Devotion - Tuesday, January 15

The observance of Dr. Martin Luther King's birth is next Monday, but today is the anniversary of his birth.  I won't promise that this will be my only offering of a reflection on Pastor King's life and ministry.  His theology figures heavily into my own; and I continue to hear his challenge to place our devotion to God above our allegiance to cultural norms and expectations.

While there were many factors at play in the heart and mind of Pastor King, his study of scripture provided the foundation for his words and actions.  His sermons revealed how the Word of God calls us to seek justice; his speeches were sermons, spoken in a secular setting. 

Many found King to be offensive.  One gunman shot him; many others had hoped he would fall silent.  Sometimes, his words were painful to hear.  The truth commonly is painful to acknowledge.

We have come a long way in these past decades.  The laws which segregate us have reconsidered and many abolished.  But there remain divisions and a lack of equality.  Racism continues.  God's children are not united.  And we have abandoned the call to serve as drum majors for justice.

I have a number of books by King and about King in my office.  I will lay them out, in the LCM Lounge today.  Come by and read a chapter; ask me a few more questions.  Or go on-line, there is a wealth of information there. 

Most importantly, take a few moments and consider how it is that God is calling you to speak His Word and do his will in the world.  Where is God inviting you to speak the truth about the way we interact with others and about the prejudices which go unchallenged.  In baptism our lives are changed;  we enter as mere human beings, we emerge as God's children and workers with Him in the Kingdom. 

Pastor King was one such worker.  A time such as ours surely calls for many more to emerge.