I Have A Dream...

When do you dream? Some only dream when they're asleep. Some dream also when awake.

What do you dream for? Some dream only for themselves. Some dream for themselves and others.

Why do you dream? Some don't know why they dream for. Others do.

The thing is, all who dream during the day, dream through the lens of their worldview.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his now world renown 'I Have A Dream' speech. King paints in vividly robust words, a dream that was fueled by the nightmare of his time. Men and women were created equal but were not treated equal.

Why did King's dream capture the heart of so many? Because it is a dream rooted in truth. All men and women are created equal. This is truth that is self-evident but was evidently not practiced. Dr. King was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement that reformed America in ways that allowed it to begin to live up to the Declaration of Independence, written 187 years ago at the time the 'I Have A Dream' speech was given. Dr. King's worldview was influenced by Christianity, a religion that gives value to all humanity. America's founding Fathers were smart to allow the Holy Bible to influence their building of this nation. That Bible helped them come up with this profoundly true statement in the Declaration of Independence (US 1776),

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Has Dr. King's dream come true? Some may conclude yes, some may conclude no. Whatever your conclusion may be, you can't deny Dr. King's good influence on America during his time. But what about our time? What about 2021? Why is the renown "I Have A Dream" phrase being replaced with "Black Lives Matter." The difference can be traced back to the worldview behind each phrase.

The Black Lives Matter organization, which is different from the Black Lives Matter phrase itself, has leaders who have made clear that they are Marxist, which was founded by Karl Mark. He was a German philosopher, sociologists, and socialists revolutionary who lived in the 1800's. Karl Marx was an atheist, and that worldview influenced his ideologies. Vladimir Lenin, in his book "Religion" said, "Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism."

The Black Lives Matter organization believes they are fighting for justice in our time, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for civil rights in his. The movement should, more or less, be fighting for the same things.... right? No. Dr. King was leading a movement that demonstrated in peaceful ways that they wanted equal rights. The B.L.M. organization is leading a movement that is not wanting equal rights, but "better" rights, and they desire to revolutionize life in America as so many people know it. We're living in a time where real concerns about injustice and evil are being confronted by groups whose worldview does not inherently value life. Atheism fails to give value and purpose to life because they believe there is no creator.

You see now? This is the point, when your worldview says that we have no reason for our existence, we are here by mere accident, and that there is no intelligent design behind the universe, then humans are created in the image of nothing. No value, no reason, no hope. Talking about our life being accidents, Bertrand Russell, an agnostic who also considered himself an atheist at times states "Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be safely built.” Wow, are you catching this? DESPAIR. This is the foundation of the Atheistic worldview that many people have who are fighting for "justice" in the 21st century.

Here's the foundation of the Christian worldview,

"Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." from Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV).

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." from John 15:13 (NKJV)

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." from 1 John 4:11 (ESV)

Wow, are you catching this? LOVE. This is the foundation of the Christian worldview that Dr. King had while fighting for justice and civil rights in the 20th century.

What do you get when Christians are silent on important matters that bother the conscience of the people in their nation? The Black Lives Matter Organization is an example in the 21st century. When a worldview built on pure love doesn't stand up behind the pulpit and speak against evil, a worldview built on "unyielding despair" leaps at the chance to speak.

Dr. King dreamt for equality. The Black Lives Matter Organization wants power. Dr. King dreamt for his "kids" to live in a nation "where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." The Black Lives Matter Organization want their people to be on top, despite their character. Dr. King dreamt for "justice to roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."(Which is actually a bible verse found in Amos 5:24). While the Black Lives Matter Organization chants "No Justice, No Peace" and proceeded to show us what that meant in several protests that turned into riots back in 2020. Dr. King realized that we are all a part of the same human race. No people group is better than any other. I am a black man, made in the image of God. I don't disagree with the phrase "Black Lives Matter" but I do disagree with the B.L.M. Organization. Why? Because of their worldview. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a blessing to the Civil Rights movement and America because of the foundation of his worldview, LOVE. This worldview has not only helped the United States of America but several different societies throughout the ages. Read "How Christianity Changed the World" by Alvin J. Schmidt and you'll see the track record of this pure love based religion. On the other hand, look at other nations where Marxists ideology was followed by the governmental leaders and see how the foundation of "unyielding despair" is evident. When Atheism says we were created for no reason and in the image of no one, it doesn't matter how we treat other people. It doesn't matter who gets "stepped" on while one is on their way to the top. But when Christianity says we are created in the Imago Dei, Image of God, than it does matter how we treat other people. It isn't by "accident" that the famous "Good Samaritan" story is found in the Holy Bible (Luke 10:25-37). Read that story and tell me if this one word, LOVE, explains it? It's January 18, 2021 and we're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King Day, thank you Dr. King for having a dream. Do you have a dream? If so, is it based on love and does it include others? I leave with you the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in the book "Strength to Love"

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Lenin, V. I. (2007). Religion. King, M. and King, C., n.d. Strength To Love. Boston: Beacon Press. Bertrand Russell, “A Free Man’s Worship” Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays (New York: Longmans, Green & Co., 1918), 46.