Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister and social activist, was a prominent leader of the civil rights movement in the U.S. from the mid-1950s until his death by assassination in 1968. Due to his dynamic leadership of the Civil Rights movement and his steadfast commitment to the achievement of racial justice through nonviolent means, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
King was drawn to the nonviolent civil disobedience of Mahatma Gandhi. He believed that Gandhi was “probably the first person in history to lift the love ethic of Jesus above mere interaction between individuals to a powerful and effective social force on a large scale.” King felt that “Christ furnished the spirit and motivation, and Gandhi furnished the method.”
Inspired and influenced by the teachings of Gandhi, King traveled to India in 1959. In a radio address made during his visit, King stated, “Today we no longer have a choice between violence and nonviolence; it is either nonviolence or nonexistence.” Encouraged and motivated by Gandhi’s nonviolent methods to end British rule in India, King used nonviolent means to effect change in the U.S.
His legacy, however, continues to influence more than just our nation. His actions in the U.S., in turn, inspired many other societies to effect change through nonviolent means, including Nelson Mandela’s struggle to end apartheid in South Africa and the Solidarity movement’s cracking of Soviet occupation in Poland.
Although King is known for his fight to end racial differences in the U.S., he is regarded as a leader of all people, standing beside his goals and beliefs of winning the rights of the people through nonviolent protests. Even when he himself suffered at the hands of his opposition, King vowed to take the high road. He knew that violence and retaliation would only fuel the hateful assumptions many people had regarding civil rights activists.
In his famous I Have a Dream speech, he stated, “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” He went on to add, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”
King was a good example Christians can follow when they find themselves in difficult and heated situations. The philosophical basis on which Geneva College rests, referred to as the Foundational Concepts of Christian Education, correspond with many of the same beliefs King himself espoused. Early in his career as an activist, he stated, “We must keep God in the forefront. Let us be Christian in all our actions.” King went on to remind his followers, “Love is one of the pinnacle parts of the Christian faith. There is another side called justice, and justice is really love in calculation.”
Martin Luther King Day has been designated as a national day of service in the U.S. when Americans are encouraged to celebrate “a day on, not a day off” in honor of King’s commitment to improving the lives of others. Feeling drawn to become a pastor, he shared, “My call to ministry was not a miraculous or supernatural something. On the contrary, it was an inner urge calling me to serve humanity.” Following in his footsteps, consider some type of volunteer activity you can do on “your day on” to serve humanity.
If you’d like to learn more about professions that enable you to serve wholeheartedly and faithfully in your life’s work or want to learn more about a biblically based, Christ-centered education at Geneva, we’d love to chat with you. For more information on how Geneva College can help you pursue your education goals, please phone us at 855-979-5563 or email web@geneva.edu.Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jan 20, 2020
Anxiety is incredibly common, and is especially common among young adults. So if you are struggling with anxiety, here are some tips from Amy Solman on how to manage anxiety.
As social media continues to grow in popularity, how might Christians be able to use social media to serve God and serve others? Read here for a few ideas!
Sickness spreads quickly on college campuses. Here are a few tips to help you avoid catching a cold or virus!
Read to learn about tips to stay healthy, rested, and connected for college athletes in the off-season.
Saving money in college is hard. Here are 9 financial tips that can help you save money and make the most out of your time as a student.
Why is sleep important? And how can you get more of it in college?
Exam season can be stressful. These 10 tips can help you feel confident going in to any exam!
Learning a new language can help you advance your career, understand other cultures, enhance your memory skills, help you to be a better communicator, stimulate your brain power, and more. Here are 6 tips to help you get started on your language learning journey.
In the midst of the chaos, it’s crucial we remember to take time to improve our mental health. For those of you who are so busy that your only chance to breathe is a bathroom break, I’ve composed a list of 4 ways you can engage in mindfulness without skipping class.
With many of us in the Northern Hemisphere experiencing that summer sun lately, I think we could use some helpful and creative ways to keep cool during the rest of this summer. Not every person owns an air conditioning unit and even if you do, you might want to save some money. So, without further ado here are ten good ideas for keeping it cool this summer.
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
