Spiritual Leadership

The Spiritual Leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King

Denise I Ratliff
MIN-350 Spiritual Formation of Christian Leaders
Grand Canyon University
April 19, 2014





Spiritual Leadership

Spiritual Leadership of Dr Martin Luther King




Martin Luther King was an ordained pastor; He is more commonly known and
remembered as being a famous civil rights advocate. But, his true title as being a pastor
was overlooked but it was an important aspect of who he was. He held many titles to who
he was; he was considered first and foremost a civil rights activist, social change agent or
social activist and world figure. His calling was being a preacher or a Christian pastor.
To him, his pastoral commitment was central to everything he achieved or sought among
men and the church.

His calling was always there following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather
and great grandfather all three generations were pastors. Carrying on the family business
at the age of twenty-five Dr. King finish his doctoral dissertation at Boston University he
was then appointed as the local pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery
Alabama. Formerly called the Second Colored Baptist Church, Dexter Avenue Baptist
Church was founded in 1877. In 1954 the church hired Dr. King and he became the
twentieth pastor since the beginnings of the church. In that time era there were internal as
well as external tension, great unrest. The members looked for a person that was
noncontroversial who they said could help restore the morale among the black people.

Dr. King arrived with a thirty-four-point plan in his leadership for the future of
the church. Most of Dr. King history is known to have taken place in Montgomery
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Alabama. His purpose was not to lead a boycott but to be the pastor at Dexter Avenue
Baptist church. His spiritual presence was well known in the community and around the
nation, he became the most inspiring spiritual leaders of the church and nation by his
immediate and deepening impact on the people and the rights of people. He had the
ability to spiritually connect with all that where a part of the church by engaging others to
help letting all know that all are needed. It was important to him to pastor people as well
as lead them in social movements.

While Dr. King was establishing to become the people spiritual leader, racial
tension was rising in the South. All change the moment Ms. Rosa Parks was arrested for
refusing to give up her seat on a bus. This is when Dr. King took his views outside of the
church, peacefully speaking in protest the civil rights of human beings (not just for the
black people, but for all people that are persecuted). His saw this form of leadership as
an extension to pastoring people. Dr. King felt that being a spiritual leader was his
calling to be a civil rights leader. His thoughts and actions came first from being a
spiritual leader, because he knew that God was a God of justice, mercy and reckoning,
this is why he became deeply involved with the civil rights movement. Ministering to
both the church and to the movement, he preached on a local level and to a larger
community, he was a pastor to a nation. He always responded to the national needs of
people because he was very interested in the
soul of our nation and showing his determination to redeem the soul of the nation.

Spiritual Leadership
Dr. King felt that being a spiritual leader and a pastor had to have relevancy. He
felt that it was important to speak and face the issues in ones present time and have the
ability to relate the gospel and the biblical revelation to the socially impacted issued and
concerns of anyones time. Dr. King had his own unique world-view to righteousness.
There was a time at the height of his leadership; he stood to address a gathering. While
being present on the stage before speaking an unidentified man rushed to the podium and
began hitting Dr. King in the face. The godly leader with great humility told his
associates that wanted to tear the man from limb to limb not to strike the man. Dr. Kings
lacking to take actions would galvanize the movement on that day, as those who
witnessed the assault in the crowded auditorium saw a man instinctively practice the very
non-violent philosophy he so eloquently preached. Dr. King emulated one of the divine
attributes of Jesus as he followed in the footsteps of the God-man who lay down his
rights for the benefit of others thus marking the true spiritual leadership of a person. But
I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them
the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your
coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.(Matthew
5:39-41, NIV).

Dr. King characteristics of spiritual leadership displays that there is understanding
to being a spiritual leader. His spiritual teachings always included views about what is in
the Bible, especially what it says about love, honor, racism and persecution. As a
spiritual and civil rights leader he associated himself with people either personally or
with his speeches and writings. He did not have material ambitions because it has been
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shown that his drive didnt cross the line of sacred ethics and eternal principle. In his
leadership, he was a considerate leader that became popular nationwide, he was grounded
on internal spiritual principles that in turned he unknowingly achieved success and
popularity. He considered himself an insignificant by product of justice for other people,
he felt he was a leader of substance, his victory over what is lower in nature humbled
him, and because of it I believe that it help him in his leadership and led him to be
stronger and more considerate of others weaknesses. He was a definitely a spiritual
leader.















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References

Lischer, Richard. The Preacher King: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Word That Moved
America. New York: Oxford UP, 1995. Print.
NIV Women's Devotional Bible 2: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Pub. House, 1995. Print.

Radhanath Swami | Leadership and Spirituality." Radhanath Swami Leadership and
Spirituality. N.p., n.d. Web.17 Apr. 2014.
http://www.leadershipandspirituality.com.