The writing of Martin Luther King, Jr. have shaped Glenn's thinking in a major way over the past five years - and they're going to play a big role in what he does in the months and years ahead. In order to get a look into what Glenn is thinking, he has decided to share some of the readings that are having a huge impact on his thinking, as well as some of the key passages.
The first reading he wants to share comes from MLK's sermon "Guidelines for a Constructive Church", delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on 5 June 1966. This speech deals heavily with the role of the church and the role of preachers, both in spiritual matters and matters of the physical world. It is a message as important today as it was in the 1960s.
You can read it in full it here via The King Center.
Here are some key passages that Glenn has highlighted as heavily influencing his thinking:
Paragraph 3:
"we who are followers of Jesus Christ, and we who must keep his church going and keep it alive, also have certain basic guidelines to follow...There are some guidelines that my church must follow."
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me...These are the guidelines."
Paragraph 4:
"You see, the church is not a social club, although some people think it is....The church is not an entertainment center. Monkeys are to entertain, not preachers."
Paragraph 5:
"But in the final analysis the church has a purpose. The church is dealing with man's ultimate concern. And therefore it has certain guidelines that it must follow."
Paragraph 11-12
"The church must say to men and woman that Good Friday is a fact of life...If the church is true to its guidelines, it heals the broken-hearted."
Paragraph 13:
"And the preacher does nothing to free them from their prejudice so often...another group sitting up there who would really like to do something about racial injustice, but they are afraid of social, political, and economic reprisals, so they end up silent."
Listen to it below: