Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

'Thank God I'm vulnerable'

To remove our vulnerability would be to remove our humanity – a Baptist minister's reflection after the London terror attack


Vulnerable700

To my children, you are vulnerable,

You are vulnerable to knives, vans driven at speed and bombs
You are vulnerable to the horrific choices of others.
You are vulnerable to becoming suspicious of different people.
You are vulnerable to falsely blaming one religion.
You are vulnerable to thinking that only westerners are victims of terrorist attacks.
You are vulnerable to thinking that the darkness is more powerful than the light
You are vulnerable to thinking that life must be lived looking over your shoulder.

You are vulnerable and as your dad I am gutted that I can’t take away all these vulnerabilities,
I am gutted I am also susceptible to the same vulnerabilities you are.


But,
We are vulnerable because we live in an open and free society,
We are vulnerable because we believe all people should be able to freely choose their faith,
We are vulnerable because we are willing to admit we don’t have all the answers,
We are vulnerable because we respect democracy,
We are vulnerable because we choose to value creativity,
We are vulnerable because education is open to all.
We are vulnerable because we protect the rights of all (Male, female, gay or straight)
We are vulnerable because we don’t believe in retaliation on a massive scale.
We are vulnerable because that’s what Jesus Modelled.

So as your dad let’s be vulnerable together,
to remove our vulnerability would be to remove our humanity.

Thank God I’m vulnerable. 

 

Image | Liane Metzler | Unsplash


Rich Shorter is a church minster in Harold Hill, London and Parenting Coach. He runs a Facebook group for dads learning to be better fathers



 
Baptist Times, 06/06/2017
    Post     Tweet
Collaboration, and our worship of Jesus
Notes from the two keynote addresses from Dave Ferguson and Alex Harris at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference on 8 October
Israel-Palestine: I can’t keep up
Baptist church member David Nelson has travelled to Israel and the West Bank on three occasions in the past 24 months. He offers this reflection on events in the region
Dwelling in scripture
Anne Le Tissier outlines the practice of remaining in just one or a few Bible verses for an entire week or more, which is explored more fully in her new book 'Dwell – Inviting God’s Word to make a home in our lives, one day at a time'
Protests or race riots?
Justice enabler Wale Hudson Roberts reflects on this summer's race riots. In doing so, he asks: what role can Baptists Together play in addressing the voice of the far right, Islamophobia, and racism in church and society?
Should your faith rely solely on the Bible?
For many of us, the Bible is by far and away the book that has most influenced our lives. But as Baptists, Jesus is our number one authority, writes Chris Goswami
The Church, the far right, and the claim to Christianity
The far right has grown in prominence in recent years - with some cynically employing Christian-sounding language. Helen Paynter highlights the current context - and how the Church can respond
     The Baptist Times 
    Posted: 14/10/2024
    Posted: 02/10/2024
    Posted: 22/07/2024
    Posted: 07/05/2024
    Posted: 12/02/2024
    Posted: 22/12/2023
    Posted: 16/12/2023