Could the Late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr have been a Saint?

[Georgia]

The late and great Ralph David Abernathy took lots of heat for discussing Dr. King’s personal life in his book. It is a touchy subject, but facts are sometimes uncomfortable. Most of us fail in some way, even the great people who accomplish so much.

While we must be careful of deifying our heroes, a special place is in my heart for Dr. King. He made it so we could all be friends.

 

[CopticChristian]

Agreed .

I’m in a personal search for a bonafide candidate for consideration for the position of “Protestant Saint”. I guess I’ll have to keep looking then .

Would Billy Graham or his son get close…I know Benny Hinn is out…

 

[Marybeloved]

Would Billy Graham or his son get close…I know Benny Hinn is out…

You’re right! If any person deserves consideration for the position, it would definitely be him!- He was also Blessed JP II’s good friend, but I digress. And Benny Hinn is definitely out!

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Although MLK was a great political and social hero of the United States, in his personal life he was far from being a saint. According to some historical documents, notably FBI investigative papers, his private life left much to be desired from what one would expect from a clergyman of any religion and definately that of a saint.
These documents are not anti-black propaganda. They were FBI surveilance reports. In fact, they were never made public during MLK’S lifetime. They were only released long after the death of J. Edgar Hoover who had ordered surveilance of Dr. King for reasons best known to JEH.

While I’ve been aware of the controversy surrounding Martin Luther King’s alleged adultery, were these documents accurate? J. Edgar Hoover wasn’t above manufacturing evidence, and he seemed to have a very unhealthy obsession with intruding into the lives of public figures of any kind. He reminds me of Joseph McCarthy in some ways, whose reign of public vilification was a black stain in American history.

Were the FBI documents supported by any other sources?

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Would Billy Graham or his son get close…I know Benny Hinn is out…

If the churches ever reunify, then there would be no reason not to consider some outstanding Protestants for canonisation.

As my old Protestant pastor used to say, “They’re doing something up there.” Or as Christ said,

Matthew 25:23 (NIV) “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

 

[Contarini]

Agreed .

I’m in a personal search for a bonafide candidate for consideration for the position of “Protestant Saint”. I guess I’ll have to keep looking then .

I think there are a lot of possibilities:

John Wesley
John and Mary Fletcher
Henry Martyn
David Brainerd
Hester Ann Rogers
Mary Slessor
Elizabeth Fry
Josephine Butler
Phoebe Palmer
George Bowen
Hudson Taylor
William Wilberforce
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Corrie Ten Boom (and other members of her family)
John and Betty Stam
Jim Elliott and his companions
Lilias Trotter

These are just the first names that came to mind–I could suggest a lot more.

Not claiming, of course, that any of these people were saints, just that on the face of it they seem possibly to meet the standard criteria in terms of “heroic sanctity.”

 

[Contarini]

Or you could buy the series They Knew Their God, written by my grandparents and published by my parents’ small company.

My family are basically in the evangelical hagiography business!