April 16, 1963
My Dear Fellow Clergymen:

But despite these notable exceptions, I must honestly reiterate that I have been disappointed with the church. I do not say this as one of those negative critics who can always find something wrong with the church. I say this as a minister of the gospel, who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

Paul provides us with instructions in the book of Titus that reminds us that it was the kindness and love of God for which we have been saved. He goes on to say that we did not deserve to be saved, but rather it was because of His grace and mercy that we are saved. And most importantly, because we have been saved, washed and have received a new birth by the Holy Spirit. Paul says that the Lord has generously poured out His Spirit on us and that we have been justified through Jesus Christ and we have been given the gift of eternal life. Praise the Lord!

With that said:

Dr. King writes from his jail cell decades ago in regards to his disappointment with the church. He warns us that the judgment of the Lord is upon us like never before. He warned us that we would lose millions and that we would become irrelevant.

He indicated that young people are disgusted with the church. Dr. King says that the church must recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church. Paul’s words are very similar in that Paul says that we have to be reminded that it is through the Holy Spirit that we have been renewed and reborn. It is through the grace and mercy of God.

Therefore, could it be that what Paul is teaching and what Dr. King is concluding is that the issue most facing our church is that there is a lack of recognition for the Holy Spirit and the sacrifice spirit that is required by the church! Could it be that this is the reason that people are choosing to do other things on Sunday rather than attend church? Could it be possible that we in all of our religious ways, we have forgotten why we are even here and why we even exist? Dr. King says where is the sacrificial spirit of the early church in our churches today? Where is the sacrifice? So you ask, what is the sacrificial spirit?

Sacrificial spirit is the following:

Sacrifice of faith

Sacrifice of righteousness

Sacrifice of thanksgiving

Sacrifice of praise

Sacrifice of doing good

Sacrifice of meeting the needs of others

To sacrifice means that I will do it even if I do not feel like it! Because I recognize like Paul said...that it is only through the grace and mercy of God that I am here. It is only through the Holy Spirit that I have been given power. Therefore, I will offer a sacrificial spirit unto my God!

Dr. King says in his letter from jail that we have to go back to the ways of the early church for they knew what sacrifice was. They did not have the luxuries that we have today. How is it that they did not have the things that we have today; however, they were able to get more done? How is that? It is because they were willing to sacrifice and through the Holy Spirit...they were able to accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. Dr. King spoke prophetically to us decades ago reminding us that in order to keep the church moving forward...there has to be sacrifice. A sacrificial spirit... and Paul reminds us that we have been given a generous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us get to work! Amen