What Would MLK Say Today: See Them

Описание: What MLK Would Say Today: See Them
Faith United Church of Christ, Indianapolis
February 1, 2026

This week’s message continues our series reflecting on the enduring wisdom and challenge of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., particularly through his 1968 sermon Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution. In this message titled "See Them", we are called to reclaim one of the most overlooked commands in the Gospels: to truly see those who are suffering, as Jesus did.

Dr. King declared that the rich man in Jesus' parable "went to hell because he was passed by Lazarus every day and never really saw him." That failure to see—and to act—remains a spiritual crisis today. Over 43 million people in the U.S. live in poverty, often unseen, ignored, or blamed. But Scripture tells us that God sees, and Jesus calls his followers to do the same.

This message explores:
The spiritual danger of ignoring systemic poverty
The lies that maintain economic inequality, such as the "bootstrap myth"
Jesus’ parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16)
The truth that evil works through lies, but "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32)
The invitation for Jesus-followers to walk with the poor and advocate for change
We also reflect on Dr. King’s critique of the American economy and his call to be “extremists in love,” rooted in Soul Force—the method of redemptive, nonviolent resistance inspired by Jesus and Gandhi.

Key Scriptures:
Luke 16:19–31, John 8:32, John 1:14, Matthew 25, 1 Corinthians 11:23–25
Key Voices:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution
Jesus of Nazareth, Luke 16, John 8

Challenge:
To follow Jesus, we must not turn away from the pain around us—we must see it, walk alongside it, and let it transform us.

Come join us at Faith United Church of Christ on the Southside of Indianapolis. We are an inclusive church that believes that no matter where you are on life's journey, you are welcome in Jesus' church. So whether you are conservative or liberal, gay or straight, new to church, or have been going to church your entire life, you are welcome at our church.

Worship is at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday.
4040 E. Thompson Rd. Indianapolis IN 46237
If you are NEW HERE and would like to connect, volunteer, or give, you can do that by visiting our Faith UCC Church Center.
Go to NEW HERE or VOLUNTEER FORMS:
https://myfaithucc.churchcenter.com/home

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