We are humans after all, quite vulnerable to negative emotions when provoked. Nonetheless, as Christians, we are taught to nip destructive emotions in the bud and conduct ourselves in a manner befitting a faithful follower of Christ.
1. A Victorious Life Is Achieved by Embracing Our God-Given Purpose
How different my journey would have been if only, during my youthful days, a wise elder had guided and imparted to me the wisdom of seeking God's purpose in all facets of life. Countless heartaches would have been averted, for such a profound understanding would have steered me towards a path of inner peace, meaning, and true joy.
When we align our actions to what God desires for our lives, life's puzzle pieces fall effortlessly into their rightful places.
Martin Luther King Jr. obediently traversed the path God laid out for him, igniting the fire that made him unstoppable even in the face of formidable opposition and hardships. Thus, he stood tall amongst his contemporaries, achieving greatness beyond the ordinary. And in pursuing God’s purpose for his life, his name will be forever etched in the hearts of those whose lives were profoundly transformed through the selfless sacrifices he made.
Maybe you would ask: In what way can it then be asserted that the path to peace and true joy can only be found in pursuing God’s will? Martin Luther did so, and yet he was incarcerated a few times, had bouts of depression, and even died a violent death.
That is all true. If we were to view his life through the lens of men and not of God, it is indeed a miserable life, a life marked by anguish and suffering.
But as Christians, we know what he had: the presence of God’s grace, veiled from sight, yet it became his source of strength that bolstered his resolve and sustained him on his journey.
Thus, despite his frailties, despite the weight of adversity bearing down upon his shoulders, he remained undeterred and refused to succumb to the formidable challenges he had to overcome. We can consider such a feat as nothing short of a miracle. God gave him the grace to move forward and live a life of victory.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
2. We Can Never Resolve Our Differences Through Violence
Conflicts can be resolved through peaceful means, but as the woke movement gained momentum, an increasing number of individuals embraced its precepts. A set of principles not based on tolerance but on vengeance, of exacting retribution against an enemy.
I believe justice should be served, but if exacting justice goes beyond the limits of reason, if it entails physically hurting people, destroying properties, or vilifying people for speaking their minds–then we are pursuing vengeance rather than seeking justice.
Martin Luther King Jr. would not have approved of it had he been alive today because the principles advocated by the woke movement run counter to what he fought for, to what he died for, such as unity, equality, brotherhood, mutual respect, and tolerance.
Like many of you, I am intimately familiar with the seething anger that engulfs a person when subjected to insufferable injustice or derogatory slurs.
We are humans after all, quite vulnerable to negative emotions when provoked. Nonetheless, as Christians, we are taught to nip destructive emotions in the bud and conduct ourselves in a manner befitting a faithful follower of Christ.
I must admit, though, that taming my temper stood as one of my weakest points back in the day.
It just so happened that having a fiery temperament runs in my veins. We may not be physically violent with others, avoiding physical altercations, but that doesn't mean violence can't be unleashed mentally, emotionally, or in the privacy of one's own home.
It's our way of calming ourselves down, releasing pent-up anger that would otherwise fester for days on end.
But as we get older and draw closer to God, the more we get to subdue our anger even when subjected to intense provocation.
To have a forgiving heart, we can remind ourselves of the many sins we have been forgiven and the suffering Jesus had to endure on the cross to atone for our transgressions. We can also play our favorite worship songs whenever waves of anger simmer inside us.
By immersing ourselves with songs that magnify the Lord, we will be filled with God’s Spirit, keeping the enemy’s flaming darts of temptation at bay.
"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." (Proverbs 14:29)
3. Violence Has No Place in the Christian Life
We are duty-bound to strive for peace at all times. Otherwise, if we reject the way of peace, compassion, and forgiveness, we will be steering ourselves toward our own destruction.
We are allowed to seek justice but not vengeance.
Let us be reminded that history attests to the fact that the vast majority of human conflicts can be peacefully resolved. Throughout the ages, it has been proven time and again that although some wars can only be won on the battlefield, not all victories are achieved through warfare.
Each of us grapples with collective (as a society) and personal battles to be fought, but we can do so with grace.
And the inspiring story of Martin Luther King Jr. serves as a vivid reminder of the profound truth that even the fiercest battles can be conquered through nonviolent means.
For Martin Luther King Jr., and for all those who have been transformed by the love of Christ, all lives matter.
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice." (Ephesians 4:31)
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