Last Sunday, I watched Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety, something I've probably not done since high school.
First, I'd never realized how much of his theme comes directly from Scripture. Freedom and justice are not exactly side issues in the Bible. It's easy for us to overlook the Bible's influence in America's fight for human rights, but it's clear that King drew heavily from what God has to say about the issue.
Second, a few tears rolled down my face as I realized that what he was saying about the oppression of African Americans in my country still applies to plight of the enslaved around the world. The fight for equality in the United states has not been won. It's better, but we're not there. And it feels that the fight on behalf of the enslaved has barely begun.
But King painted a vision of the world where freedom would ring from every mountaintop, to every valley, to every person. He quoted the Bible when he said, "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."
This is God's vision for His creation. And it inspires me to keep crying out to Him to show me how to bring justice and freedom to His world. I know that can't do it on my own. I know it won't be fully enacted until Jesus returns. But I know that this is God's theme: That all the oppressed—both physically and spiritually—would know freedom, justice and mercy; that they would see His love and compassion for them; that they would see His love through us as we fight for them.
If you would like to read the entire speech, click on the title of this post. I believe there is also a link to the video.
Thanks, and a very late Happy MLK Day to all.
