January 15 marks the birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Take a moment today to reflect on his legacy.
Today is the birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now a U.S. national holiday, January 15 affords Americans (and, for that matter, people around the world) the opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of one of the greatest civil rights leaders in world history.
Since the focus of this particular website is Protestant Christianity, it is only appropriate to take a moment to contemplate the Christianity of Dr. King. There has been considerable debate as to the specifics of Dr. King's theology or whether he retained a traditional, orthodox view of Jesus Christ. Excerpts from some of his seminary writings indicate that he did not subscribe to the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and perhaps not the physical resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion.
More on this subject can be found at the following link...
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/king.htm
These are not small matters, as they speak to the very nature of Jesus Christ. The deity of Jesus Christ is a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith, and it would appear that Dr. King may not have embraced it.
In his post-seminary life, Dr. King's focus was more on civil rights and serving the poor than on the finer points of theology. Accordingly, no matter the specifics of his faith, few men embodied the Christlike quality of selfless sacrifice and service, at least in the 20th century, as much as Dr. King. He remains an example for us all.
