Martin Luther King Jr.

Jessica Brown
Sep 23, 2024
4 min read

Martin Luther King, Jr., made powerful contributions to racial equality in America, and his words have made a lasting mark on our culture. His oratorical power is undeniable, and it’s important to acknowledge those ideas that align with a biblical worldview, such as the line in King’s dream speech of “a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

While King has become an untouchable figure for many, we have concerns about aspects of his life and beliefs that do not align with historic Christian orthodoxy. King was a complex figure, and our aim is not to vilify him but to evaluate his legacy biblically and historically.

Historical Background

Martin Luther King, Jr. emerged as a central figure during the American civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. This was a time when legalized racial segregation, widespread discrimination and social unrest were daily realities. As a Baptist minister, King became a prominent spokesperson for nonviolent resistance, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and framing the struggle for civil rights in moral and religious terms. His powerful rhetoric resonated with many Americans, and he played a key role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington.

King’s ability to articulate the injustice of racial discrimination, especially in his speeches and sermons, helped mobilize public opinion and contributed to legislative changes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For many Americans, King became the voice of the civil rights movement.

Since his assassination in 1968, King has become an icon in American culture. His words are frequently quoted, his image invoked, and his life commemorated as a moral touchstone for discussions of race and justice. This cultural elevation results in a simplified portrayal of King, emphasizing select themes while overlooking the broader context of his beliefs, influences, and worldview.

Theology

While King’s role in advancing civil rights is historically significant, Christians seeking to think biblically about his legacy must also consider aspects of his beliefs and worldview that do not align with historic Christian orthodoxy. King’s stated theological positions included elements that many Christians would find inconsistent with Scripture.

For example, in an essay called “The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus,” King critiques the idea of Jesus’s inherent divinity in literal terms, instead emphasizing His moral and ethical significance. In the introduction to The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Volume 1: Called to Serve, editor Clayborne Carson notes that “[King] rejected literal interpretations of Christian beliefs that contradicted ‘the laws of modern science,’ insisting instead that such beliefs—the divinity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the second coming, and the bodily resurrection—should be understood metaphorically.”

King’s theological liberalism would disqualify him from pastoral ordination in any biblically faithful denomination. Today, he would likely be considered a progressive Christian.

Ideology

One of our concerns is King’s sympathy for democratic socialism and his critique of American capitalism. In a 1952 letter to his future wife, Coretta Scott, King described himself as “much more socialistic in my economic theory than capitalistic,” suggesting that America might need to move toward nationalized industries and a more socialized distribution of wealth. Christians can and do disagree about economic systems, but King’s economic views were part of a broader ideological framework not rooted in a biblical understanding of human flourishing.

While King rejects communism and the idea of revolution in the same letter to Coretta, other evidence reflects his engagement with left-wing ideologies. He studied a range of secular philosophers, including Marx, Nietzsche, Niebuhr, and Hegel. Many individuals in King’s circle were affiliated with the Communist Party USA at various times, and these connections influenced the social vision that emerged from King’s circle and later shaped movements within and beyond the church.

Marital Infidelity

While King is celebrated for his moral leadership and commitment to civil rights, historical records indicate that his personal life was more complicated. Declassified FBI files, as well as Ralph Abernathy’s memoir The Walls Came Tumbling Down, suggest that King engaged in extramarital relationships, including fathering a child outside marriage. In her memoir I Shared the Dream: The Pride, Passion and Politics of the First Black Woman Senator from Kentucky, Georgia Davis Powers provides a firsthand account of her year-long intimate relationship with King.

These revelations highlight the contrast between King’s public persona and private conduct. Scholars and biographers acknowledge that his personal failings are part of the historical record, and Christians must recognize the full picture of King’s life, including his moral failings, as part of pursuing truth.

Seeking Truth and a Broader Perspective

While a gifted leader and passionate advocate for justice, King was also a flawed, sinful man like the rest of us. A full understanding of his life allows us to see both his achievements and missteps. It also allows us to recognize how his ideas contributed to the social justice movements we see today. We encourage Christians to research King for themselves, discuss his ideas with their children, and view him as one character in the broader story of the civil rights movement in America.