MLKJ - I have a Dream - Part I

I have a dream....

A well known phrase that people have learned from the famous speech of Martin Luther King Jr.(MLKJ)

What I will say about MLKJ is probably nothing new to you – but perhaps there will be things here that you will come to learn or come to see that's different from what you once thought.

MLKJ will probably be most remembered by Americans as Civil Rights activist – but we can't just stop there.

What allowed him to rise up and be heard? What allowed him to rise up and be listened to? What allowed his words to still be known to us even today.

If someone were to start talking to you and perhaps say “I have a dream” - you're probably already thinking about that speech. Where did these words or even concepts come from?

MLKJ – was not only a Civil Rights activist, but was also a pastor in a Baptist Church. Now – please don't get this Baptist church confused with the Westoboro Baptists – as they are totally different and nothing alike.

You see – I'll be honest, but as a Christian, I can understand a person's view or understanding as a Christian. Here's what I will say – if someone has decided to become a Pastor in a church – this isn't a simple decision. This is a devotion, a dedication, and would have taken something to have changed them forever.

Now from a Christian perspective – ask any Christian really. Once a person reads the Bible – they will not be the same, ever. Even if the person disagrees with it – there will be perhaps one thing that will influence them and that one thing has just changed their life, forever!

What I would really take from the Bible is something as simple as this:

Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

These are the final 2 verses from the Best Sermon ever delivered – the sermon famously known as: The Sermon on the Mount(found in Matthew Chapters 5-7).

I myself asked the question – how did Jesus get such authority? Why were people so amazed at His doctrine/teaching? How?

From a Christian point of view – I'd simply say, read the Bible, and not even the entire Bible – read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John a few times and you'll start to see why.

Now – if MLKJ was a pastor, a man teaching the Word of God – he would've had to have read this once or twice – or so you'd think at least.

Wikipedia has it documented currently as follows:

King's faith was strongly based in Jesus' commandment of  loving your neighbor as yourself, loving God above all, and loving your enemies, praying for them and blessing them. His non-violent thought was also based in the injuction to turn the other cheek in the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus' teaching of putting the sword back into its place (Matthew 26:52).

Love your neighbour as yourself, love your enemies, pray for your enemies and bless your enemies.

Now – I don't know about you, but if you love your enemy, would your enemy not listen to you? What I find interesting about this though is Jesus had an authority. People listened to him. He was able to gather 5000 men on one occasion and 4000 men on another occasion.

What did Jesus do to be able to gather so many people together?

I'd say there are a few things: His message was one of hope; one of love; and one eliminating violence and implementing Peace.

What did MLKJ talk about? Hope(I have a dream); love(the message is all out of love); and one eliminating violence and implementing peace(We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal).

Now – the difference between MLKJ and a majority of politicians is simple: A politician may deliver a message of Hope, Love and eliminate violence – but how often does the politician hold to that view? How often does the politician change?

The politician's view changes after their message because there are so many influences, and they want to please everyone so that they will get elected/re-elected.

Who did Jesus seek to please? God himself. Who did MLKJ seek to please in these speeches? Nobody else other than Jesus.

If you can hold down to these simple values – don't try to please the world because in the process you will end up losing yourself(paraphrased from Matthew 16:26)

MLKJ, imo raised up an army. An army that's ongoing even today. An army that is being transformed over and over – and one day, this army will free us.....

I have a dream.....