OPINION
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has become a cultural icon, and for good reason.
He helped to shape the course of the United States of America, gave voice to some of the gravest concerns of our citizens, and has remained a beacon of hope for all who wish for a future based on equality.
Yet, as is true with any historical character, Dr. King has become more of a quote on a poster, a reminder of our past, and a symbol of a hopeful future.
This sanitized version of MLK removes his disruptive, demanding, and morally rigorous voice of the Civil Rights Era.
He was driven, not just by his personal experience of racism and segregation in the deep South, but also by his personal conviction that everyone is created in the Imago Dei, the image of God.
We honor Dr. King best not by quoting him, or sharing positive social media posts with his likeness, but by practicing what he taught; we celebrate his life and legacy when we step onto the pages of history and pick up the cause of equality in our own lives and live out the practices he taught.
Dr. King sought Justice and Righteousness in daily life, not just in activism.
Yet, how one goes about this goal is just as important as the goal itself.
In other words, the ends do not always justify the means.
He promoted non-violence as the means to which one attains the goal of Justice and Righteousness, because he knew that violence, hatred, and dehumanization will always corrupt the end goal.
In his “I Have A Dream” speech, he quoted the Old Testament Prophet Amos, “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream (Amos 5:24, KJV).”
Justice and Righteousness cannot be achieved if we subvert the heart of the action.
If our aim is justice, then our path must match our goal, because a corrupted means also corrupts the goal.
Today’s cultural moment highlights outrage as a paramount emotion.
Outrage has become our cultural currency; we reward shaming, dehumanizing, and punishing those who step outside the party line. Dr. King rejected these tactics. He wrote in “Strength to Love” in 1963, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
He understood that moral compromise erodes moral credibility, the very thing needed to bring about real change.
MLK’s motivation for change was deeply rooted in the upside-down biblical ethics of loving your enemy (Matt. 5:43-48) and overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12:21).
This strategy isn’t weakness; it’s moral fortitude built through spiritual discipleship.
His approach was strategically spiritual, not just utilitarian.
Practically speaking, whenever Dr. King comes up in conversation, please oftentimes put him on a pedestal, one which cannot be attained by us commonfolk.
While we do this out of respect, we end up subverting the very work he began.
We would do best to begin thinking through how we can implement MLK’s approach in our personal lives and how we can bring Justice and Righteousness in the lives of those around us, those who are within our own personal spheres of influence.
This might be our children, our neighbors, our coworkers.
These are the easiest to influence, and they are the most impacted by our actions.
Simple actions, like intentional dinner conversation, or listening to someone who has a different experience or background as you can begin these actions.
MLK Day makes us pause and reflect on how we speak, disagree and pursue Justice and Righteousness, not just in public, but more importantly, in private.
His dream becomes reality not when we quote him, but when we practice justice, humility, peace and courageous love.
Steve Stanley is a Providence Village resident with a doctorate in ministerial leadership. He can be reached at stevestanleyacoustic@ gmail.com.
