95 years ago today, Alberta Williams King, and her husband, Rev. Michael King, welcomed to this world in Atlanta, Georgia their second child, their first born son. Elated with the addition to their family, they named him after his father, and he became Michael King, Jr. Though I do not know for certain why they chose to name him after his father, I know for certain that a name meant much to them because in 1934, on a return trip from Israel, the elder King stopped in Berlin to attend an international conference of Baptists pastors. It was there that he learned of the great reformer, Martin Luther, and was so thoroughly impressed by the theologian’s transformational legacy, he decided to change his name and the name of his first born son to Martin Luther King, Sr. and Martin Luther King, Jr.
When I learned this tidbit I must honestly say that I was blown away. My entire life I believed that Dr. King’s name was serendipitously bestowed upon him, with neither his nor his grandparents truly understanding the theological or social parallels to the original name holder. Yet, having discovered this little known fact on this day as I reflected upon the legacy of this great man, I am even more amazed at the hand of God as He works out His good pleasure in the lives of His people.
I, too, was named after my Dad. I remember as a young teenager, having endured the teasings of other children, my Mom sharing with me a poem by Edgar A. Guest titled, “Your Name”. It begins,
You got it from your father,
t’was the best he had to give,
And right gladly he bestowed it
It’s yours, the while you live.
It is a poem of pride and honor, regarding one’s name, remembering that it is the one thing that you have that you should focus your life on safeguarding. There is a saying that I have used for years, sharing it with my boys and anyone else who would listen. I believe I got it either directly or indirectly from my Mom that day and it is, “All you have in life is your family and your name. Protect both of them.”
On this MLK Day, a national holiday set aside to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King, I see it not only as an opportunity to reflect upon the journey that we as a nation have gone on regarding justice and human rights, but also as an opportunity to remember who we are and Whose we are. At a time when being a Christian is quickly being viewed as being radical and rambunctious, when the love of Christ and the call to love others is being lost in the quest for social “purity,” I believe it is befitting that we pause and remember that we have been declared children of God (Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:1-2), and by that have been given a new name (Revelation 2:17, 3:12), which reflects our new spiritual identity. My appeal to you, my brothers and sisters in the Lord, is that we pause and ask ourselves, “How does this world view the message that we are conveying?” Do they see the risen Savior of the world in us or do they see a political agenda being pushed forward at the expense of love and peace?
Christ’s appeal to all of us is appropriate during this tumultuous political climate we find ourselves, namely,
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9
In encourage you today to be intentional about what you choose to be called and what it represents. Embrace the name that our God has given you and purpose to represent Him in a spirit of love not only befitting you but more so His purposes in this world.