June 

Re: Racism and George Floyd

Thank you for the articles about the horror of what happened to George Floyd in USA. I felt sick when I saw how he was treated. There is obviously a culture of racism and cruelty within the police that is being accepted by the USA Government.

Then to see Trump standing with a Bible in his hand, in front of a church, after ordering tear gas fired at a peaceful demonstration without the necessary warnings, just so he could walk to a church, for a publicity stunt, made me feel sick.

It made me shudder that he stood there in front of a church with a Bible that teaches us to love each other and stand up for the poor. He is not only a hypocrite but it verged on blasphemy.

But it's not just in the USA. I just read that a lovely and brilliant black chef at a pub we used to go to in Suffolk, had racist abuse shouted at him and his white wife on a rural English road.

It frightens me to see this happening - and much more so that some people who say they are Christians are sitting by and not doing anything.

We need to see all every church leader in Britain making a joint and very clear statement about racism loud and clear.
Moira Kleissner, Christchurch United Church, Llanederyn, Cardiff


Like most people I was shocked and horrified at the killing of George Floyd. We all hope that those involved will experience the full force of the law. I have friends of black, Asian and Japanese ethnicity and all have experienced forms of racism and of course we must find ways of ending the hurt and the inequalities that they face in everyday life.

However, large gatherings during a pandemic, attacking the police and pulling down and defacing statues and monuments such as the Cenotaph in Whitehall and Winston Churchill in Parliament Square are not the way to effect meaningful change in the UK. Admittedly these acts of vandalism were carried out by a small minority of protesters, but many politicians and celebrities have since sought to justify these criminal actions. Just stand back for a moment and think where this kind of behaviour could lead. Are we going to remove the statue of the person who led us to victory against Hitler. Churchill is accused by some of being a racist but where would we be (and that includes black people) without his leadership during WW2 against the Nazis? Should we tear down statues of Queen Victoria (we have one outside Portsmouth Guildhall) because she accepted the title Empress of India? Should America demolish the Washington Memorial because GW was a slave owner? From a historical Christian perspective should we remove the books and sermons of people like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards from theological libraries? They too owned slaves. Martin Luther’s rants against Jews were awful but do we then completely discount his impact on the 16th century Protestant Reformation.

The point I am making is that all history has a context and like it or not, Britain has a colonial past and the Church has a past. But you cannot air brush people and events from history just because you disagree with their actions. It is a dangerous thing to attempt to seek to erase history. Rather we should interpret and learn from history. Of course we must all strive for a more just society, (Christians like William Wilberforce and the members of the Clapham sect fought for the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire) nevertheless the biblical worldview, which is severely under threat at this present time, is that all are made in the image of God and consequently All Lives Matter.

The Gospel tells us that the primary problem is the condition of the human heart. Jeremiah 17:9:   The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? You can pass laws, you can protest. You can even pull down and deface statues but at the end of the day the divine remedy is faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and the new heart that He promises to give (Ezekiel 36:26) This and only this, is the Way that will bring about the changes we all want to see happening in our country.
Alan Taylor, Devonshire Avenue Baptist Church Portsmouth
 

Re: 'A story worth telling and retelling'

This is a wonderful retelling of God’s glorious story, thank you so much Helen for your time, energy and discipline to offer this vlog every day. We’ve not got to your final vlog yet....listening in progress!
Chirs Redman (via Facebook)
 
I will echo Chris Redman’s words. I have learned a lot and gained some new insights, thanks to Helen’s wonderful efforts. Still way behind and not quite finished the OT yet, but lots more to look forward to.
Elaine Hood (via Facebook)