Ten Ways to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King

Aug 29, 2011   //   by efremsmith   //   justice, race, reconciliation, spiritual growth, the church  //  2 Comments

1.) Lift up the Importance of Education

Too many young people have no sense of the lives sacrificed for integrated schools and access to higher education.

2.) Lift up the Importance of Participation in Democracy

Lives were also sacrificed for the right to vote for all citizens

3.) Lift up the Beloved Community

This was Dr. King bringing the vision and values of the Kingdom of God into the mainstream of the nation. It’s also a wake-up call to the church to connect evangelism and justice.

4.) Plant and Develop Multi-ethnic and Missional Churches

11:00am on Sunday morning still remains a segregated hour in too many churches

5.) Study Matthew 25:31-40

Develop an understanding that the first drum major for justice was Jesus

6.) Teach little children the stories of Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges in church Sunday School classes.

(Especially in non African-American churches)

7.) Go to Washington D.C. with your family and see the monument in his honor.

Hold me accountable to this one.

8.) Develop a serious and fruitful friendship with someone of another ethnicity/race.

9.) Explore deeply and confess your own racism, prejudice, sexism, and neglect of the poor.

10.) Thank God for how far we’ve come.

We’re not where we should be, but don’t act like God hasn’t brought us a mighty long way. Balance your lament with praise.

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2 Comments

  • Joe Sutton August 29, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    I heard Tavis Smiley say Sunday, “Everyone wants to remember Martin King, but no one wants to live like him.”
    I remember a man who was so driven by GOD’s call on his life that he gave up his time with his children, missed many a date night with his wife, left his pulpit, and even laid down his life to see his divine purpose come to pass. So I would have to add developing a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ so that we can know our purpose and complete it even if it means death.

  • That Was the Week That Was « The Pietist Schoolman September 3, 2011 at 5:52 am

    [...] DC got somewhat lost amidst the “weather porn” surrounding Hurricane Irene, but Efrem Smith suggested ten ways that each of us can honor King in our own lives. At Bethel we heard a truly inspiring chapel talk [...]

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