Martin Luther King Day - A Commentary

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement

Commentary by George Nielsen, January 21, 2013

In the U.S.A. we have established a special commemorative day to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January each year, and designated it as a national holiday.   On the Sunday closest to that day, each year, I also make remarks at church addressing the topic of civil rights, racism, and also to give honor and recognition to the two leaders who were most prominent in the movement to overcome racial discrimination in our country during the 1960’s – Jesus Christ and Martin Luther King Jr.   

This year, that Sunday is January 20^th, which is also a commemorative day – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.   It is appropriate that these special days are so close to each other, since they both are related to civil rights.  They are set aside as special days to recognize the equality of people regardless of race and the humanity of people and their right to life, including the preborn children in the womb and the infirm elderly.  Martin Luther King Day also is observed by some people as a day of service, where they do special tasks to help others.

I have been making special remarks or commentary about Dr. King in Church or chapel services for more than 12 years.   Prior to 2011, those comments where made to adult listeners only.   Since 2011, I have also been able to make my remarks to preteen children too.   Now I consider the preteen and young teen listeners to be my primary audience, and try to speak at their level.   My remarks provide a more in-depth look at Dr. King and the civil rights movement, compared to what these students would receive in their classes at public schools.  

Dr. King is remembered for his leadership of the civil rights movement during the era of the 1950’s and 60’s, prior to his death by assassination in 1968.    Dr. King and other Christian ministers founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (“SCLC”) in 1957.   With the goal of redeeming ‘‘the soul of America’’ through nonviolent resistance, the ministers who organized SCLC released a manifesto.  In the manifesto they called upon white southerners to “realize that the treatment of Negroes is a basic spiritual problem.… Far too many have silently stood by”. In addition, they encouraged black Americans “to seek justice and reject all injustice” and to dedicate themselves to the principle of nonviolence “no matter how great the provocation.”   (M.L. King Papers 4:104-5. Stanford University)   

At the time of Dr. King’s prominence as the leader of SCLC, and even now about fifty years afterward, he is criticized for various things that he did both as a leader of the civil rights and racial equality movement and in his personal life.    I also have been criticized, in the Church, for speaking out and giving recognition to Dr. King for his leadership.    But I press on, annually, in January, to do so.    I don’t give honor and recognition to Dr. King out of some idealized picture of him as being perfect.   I have never said he was perfect.  I have said that he was called.    

He was called by Jesus Christ to serve as a leader of a movement to bring about racial equality in the USA.   Dr. King did what he was called to do, starting the process of getting equality and ending racial discrimination.   Some of the notable, tangible results of Dr. King’s efforts were the passing of two major new federal laws, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.   The phrase “redeeming the soul of America” meant that these Christian leaders were seeking to call out America, saying we had failed on one of the God-ordained principles recorded in our Declaration of Independence – that all men are created equal and are endowed by God Almighty with irrevocable, unalienable rights.    They wanted to penetrate a hardened or indifferent public conscience in our country, and end the oppression or discrimination that they were enduring.

Jesus went about in the land of Israel during His ministry here on the earth, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and doing good, healing the sick.    The handout paper that has been studied in our Sunday School class during the past two weeks explained that the Gospel of the Kingdom has two parts – Salvation and the Kingdom.    Justice, and social action to overcome and stop injustice, are part of the Gospel of the Kingdom.   Jesus taught us to pray a petition to the Father, saying “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”    Ministry work to achieve justice and action taken against injustice, pushing back the darkness of evil, are doing the Father’s will on the earth, so that the Kingdom can come, and be realized/actualized in one more area where satan had been in control.

The word I prophesied from the pulpit back in 2007 was that “Jesus said, ‘That’s enough’, and then He raised up Dr. King as His leading spokesman, and the SCLC as a group of ‘mighty men’ allied with Dr. King in this movement.”    Dr. King fulfilled his part in the calling that Jesus gave, to end racism and bring about racial equality.    He should be recognized for his leadership.   Jesus should be praised and given glory by His people in the Church.   He has and still is moving, in the USA, to cleanse and heal our land of this unrighteousness.    He is awakening the conscience of the Church to realize that the movement against discrimination needs to progress further, and to include more efforts on behalf of the people of the Native American Indian tribes.    □□

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Headquartered in Atlanta, SCLC is now a nationwide organization with chapters and affiliates located throughout the United States. It continues its commitment to nonviolent action to achieve social, economic, and political justice and is focused on issues such as racial profiling, police brutality, hate crimes, and discrimination. 

The class handout titled “The Gospel of the Kingdom” can be viewed online.   (Click HERE to link to a copy of the Handout.)

Jan. 20, 2013 "The Bible is God's Message for Me"-- Session 3 (continued)

By George Nielsen

This week we continued presenting the Winter session of extra Bible Curriculum materials for 5th graders, "The Bible is God's Message for Me" (‘BGMM’) covering the major topic of The Kingdom of God.  We also used the ‘On the Right Path’ (‘OTRP’) diagram when explaining our answers to questions raised by students. 
  
This class began with viewing the music video featuring The Newsboys performing the song “God’s Not Dead (Like a Lion)” again.   A link to the video is provided at the end of this Blog post.  


Because a number of the students attending class today had not attended last week, our review at the beginning of class was more detailed, going beyond just an overview.   We began by explaining the basic objective of BGMM, which is to see that there is a unified message presented by the Holy Bible which can be  seen and understood through studying five major topics: God, Man, Sin, Salvation - through Jesus our Savior, and the Kingdom of God.    For each of the four topics already covered, we also gave a synopsis of the key ideas that had been taught.     

Student questions and comments were also taken during the review, and these again dealt with the issues of Creation by God, not just a random events over a supposed multi-billion year time frame.  Creation of mankind, as being formed by God and having the Life of God “breathed” into man was another issue covered.    Creation of man as the highest order of being on earth, and man having been made in the image of God, were also mentioned.   satan’s hatred of both God and mankind was mentioned, along with Eve’s deception by satan and the sin of Adam and Eve.   
  
Student comments made, about sin and God hating sin, were addressed.  A student commented on how God’s hatred of sin should carryover to hatred of us, the sinners.    While noting that hatred of sinners does appear to be the logical conclusion from the truth that God hates sin, this logic is not descriptive of how God actually considers mankind.   God loves mankind.    God’s ways are higher than man’s ways, and they reflect God’s grace, mercy, and love.    This was explained using Romans 5: 8 and John 3: 16 as Scripture references.   


Then the class handout titled “The Gospel of the Kingdom” was distributed.   (Click HERE to link to a copy of the Handout.)    Mark 1: 14-15 is the key verse:

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”     Mark 1: 14 – 15  (NKJV)

We discussed these verses using page one of the handout.  The key points are (1) the time is now, (2) the first key to entering the Kingdom is Repent, and (3) the second key is to believe.   More details were given, using the remainder of the handout, about repenting and believing.    


The final teaching before the end of class was for students to read from part of another handout, which will also be covered next week.   The information read was:

The Holy BIBLE Will Help You Learn About HIS KINGDOM

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

The first step in that plan is -- “Come to JESUS”

The next step is to BE His Disciple -- “I Serve JESUS”  

You recognize and submit to His Lordship and Authority

GRACE is God showing His love to you even though you don't deserve it. You can't earn God's grace; you can receive it as a gift.  You do not deserve to be saved from sin and to have eternal life. But God showed His grace by sending Jesus to be our Savior, redeeming us out of slavery to sin and the devil.   Jesus was punished for us.  

You can actually receive that grace when you Come to Jesus - this means that you are saved from sin's punishment when you trust in Jesus as your Savior.

The class was closed by my remarks that many students (and adults) do not understand the concept of a Christian Being a disciple of Jesus.   Their view is “Christianity means that ‘I go to church on Sundays’.”  Then the class recited, in unison, one of the main points that we use as a conclusion to discussion of the phrase “I Serve JESUS” -- that main point is “Christianity is a Way of Life”.    


Then we said our closing prayer.

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The Memory Verse assignments are the same as last week: Mark 1: 14-15 (NKJV), and the Emphasis verse for this month, John 3: 16 (NIV).  

Click on the Video title to link to YouTube and view the video from today’s class:
“God’s Not Dead  (Like a Lion)” --- The Newsboys

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January 20th is the day prior to the national Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative holiday.  There was insufficient time to make any remarks in class about Dr. King, racial discrimination, and the civil rights movement.   As a result, there will be a separate Blog post published later this week to make the remarks that had been planned.for the 1/20/13 class.

Jan. 13, 2013-"The Bible is God's Message for Me" - Session 3

"The Kingdom of God"

By George Nielsen

This week we began the presentation of the Winter session of extra Bible Curriculum materials for 5th graders.   Today the Lesson is "The Bible is God's Message for Me" (‘BGMM’) covering the major topic of The Kingdom of God.  We also reviewed the  introductory materials presented in the Fall about the  ‘On the Right Path’ (‘OTRP’) lessons.   This transition to OTRP lessons will be completed in the Winter session, when both BGMM and OTRP present lessons on the major topic of the Kingdom of God.

This class began with a very brief review of the lesson taught on 1/6/13, about Jesus as a 12 year-old boy and the incident described in Luke, Chapter 2,  where Jesus spent three days in the Temple, after the Passover feast was over, listening to the teachers, asking and answering questions.   The point of emphasis was on Jesus’ growth in wisdom and grace, and that He was an active learner.   The review included mention of another Scripture passage from the lesson, Deuteronomy 6: 4-7, the opening verses of the confession of faith known as The Shema.  

    
After the review, we took time to watch and listen to two Christian music videos, both of which relate to our BGMM and OTRP lessons -- ‘Children of God’ performed by Third Day, which is our 5th Grade Class theme song, and ‘God’s Not Dead (Roaring Like a Lion)’ a live performance video by The Newsboys.     Links to these videos are provided at the end of this Blog post.  

The BGMM lesson for today began by explaining the basic objective of BGMM, which is to see that there is a unified message presented by the Holy Bible which can be  seen and understood through studying five major topics: God, Man, Sin, Salvation - through Jesus our Savior, and the Kingdom of God.  

The first session of BGMM was taught on July 1st, 8th, and 15th.    The topics covered in July were God, Man, and Sin, including the declaration that Creation is the truth and evolution is a lie (a point heavily emphasized on July 1 and July 8).   The lesson on Sin also introduces the topic of Salvation.     The second session of BGMM was taught on September 9th, 16th, and 23rd.    The 9/9/12 class was devoted entirely to answering questions from the July lessons.  Then the major topic of  Salvation, and Jesus, our Savior, was taught.  The OTRP Introduction, covered in session two, was taught on September 30 and October 7.   

Our lesson about Jesus as a 12 year-old stated that He returned to Nazareth and was submitted to the authority of Mary and Joseph, and then began His ministry at age thirty.    This leads to our presentation of the major topic: The Kingdom of God.   The class handout titled “The Gospel of the Kingdom” was distributed.   (Click HERE to link to a copy of the Handout.)    Mark 1: 14-15 is the key verse:

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”     Mark 1: 14 – 15  (NKJV)

We discussed these verses and part of page one of the handout.  These verses were also assigned as this week’s Memory Verses.   The class was closed by practicing these Memory Verses, then our closing prayer.

The Memory Verse assignments are Mark 1: 14-15 (NKJV), and the Emphasis verse for this month, John 3: 16 (NIV).  

Click on the Video titles to link to YouTube and view the videos from today’s class:
“Children of God”  --- Third Day

“God’s Not Dead (Roaring Like a Lion)” --- The Newsboys

Jan. 6, 2013 - “Growing Wise and Strong”

By George Nielsen

In today's class, we began with review of the notes written on the whiteboard, from last week’s class.  They summarized all key elements from the lessons in December -- prophecies of the coming Messiah and the Christmas Story.   Particular mention was made of Simeon and Anna and the prophetic words given to them concerning Jesus, by Holy Spirit.  

Then the class started an activity.  Only one student attended class today who had also attended last week, and that student did not have the Homework assignments completed.   As a result, we did the ‘Thank You Note to God’ activity (from last week) in class so all students present in class would complete it today.

Today’s lesson is from Bible Adventures - Lesson 5.   The New Testament portion of our lesson from Luke, Chapter 2, will cover the incident of Jesus in the Temple, after the Passover, at age 12.   The Lesson Focus is: Jesus’ growth in wisdom is a good example for me.    There was a Sunday School that Clicks video shown as an introduction, produced by BBC Worldwide, that is another of several we have featured using animals to start discussion and gain interest.  Today the video featured dolphins.  (Click Here to see the video.)   Both the dolphins and the trainers enjoyed the tricks and skills that the dolphins were doing.   The trainers stated that the tricks taught were based on observations of things the dolphins had done while in the ocean, “in the wild.”   The training involved perfecting technique and learning to perform as directed by hand signals from people.    Another key point of the training was “bonding” between the dolphins and trainers.    The video was interesting and was enjoyed by the students.   Plus, we used it to make a point that will connect to the lesson focus and the start of our actual lesson (the Old Testament portion, from Deuteronomy, Chapter 6).       

The point is to ‘Love to Learn’ - spending time reading the Holy Bible and saying prayers asking for wisdom and revelation.    “Learning is always more fun and rewarding when we are the ones who want to learn something new.” (quoted from ‘Clicks’ curriculum, page 2.)     It’s true for dolphins, and for Jesus, who stayed in the Temple, eager to learn, even after it was time to go home.    And, we will develop  “a bond” with God Almighty and with Jesus Our Savior, in particular, as we get wisdom and revelation from our learning and as it is given directly to us by Holy Spirit.    This bond of love is what is commanded in the Old Testament reading from Deuteronomy 6: 4-7.

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one![1]  

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Footnotes:

1. Deuteronomy 6:4 Or The Lord is our God, the Lord alone (that is, the only one)

These verses were read, repeated, and emphasized, and then the scene was set-up by giving background on going to Jerusalem for Passover.    Then we used the lesson material from Bible Adventures to teach about the incident when Jesus was age 12 and He stayed behind, in the Temple, after the family had left to return home.    The lesson and our discussion emphasized:

1. The positive aspects of the incident, reflecting on Jesus’ gifted level of learning and spiritual development for a twelve year old, including His understanding that He was the Son of God.
2. The fact that Jesus’ efforts in training/learning for ministry at age 12 were “jumping the gun”, that a rabbi would begin his ministry, in that culture, at age 30, that He was also the son of Mary and He needed to submit to His parents - which He did, returning to Nazareth.
3. Jesus did learn and work in His trade, carpentry, while living in Nazareth with Mary and Joseph.

The lesson closed with reading the final Scripture Spotlight, which ends with Luke 2:52  ---    52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.   
Jesus is our example.    He learned, and lived-out what was taught in Deuteronomy 6 -- to love God and other people.  

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The Memory Verse, assigned as the new verse this week is John 3: 16, and it also will be the Emphasis Memory Verse that will be re-assigned each week during the rest of this month.  [Note: we are not using the verse given in Lesson 5, Philippians 1: 6, at this time]   

A Report About My Prayer Request

By  George Nielsen

In the January 6, 2013 class, I asked the students to pray and to agree with me  for a good outcome for my eye surgery scheduled for the next day - January 7th.

I can report that the surgery on my right eye yesterday morning went well. It was a follow-up treatment after surgery I had some time ago on that eye. There was slight discomfort in the eye for the rest of the day, BUT, my eyesight immediately improved. 

The surgery was called for after my regular ophamologist exam on December 5th, but January 7th was the soonest that the surgery could be scheduled. This has been a big hindrance to me, especially in reading and computer use. I have had repeated incidents (almost every day) of blurry vision, with eye strain, eye pain, and headaches resulting from it. This finally is gone. 

I am thankful to the Lord for bringing me through this.

“Desire and POWER” — A New Year’s Devotional Thought

  By George Nielsen

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.     Philippians 2: 12b & 13 (New Living Translation)

If through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.   Romans 8: 13b & 14 (New Living Translation)

My thoughts, here at the beginning of a new calendar year, are to let these passages from the Holy Bible sink in – first into my mind, which is the primary battlefield for attacks from satan, our enemy. Then I want to receive them into my spirit.   God declares, through St. Paul’s writing, that He is giving me – and you – desire and power to be used in service to Him.    What He is giving, I need to receive.

The beginning of the year is the ideal time to re-focus our life.   We are called to serve Jesus, and reminded in our Scripture reading in Philippians that key aspects of this are deep reverence for God Almighty, always showing honor to the Father, Jesus our Savior, and Holy Spirit – and doing so with Godly fear, mindful of God’s holiness.    Without a re-focus, believers can just be stuck in a routine – serving Jesus, but not moving in the power He has for us, to reach the destiny He has set for us.

Re-focusing is an individual task.   I can’t tell you what your focus should be, in the natural realm.  But I have these thoughts regarding re-focusing spiritually.    Quotes from two Christian teachers and leaders, devotional author Oswald Chambers and teacher and mentor Dr. Mike Brown, have been inspirational to me, and they give guidance for our spiritual life:

“Surrender your will to God absolutely and irrevocably.”

“Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left.  Live in a constant state of expectancy.”                                 Oswald Chambers

“Focusing on the God-inspired Picture of you and your Destiny attracts the Partnership, Favor, and Wisdom of God”

“Work diligently to develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, learning to know His voice and immediately without hesitation or negotiation follow His every instruction.”               Dr. Mike Brown

Take time to apply what these two teachers have said to yourself – your attitudes, plans and goals, and your actions.   Jesus said “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11.22)     Be determined to hear the voice of Holy Spirit, receiving His guidance, so that you can be led by the Spirit.   Expect to be an overcomer, victorious and achieving your destiny.  And expect that this destiny will prove to be well beyond the routine – beyond what we are seeing now in the Church.   Expect to make an impact in our society, for the Kingdom of God.  ▫▫

If you are a parent, one of your goals should be that you help your children to apply this to themselves.    Work with them in an age-appropriate way to guide them toward making a firm commitment to God’s will instead of self-will, positive expectation, and the spiritual disciplines that will help them grow and help them be led by the Spirit.   

I am particularly encouraged and expectant regarding the preteen and young teen students that I teach, the iGeneration, born after 2000, and the youngest of the Millenials, now age 13 or 14.   These students will be the believers who can bring revival and renewal of the culture to North America.    I encourage parents reading this to also have this same expectation.   

Dec. 30, 2012- “Celebrate the Savior” & “God’s Amazing Gift” - The Christmas Story

By George Nielsen

In today's class, the final awards segment for Achievement during the Fall Quarter took place --  for the second place student.  A Certificate was given to this student, and he will be given a Christian teaching pamphlet as his prize.   Remarks congratulating the award recipient were made by George Nielsen.  

Today’s class was a combined class, with five 5th graders and eight 6th grade students.   George Nielsen had other duties that required him to be out of the classroom during the first ten minutes of class.   During that time, after taking attendance and receiving the offerings for each group of students, there was an audio presentation of The Christmas Story, dramatized, reading from Matthew 1 and Luke 2 (King James Version), produced by the Faith Comes by Hearing ministry.   We stopped the recording after 6-1/2 minutes, omitting the reading  covering the Wise Men presenting gifts to Jesus (which was not part of our lessons).    This dramatic reading from Scripture, plus notes written on the whiteboard, and comments made by George Nielsen when he returned to the class, covered the review of the Dec. 16th class and the new material from Lessons 3 and 4.    The comments included repeating our Class Motto - “We Serve Jesus” - and comparing it to Mary’s declaration to the angel Gabriel,  “I am the Lord’s servant,” and “May it be to me as you have said.”    Then the class started an activity.

The Lesson Focus from December 16th was: God had a plan for Mary and Joseph.  To them it was unexpected, but “they were both willing to follow God’s plan for them, and bring Jesus to the earth.” (quoted from Bible Adventures. Lesson 2)     And -- we can follow God’s plans too.      There was a Sunday School that Clicks closing activity to build on that lesson focus; that activity, using the January 2013 blank calendar page, was carried over to today’s class.   (Click HERE to link to a copy of this calendar page.)    The students completed a plan for spending time reading the Holy Bible and for saying prayers, during the week from Dec. 30th through Jan. 5th.   Then, they are required to keep track, during the week, of their following this plan, make notes on the calendar and then returning it to class next week.   

After the January 2013 Calendar activity, we started another Sunday School that Clicks activity by discussing the shepherds and the angelic visitation to announce Jesus birth.    The angels sang in joyous, glorious celebration of Jesus’ birth.   The activity was to watch an example of singing in joyous, glorious celebration, viewing a video of singers performing in what is called a flashmob, at the food court of a shopping mall, singing “The Hallelujah Chorus” from the famous oratorio, Handel’s Messiah.   The discussion that followed included brief remarks about the Hallelujah Chorus, and then concentrated on the joyous and exuberant expression by the singers, and the impact of the flashmob/shopping mall venue of the performance.    The bottom line of this was that Jesus is the reason for this holiday season, and that we should praise the Lord for this “good news of great joy,” that Jesus our Savior has come.   (To see this video, Click HERE. )

Next, more remarks were made, with discussion, about Simeon and Anna, and how they were led and empowered by Holy Spirit.   They received the gift of Word of Knowledge, about Jesus, and then prophesied to Mary and Joseph, giving confirmation that the baby Jesus is our Savior.    Then, using page four from Bible Adventures, Lesson 4, the “Thank You Note” to God, for sending Jesus to be our Savior was explained.   This is a Homework assignment for the 5th grade students, to be returned next week.  (Click HERE to link to a copy of this assignment.)

The final teaching point of the class was to introduce and practice the weeekly Memory verse, Luke 2:11  [NIV].   Then the other Memory verses were re-assigned. the students were encouraged to get back-on-track with memorizing verses, and the closing prayer was said.

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Luke 2: 11 (NIV) is the weekly Memory Verse:

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

John 1: 1 teaches that Jesus is God, the Son.  This is reinforced by John 1:14 (NKJV) - the “Bonus” Memory Verse:

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The repetition and reinforcement is directed at using the Word of God as a defense of the foundational doctrine of Jesus as the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary.     

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Homework assigned this week is:

1.  Students are to keep track of their Prayer time and Bible reading on the January 2013 Calendar page, and then turn in the page (with notes or check-marks showing what they actually did) on January 6th.

2.  Students are to complete and return the  “Thank You Note” handout, from bible Adventures, Lesson 4, page 4.

The Memory Verse, assigned as the new verse this week is Luke 2: 11.      Isaiah 60: 1. is the Emphasis Memory Verse that is re-assigned and we have decided to continue with this verse for one more week.     The “Bonus” verse was introduced last week and reviewed againg today, John 1:14.  All of these verses can be said, for Achievement Points credit, at the next class meeting on January 6th.  

The Bible Adventures handouts for Lessons 2-3-4, used in the Dec. 16th and 30th classes, can be viewed by clicking on these LINKs:

• Lesson 2 -- page 2, page 3
• Lesson 3 --.page 2, page 3   
• Lesson 4 -- page 2, page 3,     page 4