MLK on the Church - "A Knock at Midnight"

If the church does not recapture it's prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. If the church does not participate actively in the struggle for peace and for economic and racial justice, it will forfeit the loyalty of millions and cause men everywhere to say that it has atrophied it's will.

But if the church will free itself from the shackles of a deadening status quo and, recovering its great historic mission, will speak and act fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind and fire the souls of men, imbuing them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice and peace. Men far and near will know the church as a great fellowship of love that provides light and bread for lonely travelers at midnight.

- Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's sermon, 'A Knock at Midnight'.

I truly love the Church. My heart resonates with what Dr. King says here. I truly believe that the church, by extending the Kingdom of God into the world, is the answer to the world's problems. If we can get our focus off the kingdom of this age, and the desires that cloud our vision, we can and will change the world as we wait with expectancy for the return of Christ.

I see the credit union project, our youth financial literacy project and the like as part of the answer, and part of my role as pastor and member of the glorious Body of Christ.

Q. What do you see the role of the church in society? How is your church changing the world? Do you agree / disagree with Dr. King?

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