Photo Credit (Public Domain): Carol M. Highsmith,
Sculpture dedicated to the Foot Soldiers of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham, Alabama LCCN2010636972.tif
One of my very favorite verses in Scripture is Micah 6:8. In the ESV it says:
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?“
My job as a believer in Jesus Christ, as one who knows what is good, is to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with my God. He requires it of me.
God’s Prophets Spoke Against the Abuse of Power
When I was studying the Books of the Prophets in order to write Bible Road Trip™ Year Two, I found there are a number of themes that the Lord spoke to over and over again. One triad of themes was His rebuke of idolatry, of insincere religious rituals, and of social injustice and the abuse of power. Another way to say that is that God judges us when we have false gods, false worship, and false love.
The Lord makes it clear in Scripture that we are first to love Him, and then to love our neighbor. In Matthew 22:36-40 Jesus sums it up succinctly:
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
The Civil Rights Movement Answered An Abuse of Power
The Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) answered an egregious abuse of power, one in which the color of a person’s skin dictated whether one was considered a “neighbor” or not. Martin Luther King Jr. is the most highly notarized leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, but there were countless others fighting alongside him for social justice, black and white.
As you study social injustice, the Civil Rights Movement, and ongoing racial tensions with your children, be sure to bring them back to Scripture.
- As Christians, we are one body under the headship of Christ.
- We are called to love one another as we love ourselves.
- Take your kids into the Books of the Prophets and help them understand how strongly the Lord of Justice and Mercy hates the abuse of power.
- Remind them too, that we are commanded to forgive–seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:21-22)
The Fight for Civil Rights before the Civil Rights Movement
Before the Civil Rights Movement in America, people across the world banded together to fight for Abolition–against chattel slavery. You’ll want to study the Abolition movement with great resources that point to Christ.
The Civil Rights Movement for Kids
As you study the Civil Rights Movement, here are some great lessons and activities to check out!
A Christian Woman Who Loved Jesus and Fought Against Injustice ~ This Fannie Lou Hamer biography for children from the Do Great Things for God series teaches kids about the Civil Rights Movement.
Teaching Civil Rights to Elementary Students ~ Help your students understand what the Bible says about Civil Rights and find some great resources. — Teach Them Diligently
More Fun Civil Rights Movement Ideas
- Talk to your kids about Art of the Civil Rights Movement over at The Art Curator for Kids.
- Wise Owl Factory has a downloadable PDF activity for a Children’s Civil Rights Walk. They also have a free Martin’s Dream Printable and some Martin Luther King Jr. printable bookmarks.
- iGameMom has more free Dr. King Jr. videos, printables, and learning activities.
- Every Star is Different has some neat Black History Month Unit hands-on activities.
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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