Dear Church family,
The brutal way in which George Floyd died on the 25th of May shocked the world. Which of us was not horrified?
It has been a profoundly sad fortnight. Demonstrations have spread globally, indicating that this is not just an American problem.
Sometimes the demonstrations have descended into riots threatening the safety of the police, the public, and endangering social order.
Media discussions indicate that racial discrimination is a common experience. There are clear indications that black males in particular have a harder journey than many other groups.
The education statistics illustrate this – boys who are black and white boys from less established households tend to achieve less well academically.
Our community has good race relations thankfully. But isn’t there something in us that finds people who are different challenging? A bit of racism in us all?
Perhaps in this area it might be an idea to go back to the maker’s instructions and remind ourselves that at the beginning
“God created man in his own image,
Genesis 1:27
In the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.”
George Floyd was made in the image of God; he should’ve been treated with dignity and respect; we should treat each other with dignity and respect, regardless of colour, class or any other superficial difference.
May God help us to do this, especially in the Church family. He has chosen us to be united in our diversity, the firstfruits of the gathering of peoples from all the nations of the world in heaven, and to be salt and light in his world now.
To read some further thoughts on this:
Best wishes,
Ian