Time To Reflect

I’m sure we all share the outrage and horror at the recent event shown across the world of the inhumane and merciless brutality that led to the death of George Floyd. I hope we share in understanding the response that has followed across the world of anger and outrage, and that its is an eruption not just at this latest needless death, but of the deep injustice that runs deep across our world not just in this campaign but in many other situations. The world cries out for justice.

As I write this, I’m aware and confess my complete inadequacy and lack of experience to even begin to articulate my thoughts on these events. I would encourage you to read the articles and statements by the Baptist Union on their website as I’m grateful that we have people of wisdom including Yinka Oyekan the new president who have both experience and the spiritual insight to help us to understand from the perspective of those that face this injustice on a daily basis as we have seen in our society through football, and other places where racism is ingrained in our culture.

I’m sure we all hold our Christian values high that All people are created in the image of God and are of equal value and worth but clearly in our world that value whilst being the ideal is far being a reality for many. So as Christian people our call is carried in our Baptist values.

I quote from the BU websites statement “Baptists Together hold a common value; that we are a Movement which shares a hunger for God’s coming Kingdom and seeks to confront evil, injustice and hypocrisy and challenges worldly attitudes to power, wealth, status and security both within and beyond our Union.  Right now God is presenting us with the opportunity to grow more deeply into this value and, in doing so, to unleash a prophetic call and presence in our communities and nations.

Two important things I have picked up as I have read and reflected on this and I would encourage you all to do the same..

We need to listen and to learn. I read a comment this week on this situation that through the recent months we have been through, this is undoubtably a time of God’s pruning, that also should include the chopping away of any attitudes in us that do not reflect God’s kingdom values.

It is not ok to remain silent and hope someone else will sort this our or it doesn’t concern us, nor is it enough to write an article, click “ like” on a social media or even just post a comment somewhere, its far deeper than that and Christian love must be shown in action not just words.