can only remit sins or guilt by announcing that GOD has actually remitted the guilt.
This is probably the most heartbreaking assertion Martin Luther King ever makes . He feels as if the church has shirked its responsibilities to the African American people, hiding behind “anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows”. I totally agree with , Dr. Martin Luther King’s , take on ,” Just and Unjust laws .” “There are many just and unjust laws; ones which should be followed in order to be a moral person, and laws in which you must disobey for conscious sake in order to be a moral person .” This is the answer Martin Luther King had given when the clergymen wanted to know why he was breaking laws .” Laws are made to protect the people , not to degrade and punish them .” As far as Dr. Martin Luther King , is concerned, the African American would continue to do whatever was necessary, preferably non-violently, to obtain the legal and moral right that was theirs
King also states the question of their condemnation because they are the minority. "Isn't this like condemning Jesus because His unique God-Consciousness and never-ceasing devotion to His will precipitated the evil act of crucifixion?" At this point King compares his cause to Jesus' cause. He says, in essence, that the civil rights movement is a God-like event. he also talks of the injustices towards blacks.
The church is directly called to speak up against it and do as God calls us to do in order to stop the still growing crime. The church is the Body of Christ and if we do not stretch out the hand that God gave us then we will be like a barren vine that has heard the Word but has yet to live it. Paul also states in Philemon that he is very much a slave to Christ. A true Christian is bound to His teachings and to strive for the exemplary life that Christ lived just as a slave is bound to the chains of his master. There are many things that the church could do to prevent slavery today although the majority of those who are taking action do not know the love and bond of Christ.
Martin Luther King Jr.: Letter from Birmingham Jail This is a letter from Martin Luther King Jr. to the clergymen in response to their claim in a local newspaper that his protesting was “unwise and untimely.” This is an attempt to defend himself and his fellow protesters. He begins by explaining why he was in Birmingham and states that he is not an outsider. He was invited by the president of the Christian Leadership Conference to be there. [623] He stressed on the issue of injustice in this area and said he must “carry the gospel of freedom” wherever it is needed like Paul did in the Bible. He continues to say that while the protests were unfortunate, it is even more unfortunate that the black community was left with no other alternative action.
Malcolm was a Muslim former criminal who believed that African American should continue to be separated from whites and was willing to use force to achieve his goals, unlike Martin Luther King who was a Christian minister who believed in equal rights and was willing to use peaceful means to achieve his goals. Malcolm believed that African Americans should follow his philosophy called “Black Nationalism” which was basically to leave their personal differences and religions out and literally fight against the common issue they all had as African Americans. He also believed that people’s religion was what kept separating them because of their different views according on such religions. Although, he had some similarities with Marin L King like; uniting black people and communities to fight against
* He aimed for peace and equality between the two races in the US. * He wanted people to be judged by ‘the content of their character’ not the colour of their skin. How does their work echo the life and work of Jesus? They both stood up for what they believed and preached this to people who needed to hear it. Jesus helped people classed as outsiders e.g.
Despite the emotions by the 9/11 attack, our American values compel us to religious tolerance, helpful praise, and better outcomes, demonstrating that the mosque should be built on ground zero. Religious tolerance let's people understand and accept other beliefs that differ from their own. We can see this in the New Testament, Luke 9:49-50 "... we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." so even though Jesus' disciples rejected him, Jesus criticized his disciples and accepted the healer.