I have a dream

Yesterday was the anniversary of the "I have a dream speech" by Dr.  Martin Luther King.  I felt compelled to watch the video of this pivotal event in our nation's history and watched again with open ears.  As Dr. King rattled off one brilliant stanza after another, one part stuck out to me: 

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

A few things occurred to me about this statement.  

Judgment is not necessarily negative.  

In large part, we have turned into a society where any judgment, by any standard is scandalized.  If you have a viewpoint that differs from that of the popular opinion, or at least what popular opinion is perceived to be, you are slapped with a title like "hater" or "intolerant" by many.  Notice this is not what the speech was advocating.  In fact, in this portion he is virtually inviting judgment on his children.  All he asks is that judgment be filtered through the glasses of character.

2) Content of character should be our aim.

"Character" = moral or ethical quality; the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.

In today's America, it is rare to find a people of character, but Martin Luther King asked that we find equality on the basis of this firm foundation.  Unfortunately, we've allowed "character" to be redefined so much in our society that it's become a moving target.  We tend to esteem accomplishment and image far above basic decency and civility.

Scripture is clear that our identification with Christ is supposed to produce Godly character.

... His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:3-9 NASB)

What about us?  Do we focus on stroking our outward appearance, or are we grooming the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)?  Is our meditation and energy supremely focused on improving our comfort level in "keeping up with the Joneses" or in being conformed more and more into the image of Christ? (Romans 8:29)

Today, let's be the people of God who are not afraid to be judged on the content of our character.

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