If You Want to Learn More about MLK, Jr.

United Methodist Bishop Ken Carter wrote this earlier today, and it’s with his graciously expressed permission that I share it with you —

If you want to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I highly recommend Richard Lischer’s The Preacher King: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Word that Moved America (Oxford University Press). It is a thorough examination of his calling, the work of preaching, those who were his mentors, the construction and development of his ideas and his relationship with clergy colleagues. Dr. Lischer was my preaching professor at Duke Divinity School. Reading this book only heightened my admiration for Dr. King

King once said, “In my essence, I am a Baptist preacher”. That sometimes gets lost in the political rhetoric of this day, even among clergy.

I will sometimes hear criticism for quoting Dr. King on this day, and I expect there would be an equal measure of criticism for not pointing toward him. Each year I also try to focus on a different King sermon—that has been “A Knock at Midnight” and “The Drum Major Instinct”, for example. This year it’s “Paul’s Letter to American Christians”.

King may indeed have been one of the four greatest political leaders in our nation’s history (I would also list Jefferson, Lincoln and FDR). He may also be one of our nation’s two most significant theologians (alongside Jonathon Edwards). But he must be regarded as our nation’s greatest preacher.