The video with Martin Luther King is kind of short, but it is to the point. It gives us all something we need to contemplate.
If we live long enough, odds are good we will see a crisis that envelopes the entire world. Then we will surely see all our neighbors anxious, afraid, and wondering what to do.
Have I ever seen one of those times? No. Not really, but I expect I will soon. About ten years ago I wrote a couple of posts on a book called The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe:
Admittedly, when I wrote the posts, I let myself get a bit mixed up about the author’s terminology. Because I was so startled by how the events of the day were replicating those of the past, in my amazement I managed to conflate the word “unraveling” with “crisis”.
This Wikipedia article explains Strauss’ and Howe’s theory better than my posts:
Strauss–Howe generational theory.
According to that Wikipedia article, we are already is the midst of the crisis. We are just waiting for things to get real serious. We are waiting for the next great war to start.
Our people and our leaders are angry, ready to leap at each other throats. Our economy is dragging. The values of our society are degenerating. Our foreign policy remains a mess. Nations around the globe are building up their arsenals. God seems far away.
Has God left us or is the problem within us? Are we already dead, or do we have the right kind of faith in our Lord? In God’s name, are you ready to stand up for right, truth, and justice?
Matthew 5:1-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Beatitudes
5 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As Dr. Daniel B. Wallace says, one thing we need to do when talking about the historicity of the New Testament is avoid two extremes: radical skepticism on the one end and absolute certainty on the other.
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