| Commentary and Philosophy Non-Fiction posted February 15, 2023 |
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My impression of a famous letter written by MLK.
Letter From Jail
by nomi338
In honor of Black History Month, 2023, a friend of mine did a dramatic reading of the Martin Luther King authored, [Letter From A Birmingham Jail.]
I was inspired to write the following article:
While jailed in Birmingham Alabama, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior responded to criticism from some white ministers who felt he was moving too fast and coming from the wrong perspective.
Doctor King responded with several valid reasons why he would not, indeed could not, put an end to his activities.
After reading this account, I was reminded of a situation recorded in the Bible where at Matthew chapter 16, verse 23, Jesus rebuked the apostle Peter who tried to tell Jesus he did not have to face the threat of an execution. Jesus responded with the statement,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."
Jesus had already warned his followers they might eventually suffer the same persecution he was suffering. Including their likely deaths.
I have no doubt Doctor King, as a Christian minister, was likely reminded of that Biblical incident.
The challenge to both the apostles and Doctor King's critics was one and the same.
To identify with Jesus or Martin Luther King, would be to risk or even invite the suffering of the same pain and opposition they suffered.
To denounce either Jesus or Doctor King, was to risk being labeled not only a disloyal coward, but also to indicate approval of the currently opposed conditions.
Although Doctor King did not get to the 'Mountain Top', he mentioned during his last recorded speech. I do believe however, the vision he saw, may have been the election of, and successful two term administration of America's first and only black president, Barack Obama, so far.
In honor of Black History Month, 2023, a friend of mine did a dramatic reading of the Martin Luther King authored, [Letter From A Birmingham Jail.]
I was inspired to write the following article:
While jailed in Birmingham Alabama, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior responded to criticism from some white ministers who felt he was moving too fast and coming from the wrong perspective.
Doctor King responded with several valid reasons why he would not, indeed could not, put an end to his activities.
After reading this account, I was reminded of a situation recorded in the Bible where at Matthew chapter 16, verse 23, Jesus rebuked the apostle Peter who tried to tell Jesus he did not have to face the threat of an execution. Jesus responded with the statement,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."
Jesus had already warned his followers they might eventually suffer the same persecution he was suffering. Including their likely deaths.
I have no doubt Doctor King, as a Christian minister, was likely reminded of that Biblical incident.
The challenge to both the apostles and Doctor King's critics was one and the same.
To identify with Jesus or Martin Luther King, would be to risk or even invite the suffering of the same pain and opposition they suffered.
To denounce either Jesus or Doctor King, was to risk being labeled not only a disloyal coward, but also to indicate approval of the currently opposed conditions.
Although Doctor King did not get to the 'Mountain Top', he mentioned during his last recorded speech. I do believe however, the vision he saw, may have been the election of, and successful two term administration of America's first and only black president, Barack Obama, so far.
I was inspired to write the following article:
While jailed in Birmingham Alabama, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior responded to criticism from some white ministers who felt he was moving too fast and coming from the wrong perspective.
Doctor King responded with several valid reasons why he would not, indeed could not, put an end to his activities.
After reading this account, I was reminded of a situation recorded in the Bible where at Matthew chapter 16, verse 23, Jesus rebuked the apostle Peter who tried to tell Jesus he did not have to face the threat of an execution. Jesus responded with the statement,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God's thoughts, but those of men."
Jesus had already warned his followers they might eventually suffer the same persecution he was suffering. Including their likely deaths.
I have no doubt Doctor King, as a Christian minister, was likely reminded of that Biblical incident.
The challenge to both the apostles and Doctor King's critics was one and the same.
To identify with Jesus or Martin Luther King, would be to risk or even invite the suffering of the same pain and opposition they suffered.
To denounce either Jesus or Doctor King, was to risk being labeled not only a disloyal coward, but also to indicate approval of the currently opposed conditions.
Although Doctor King did not get to the 'Mountain Top', he mentioned during his last recorded speech. I do believe however, the vision he saw, may have been the election of, and successful two term administration of America's first and only black president, Barack Obama, so far.
 Recognized |
#11 February 2023 |
Shortly after King's arrest, a friend smuggled in a copy of an April 12 Birmingham newspaper which included an open letter, written by eight local Christian and Jewish religious leaders, which criticized both the demonstrations and King himself, whom they considered an outside agitator. Isolated in his cell, King began working on a response. Without notes or research materials, King drafted an impassioned defense of his use of nonviolent, but direct, actions.
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