Dr. Martin Luther King’s book, Strength to Love published in 1963 is a collection of Dr. Kings sermons on the topic of racial segregation in the United States, with heavy emphasis on permanent religious values. The book reflects Dr. King’s deep understanding of the need for agape love, a love that is aimed towards ensuring the well-being of others. King believed in a better world, and he believed that in order to attain this vision we must first face our fears and then master these fears through courage, love, and faith. He preached of courage that all Christians should show in their nonviolent stand against segregation, he believed that all people could possess this strength and courage for we are all made in the image of God.
One of my favorite sermons in the book, “A message to the American Church”, continues to remind me that Dr. King was a man ahead of his time, able to see issues that impacted our country and our world for years to come, some of which we are still dealing with today…hatred, violence, injustice and in many ways segregation, pointing out that although much has changed, much has not.
In, “Strength to Love,” Paul’s letter to American Christians based on Romans 12:1-2, starts off saying, “I would like to share with you an imaginary letter from the pen of the Apostle Paul. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to you, who are in America, grace be unto you and peace, from God the Father, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am told of your great medical advances and the curing of many diseases. You can do many things in your day that I could not do in the Greek-Roman world of my day. But America, I wonder if your moral and spiritual progress has been commensurate with your scientific progress. It appears to me that your moral progress lags behind your scientific progress. I find it necessary to remind you of the responsibility laid upon you to represent the ethical principles of Christianity amid a time that popularity disregards them. I understand that there are many Christians in America who give their ultimate allegiance to manmade systems and customs. They are afraid of being different. You have unconsciously come to believe that what is right is determined by Gallup polls. American Christians, I must say to you what I wrote to the Roman Christians years ago: ‘Be not conformed by this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ You have dual citizenry. You live both in time and eternity. Your highest loyalty is to God, not to the mores or the folkways, the state or the nation, or any man-made institution. If any earthly institution or custom conflicts with God’s will, it is your Christian duty to oppose it.”
I am convinced that Dr. King and the Apostle Paul want us to see that Roman 12:2 reveals an important truth, the world is seeking to mold us and conform us to its image. The problem is the world is broken and if we conform to its image, we too will find ourselves broken. Paul challenges us to view things through a godly lens and not a worldly lens. To be not conformed to this world means that followers of Jesus need to be on constant guard against being conformed to this world.
This imaginary letter to the Christian church written by Dr. King in 1963 is as relevant today as it was in 1963. It is a call to remind believers that we are not citizens of this world and cannot align ourselves with its values or conform to them. Believers are called to unity, let us be on guard to all the ways the world attempts to separate us; God has called us to be a voice for the voiceless, to heal the broken hearted, to stand for justice, let us not conform to those who say this is only for some. We should not be conformed to the world, after all, we are supposed to be a light for the world.
When you find yourself drifting towards what the world says, stay connected to God, remind yourself of God’s truth. “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold,” We should not allow ourselves to be pressed into following the corrupt customs, ungodly principles, or evil plans of action. We must be willing to challenge unjust mores, to champion unpopular causes, and to buck the status quo. This is a good time to be the Church, if we will be the church and not be conformed to this world.
I join the Apostle Paul and Dr. King in closing with,
extend my warmest greetings to all the saints in the household of Christ. Be of good comfort; be of one mind; and live in peace.
And now unto him who is able to keep us from falling and lift us from the dark valley of despair to the bright mountain of hope, from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy, to him be power and authority, for ever and ever Amen.
Rev. Cora W. Taitt