The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles o popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the value of conviction and the role of the Church in shaping societal values.
Martin Luther King, Jr. reflects on the early Christians' willingness to endure suffering for their beliefs, showcasing a deep commitment to their faith. He contrasts the Church's historical role as not just a passive observer of societal trends but as an active force that influences and changes societal norms, emphasizing the transformative power of strong convictions in the face of adversity.
In practice
This quote can be used in a sermon to inspire conviction among believers.
This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice and love.
Music is the best consolation for a despaired man
We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.
We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
Israel... is one of the great outpost of democracy in the world
One of the greatest casualties of the war in Vietnam is the Great Society... shot down on the battlefield of Vietnam.
We must want for others, not ourselves alone.
A written discourse on any subject is bound to contain much that is fanciful.
The real test of a man is not when he plays the role that he wants for himself but when he plays the role destiny has for him.
Pity was meant to be a spur that drives joy to help misery. But it can be used the wrong way round. It can be used for a kind of blackmailing. Those who choose misery can hold joy up to ransom, by pity.
Ill gotten gains will be ill spent.
By the time you rise through the ranks, the culture of homogenization has bred the spirit and imagination out of you.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.