Martin Luther King Explains Spiritual Death
Marting Luther King and Lyndon Johnson
War. The damning choice of hate and evil.
That is the conclusion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered to a congregation of concerned laity and clergy at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967 in his speech, “Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence.”
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
Martin Luther King: War Protester
Perhaps you’re asking this question: Why was Dr. King…a nonviolent protester of civil rights abuse…protesting the Vietnam war?
Good question. Let me explain.
Dr. King saw his breaking of silence on the war a natural reaction: “I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor.”
In what was about an hour long speech, King argued that when money is siphoned off of a social program for the poor, he could only see the war as an enemy of the poor.
Destroying Black Youth
More importantly, though, King saw Vietnam as a war that destroyed the lives of young poor black and white men…men he was trying to liberate.
In essence, a war that plundered the ghettos to fill it’s army fighting a tiny, weak nation 8,000 miles away…but didn’t allow these same men to sit together on a bus…smacked of spiritual death.
America’s soul was in danger of becoming totally poisoned. We must repent, King urged. And to atone for our sins and errors, we must take the initiative to end the tragic war.
My Two Reactions to This Speech
Two things happened when I walked away from this speech:
1. I was reminded of John MacArthur’s sermon “A Nation Abandoned by God.”
2. And I was convinced Dr. King’s speech would not work today.
Let me deal with the second reaction first.
Perhaps I have a shallow view of the war in Iraq and Afghanastan. But I don’t think we are plundering the poor to protect the luxuries of the middle and high class.
Yet, I’m really not in a position to argue. I’ve only been fed limited, second hand facts.
However, I’m in agreement with King that war makes aggressors strange liberators. Slip into the enemies shoes and your perspective changes.
How Should You Respond?
I’m also in agreement with Dr. King that all people are targets for the Gospel–Communists, Marxists, extreme Muslims.
Even Americans.
John MacArthur concluded his “Abandoned by God” sermon by saying that God only wanted one thing out of this nation: We should all pray for faithful people and preachers to clearly proclaim the Gospel across this land.
In my opinion, faithful preachers like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
What Do You Think?
Tell me: Do you agree with King’s assessment of the Vietnam war and the condition of America’s soul? Do you agree with MacArthur’s indictment? Do you agree with my reaction?
Leave your thoughts in the comments. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
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6 Comments to Martin Luther King Explains Spiritual Death
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
Of course, this assumes that 1) goverment is obliged to engage in programs of “social uplift” and 2) government can actually do something about poverty. Neither is without debate.
I think you have made an amazing point. I would tend to have your same perspective but love the point made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is very well done post man. I will be back to read more.
I very much agree with Rev. King’s critique of the Vietnam war. I think his thoughts on the issue were precise, though I wish I knew more about the social climate in the 1960/70’s.
I love the conclusions that you have come to here, we’re not always right (nor given all available information) and we need to be in constant prayer for the people making the decisions, even the ones we didn’t elect… There is a definitely a form liberation that needs to occur here.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Demian FarnworthJanuary 19, 2009
@Nathan Davis: Thank you for the kind words. Appreciate the support.
@Archie: I’m with you. People forget: Christianity is inherently non-violent.
AndyFebruary 2, 2010
“Perhaps I have a shallow view of the war in Iraq and Afghanastan. But I don’t think we are plundering the poor to protect the luxuries of the middle and high class.”
Love you brother, but you are terribly naive. That is EXACTLY why we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. I must tell you — after being raised a devout, conservative Christian and after attending a conservative Christian college, and all that — one of the main reasons I left the faith was because almost all the Christians I knew supported the horrible wars we fight. I can’t imagine anything less “Christ-like.”
Yes, there are are some pacifist Christians out there, but not anywhere enough of them. When the world looks at America, they see a nation of war-crazed Christians, and they’re essentially right. Breaks my heart.
Hey Andy,
Not sure, but I think our discussion drifted to a new post…
While I’d disagree with you about the religious nature about those wars, you seem to know something I don’t, so I’ll concede.
Anyway, yeah, I understand your frustration. You won’t be happy, but I once supported the war. And still do. But not to the level of intensity before.
Do you believe in just war? Or all wars no good?
Also, even if this was an unjust war, it’s only indicative that we are all corrupt–not just Christians. Thus, in need of a savior.
As someone once stated, “Jesus is classy, it’s his followers who are morons.”
That’s why, in the end, we look to Christ–not man–for redemption.
By the way, you don’t believe that a person can be a Christian and a pacifist? Indeed there are plenty who are pacifist and didn’t support the war.
I’m guessing this wasn’t the only reason you bailed on Christianity. Am I right?
Take care, Andy.
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January 19, 2009