Recent letters published by descendants of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and members of the International Bonhoeffer Society denouncing misuse of the German theologian’s legacy illustrate a much bigger problem: The false conversion of iconic people to suit the needs of modern-day conservatives….
From King to Trump
Watching Donald Trump take over the American political church months ago in Iowa on the holiday that celebrates Martin Luther King, it became clear how far the church has fallen from the teachings of Jesus Christ. In King, the American…
How MLK’s questions became my questions too
When Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in April 1963, I was a sophomore Bible major at a church-related college in the South, studying to become a preacher. None of my professors suggested that I read…
A death wish granted
On April 4, 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. called on the United States to lead the world in what he termed “a radical revolution of values” during a speech at Riverside Church in New York City. He urged the United…
A musical playlist for commemorating Martin Luther King
As I write, the fifth day of Eastertide (which began on Easter eve and ending 50 days later on Pentecost Sunday) draws close. As does the moment in 1968 when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated while standing just outside…
John MacArthur says MLK was not a Christian and The Gospel Coalition is ‘woke’
The Gospel Coalition is “woke,” and Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t a Christian at all, according to John MacArthur. The influential pastor of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles and host of the “Grace to You” broadcast told members of…
Is God the partner of racists?
I am having trouble understanding, or making sense of, what I am hearing and seeing in this country. So many white people — and plenty of non-whites as well — are fully committed to the former president. Nothing he has…
The silence of our friends
If you were to survey the most significant decades in human history, the late 1950s to late 1960s undoubtedly would be at the top of the list because of the Civil Rights Movement, better known as the Southern Black Freedom…
Black church still needed as much as in MLK’s day, youth leader says
Bianca Howard grew up in the Black church and believes it has a continued role in American faith and culture. On this anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther King Jr., she finds his legacy an encouragement for the Black…