Read Strength to Love Martin Luther King Jr 9780800697402 Books

Product details Paperback 168 pages Publisher Fortress Press; Gift edition (January 10, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 0800697405

Strength to Love Martin Luther King Jr 9780800697402 Books Reviews

• King's preaching shines in this book. Though assessed mostly for his speeches and letters relating specifically to civil rights, King's strength in preaching through a text of Scripture is underappreciated by many. I believe King is especially strong and insightful when he comes to the parables of Jesus.
  
  The other thing this book taught me is that it is impossible to separate King's religious views from his views on societal reformation. King's religious views motivated and propelled his desire for social change. So those who talk and write about King should not diminish this aspect of his life. King's life work is explicitly Christian. In a world where religion is routinely abused, rejected, shunned and sequestered, King stands as a ray of hope for all who would want to live out their faith in the public square.
• This is the most beautiful and transformative book I've ever read. The power of Dr. King's message is undeniable. This book goes beyond what one would expect from a compilation of sermons... Full of logic and free of judgement. This is a book that you will read again and again and it will move your heart and inspire your mind. The text is about love, I would imagine that all people can relate to Dr. King's words regardless of their specific religious beliefs. It transcends religion and speaks to humanity and true morality. If you ever consider what can be done to make this world just a little better, read this book and share it with others.
• This is one of those rare books that can change your life. After reading this book I don't know how anyone could ever again be for segregation or believe that God created any class of people to be "less than." I also don't know how anyone could comfortably sit on the sidelines when they witness any form of injustice taking place. Dr. King made religion come alive in loving action and left us an example to follow if we want a better America and a better world.
• The speech I watched him give in Kansas City is included in this book. The concept if Paul wrote a letter to the Americans, what would he say? His wisdom is a treasure and this book is now a part of my permanent collection. If only we lived up to these ideas...
• NO WORDS CAN EXPRESS how grateful I am to have a hard back copy of this book. I grew up in the time Martin Luther King marched for civil rights and against war. But what I did not initially realize was, this book is first run, first edition!!!!! Unbelievable that I should end up with this. It's just a gift from God. (for under $20 dollars!!!). It was initially a "good" read back in the 60s, but MLK actually prophesies about what is taking place today, with the president we currently have(2017), and the ugly bitterness we are seeing & experiencing. Where the Spirit of G-d is, there is the Spirit of prophecy....and it is still true! So grateful that someone like this man walked the earth!
  I learn more every day, as I read this book. Good to stay "teachable"!
• This is a collection of sermons that have been edited for book format. I discussed this with a group of professors, retired professors, retired professionals, and others. We all like it. My graduate degrees are in English and divinity and it is exactly the sort of book I like to read, but in our group there are people who don't have the same background and they found that it's a bit more accessible than some of the books we've read together. So I think it would have a wide appeal. There is a sermon on how a Christian should view Communism. Some of my group felt that it was his response to his critics so that he wouldn't be considered a communist. That may be the context, but I felt that he made some good points that could still apply today. So some felt that sermon was more dated than the rest. The others are a bit more timeless. Of course, MLK is quoted a good bit and there are quite a few quotable places in here. "Destructive means cannot bring constructive ends..." p101. Some people consider MLK a civil rights leader but forget that he was a Baptist pastor. The sermons give a great deal of insight into how he viewed how spiritual life should affect social change. It's a great social justice resource.
• "Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit."
  
  I consider Martin Luther King, Jr. one of my heroes for many reasons. First, he stood up for what is right even when it wasn't popular. His persistence for justice constantly put his life and his family's life at risk but he understood the importance of what he was doing. Second, he advocated for nonviolence and loving his enemies, though he had every right to belittle his adversaries.
  
  But what made him such a great leader - what made him such an influential force - was his faith in Christ and extensive education. Martin Luther King, Jr. perfectly integrated his faith and learning. "Strength to Love" is his most esteemed work because, as his widow Coretta Scott King stated, it explains "his belief in a divine, loving presence that binds all life."
  Throughout the book, King constantly quotes the Torah, the Psalms, the prophets, the words of Jesus and letters from the Apostle. Additionally King cites the Shakespeare, William Wilberforce, James Russell Lowell, Henry David Thoreau, and others. Martin Luther King was not only a very devout Christian; he was also very intelligent and well-read scholar. He used his strong faith in God and his powerful intellect to change the world.
  
  "Strength to Love" is one of the most motivating books I have read in a while. Written nearly fifty years ago, the words of Dr. King still ring true today. I encourage everyone to pick this book up.