When I saw the murder of George Floyd, the hurt and unrest that followed, any words that I can say seem irrelevant! However, we must speak out against racism, injustice, and oppression.

Martin Segal who is an elder at The City Church in Canterbury, in his blog on Premier Christianity says:

“As we hear of yet another black person’s death, we are sadly reminded that the evil cancer of racism is still rampant across the globe in obvious and subtle ways.”[1]

Speaking about the protests in the US a BBC reporter said that they are being hit by three simultaneous convulsions.

“A pandemic that’s disproportionately affecting people of colour. An economic shock that’s disproportionately affecting people of colour. And civil unrest caused by police brutality that disproportionately affects people of colour.”

In the same news bulletin Martin Luther King III said

“racism is a sore that has been festering over and over again, and it is like when the sore is about to heal the wound is reopened again by incidents like this, and you have to start all over again.”

We live in a world of sin and brokenness. This is visible in so many ways, one of which is the unfair and unjust privilege of some people groups over others. This is not the way of the Kingdom of God!

The bible teaches us that God shows no partiality and that everyone is equal in His sight. We are all made in the image of God[2].  When we turn and believe on Jesus, we join one family. Paul says in his letter to the church in Galatia:

So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:26-28

So, what is our response? Here are four things that we can do:

1. We can pray.

Pray for:

• Justice for those who have suffered injustice
• Comfort for those who are grieving
• Healing for those who have been hurt
• Peace for those who are angry
• Lasting change and an end to racism in all of its forms
• Christians who are ministering truth, love and grace in difficult situations

2. We can speak out.

This affects us in the UK as much as it does the US and other nations. Where we come across any form of racism, injustice or oppression, take a stand, speak up for those who are being afflicted. There could be people in our neighbourhood, our workplace, our church that have suffered in these ways. Please encourage them to speak up and know that you, and we as a church are here to love them, stand beside them, support them, and defend them.  

3. We can humbly acknowledge our sin.

Yesterday there was a photo of police officers in Miami that, when protesters approached, the police officers knelt and asked for forgiveness. This led to people beginning to pray and cry in response. We all need to look within ourselves at our prejudices and presumptions, humbly confess our sin, ask for forgiveness, and learn to walk a different path.

4. We can bring a message of Reconciliation.

God has given us a message of reconciliation[3], that He is reconciling the world to himself through Christ. Reconciliation to God leads to reconciliation with each other. There is a different way. A way of peace, joy, righteousness and living together in unity through Jesus.

One of my favourite verses in the bible is the picture of heaven given to us in Revelation.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. – Revelation 7:9

This is a magnificent picture of what is to come, and what can be now!

I am so grateful that I belong to a beautiful community of believers where over 35 nations regularly gather. I often say that it is a little bit of heaven here on earth! 

There is no racism, injustice, or oppression in the Kingdom of God. The church must lead the way and demonstrate a different way of living. We are people of peace, hope, love, and we live in harmony together through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us pray and act to see the kingdom of God come and the will of God done on earth as it is in heaven!

David Bareham

2 June 2020

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[1] https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/George-Floyd-The-evil-cancer-of-racism-must-be-cut-out?fbclid=IwAR0FN65Jr_XbV0dxvHysQbyzbYSrFbdS-TWB-7erRwKYMcZS9HhifLYnbgM

[2] Genesis 1:27

[3] 2 Corinthians 5:19