Introduction
The book “Strength to Love” highlights the major problems and challenges that have been affecting the American society for decades. The author of the book identifies the major obstacles that have made it impossible for very many citizens to realize their potentials. According to the book, the American religious experience has been marked by different ideas and challenges. Since many political and spiritual leaders have used the complexity of America’s religious experience to perpetuate slavery, social intolerance, and discrimination, Christians can transform this past by embracing Martin King’s philosophy of non-violence. This paper explores the book’s ideas about the American religious experience.
“Strength to Love” and the American Religious Experience
Religion has been a major cornerstone of every American society for three centuries. This fact explains why the country supports different religious virtues and values. However, the country has not used Christianity to deal with the issues affecting its society. According to Frank (28), “enmity, inequality, and discrimination have defined the lives of many individuals in the country”. Many Christians from various “religious and socio-cultural backgrounds have failed to achieve their potentials due to such problems” (King 17). Every American citizen should use Luther’s book to change his or her religious experiences.
Martin Luther King uses most of his sermons and ideas to ridicule the American religious experience. The country’s “religious groups have failed to support the best ideas such as patient reasoning” (King 36). The moral actions and ethical values of many American citizens have not produced the best fruits. Religion should therefore “become a new source of inspiration in order to address the issues affecting different individuals in the country” (King 24).
The author offers a unique vision of Christianity. According to the author, Americans should embrace the teachings of Christ. This “practice is necessary because Christ was a nonconformist who supported what is right” (King 57). The book also explains why different Christians have failed to achieve their religious goals. The author examines the weaknesses and malpractices that have defined the lives of many Christians. Many citizens have taken Christianity for granted. Some Christians have “also failed to support God’s ideas and commandments” (King 48). This situation explains why “believers should reexamine their practices and values in order to support their societies” (King 56).
The history of the United States explains why Martin Luther King’s embraces his philosophy of non-violence. According to the book, human beings from all backgrounds should promote the concept of love in order to achieve their goals in life. Personal transformation should be a powerful concept that empowers individuals to achieve their goals. According to King (76), “personal transformation is a powerful practice that will promote social justice in every community”.
According to the book, many Christians and believers used different Biblical verses and sermons to support slavery. The author goes further to explore how different American churches have supported various malpractices such as racism. This malpractice “has produced shameful tragedies of America’s history” (King 64). Many churches have “also made Christianity a lifestyle or a form of entertainment” (King 72). Christians from different societies and backgrounds should identify these problems in order to deal with them. The author goes further to encourage his readers to identify new practices and ideas that can support Christianity.
Christians “from different backgrounds have a duty to tap the transcendent moral ethic of love” (King 67). By the so doing, Christians will overcome every evil in the universe. This practice will also overcome the challenges that have defined the history of Christianity in America. Human beings should love their fellow citizens. This practice is necessary because “love is a durable force that can transform the universe” (King 78). This practice will produce a long-lasting peace that supports the demands of many people in the world.
Martin Luther’s “dedication and commitment to the moral, spiritual, and intellectual conversation should become the best benchmark for many Christians today” (King 79). This approach encourages more American Christians to accept the concept of discipleship. The text encourages “his readers and church leaders to embrace redemptive love in their lives” (King 89). Church groups and scholars should follow God’s commandments and rules in order to achieve their greatest goals. This powerful “practice will also deal with evil in every society” (King 82).
Conclusion
The book “Strength to Love” presents the transformative and inspirational message of Christ. The weaknesses of Christianity have made it impossible for many people to have better lives. Such “weaknesses have also attracted many critics of Christianity” (King 143). Martin Luther offers a powerful strategy that can change the history of the American society. It is agreeable that many political and spiritual leaders used the complexity of America’s religious experience to perpetuate slavery, social intolerance, and discrimination. That being the case, Christians can transform this past by embracing Martin Luther King’s philosophy of non-violence. This practice will encourage more people to promote peace and love. The strategy will deal with the challenges encountered in many societies.
Works Cited
King, Martin. Strength to Love. New York: Fortress Press, 2010. Print.