U.S. Senator James Lankford Speaks at MACU About the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 12th, 2018

OKLAHOMA CITY– Mid-America Christian University welcomed U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) to speak about the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during university chapel services. The service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, in MACU’s JASCO Chapel on the college campus in south Oklahoma City.

During his address, Lankford praised King’s legacy as an instrumental civil rights leader and Christian follower. Half a century after King’s assassination, Lankford said the country has come a long way — but there is still work to be done.

“We still have an issue with race in America,” Lankford said. “Today, we aren’t talking about color fountains or where black men and women aren’t allowed to sit. The biggest issue we face on race in America isn’t a legislative issue anymore. It’s a heart issue. It’s moving from ‘I know people who are black’ to ‘I have friends who are black.’”

He said although many people instinctively push back against hate with more negativity, combatting hate with love was King’s Bible-based platform.

“The United States is missing Dr. King’s basic message that love conquers hate. Many people pushed with violence to shut down discrimination, but he spoke on a basic principle: that love is more powerful than hate,” Lankford said.

He propped up King’s words as a basis for today’s divisive culture.

“There is a tremendous need to get his words into our hearts and minds,” Lankford said. “In a culture where people see hate, there’s an immediate response to spew hate right back. Dr. King set a discipline for the nation: you can do that, but it won’t work.”

After Lankford spoke, university leadership and members of student organizations surrounded the senator for a time of prayer on behalf of his leadership in our country.

Every year in January, MACU holds a chapel service to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special ceremony. These services are open to the public and are archived online at www.macu.edu/watch.