There was a time when the church was very powerful -- in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey Gad rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.
This is an excerpt from a letter that Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, while he was serving time in a Birmingham, Alabama jail. It is dated April 16, 1963.
The entirety of the letter is here:
I firmly believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't targeted because he was a black man, with the intent to free his people from racist oppression. I believe that Martin Luther King, Jr. was sought out to be stopped because he was an individual attempting to start a movement. His words are Christ centered. He simply was crying out for support and help. God doesn't say we can do it alone. We need God's strength to band together, as brothers...as one unit, to help free ourselves. God made us all free. It is our own self, that causes us to be enslaved, with the sin of this world. I challenge you to read this letter, and just like Martin Luther King, Jr. did, fight for your freedom...under God.
Be free
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