Faith without works is dead…
So much is being said and not said about the current (although not so new) continuing issue of racial injustice and inequality at the moment spearheaded by the the organisation and event of #blacklivesmatter
As Christians, it is an encumbrance upon us to view the world through the lens of scripture. I would assert that we don’t live in a fair and equal world, many groups are marginalised and treated wrongly and when it boils down to it, people know but don’t accept what the reality of society is.
The world at the moment seems to have gone mad, in the UK recent years have seen the rise of UKIP, an inherently prejudiced organisation and currently we see an incredibly and surprisingly successful campaign by Donald Trump one of the most reprehensible politicians in recent years.
Probably most alarming to me is the numerous Christians who say to me “does racism really exist, is there really prejudice, isn’t it just the far right extremist groups…”. I state as someone who has seen and experienced it … Where I have experience it the most is in Church!! There, I said it.
In recent recent Facebook post, a pastor who I have admired posted the following [Eric Mason on on 3 text from his white counterparts in the wake of police brutality and murder] my wife who happens to be white has received messages out of the blue (from a Christian) decrying blacklivesmatter and stating that it is a hate group. no conversation, no questions just opinion.
Probably the most sickening thing is a quote I recently read “one thing we learn from history, is that we don’t learn from history”. In Nazi Germany when Hitler was on the rise and the Jews were being killed, the state church in German was silent, and Christians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer rose up against the evil, they had to make a stand against Boston the evil and the silent church with it apathy and complacency.
Martin Luther King said
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
Yes slavery happened, a myriad were killed, millions ill treated and yet we find ourselves staring at a similar situation.
But what’s to be done, because yes there are those (a minority) who’s reaction to what’s going on is dispicaple cold blooded murder of police and unfettered violence as a response has not place and we need to denounce and decry this.
However is there a case to be had that like Mandela, there comes a time where you do need to stand against mistreatment and defend your dignity and freedoms … Food for thought…
To all those Christians out there who sit round tables pontificating and saying how bad it is, for all those who have looked down on other races, for all those pastors who preach a gospel of reconciliation freedom and love but do absolutely nothing … James’ words are for you…
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
James 2:17
In light of this, what will you do?
