The dream

On Monday, our nation honors Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential people of the 20th century and in the history of our nation.

As I reflect on King, his mission, and his legacy, I am reminded of the words he spoke as he stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial...

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

While I believe progress has been made towards this dream, there is still much to do. We have passed laws, but laws have not been, and never will be, the ultimate weapon against racism.

Dr. King understood that as well. While he fought against a legal system that often supported racism, he knew that the real battle was about more than laws.

King said, "Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless."

Racism is sin. And like every other sin, you cannot pass laws that get at the core of the problem, changing someone's heart. No matter how many laws we pass, we cannot eliminate racism.

Should we pass laws to restrain racism? Absolutely! But don't think that a few laws will win the war.

The war against racism is a part of the war against sin. And sin can only be overcome by the power of Christ. 

Unfortunately, the church at times has been a participant in racism. But the imperfection of the church does't change the message of Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote, "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28 NIV)

In Christ, there is race, but no racism. Sexes, but no sexism. Differences, but no division.

One day, there will be a world where there are no divisions or hate. But until that day when Christ returns, his followers are called to be ambassadors of light, striving to partner with God to make all things new. This was Dr. King's dream. This is God's dream. And it should be the dream of every follower of Jesus.

shine!

Jason