In 1963, there was a letter written to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by a group of clergymen. The clergymen addressed specifically the recent civil right movements in Alabama. These men were not in good spirits about “outsiders” advocating for change because the inconveniences these efforts had caused. Shortly after Dr. King read this outrageous letter he wrote a letter of his own. Dr. King explained how the Negro Community is not the cause of tension. The tension has always been there, they are just bringing it into the light (King, 5).
Dr. King’s response addressed the clergymen who wrote the original letter and also the church. This letter, written from the Birmingham County Jail showed the causes and effects of the issues that white moderate …show more content…
The church’s silence, disapproval, and lack of understanding caused the church to be an enemy to people seeking social justice. The church should joyfully suffer for things that are right, but the White church during this time was bringing suffering for others. The church’s biggest weapon was not using its voice to support. Dr. King’s response was not a slam, but instead it was out of his deep love for the church. “There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love” (King, 8). I think Dr. King is not just disappointed because they are not helping a cause he is passionate about, but because it proves how the church is becoming weak. The history of the church was always bold in standing up for what has been just, regardless the consequence. Most of the members of the body of Christ believe the church has no role in the problem of inequity. For example, “Those are social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern” (King, 8). The fact that people who claimed to follow Christ cannot recognize discrimination as a problem shows they have become desensitized, which puts the church in danger of losing its authenticity (King,
Dr. King’s response addressed the clergymen who wrote the original letter and also the church. This letter, written from the Birmingham County Jail showed the causes and effects of the issues that white moderate …show more content…
The church’s silence, disapproval, and lack of understanding caused the church to be an enemy to people seeking social justice. The church should joyfully suffer for things that are right, but the White church during this time was bringing suffering for others. The church’s biggest weapon was not using its voice to support. Dr. King’s response was not a slam, but instead it was out of his deep love for the church. “There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love” (King, 8). I think Dr. King is not just disappointed because they are not helping a cause he is passionate about, but because it proves how the church is becoming weak. The history of the church was always bold in standing up for what has been just, regardless the consequence. Most of the members of the body of Christ believe the church has no role in the problem of inequity. For example, “Those are social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern” (King, 8). The fact that people who claimed to follow Christ cannot recognize discrimination as a problem shows they have become desensitized, which puts the church in danger of losing its authenticity (King,