On Sunday 9 February many British churches celebrated the 30th anniversary of Racial Justic Sunday. This is the day when churches reflect on the importance of racial justice, to give thanks for the gifts and beauty of human diversity, and to commit themselves to end racism and acts of discrimination. The gospel calls all Christians continually to confront the idolatry of racism and the evils in our world, and to proclaim justice and mercy as we seek to walk with our God (Micah 6.8). At Chelmsford Cathedral where I worship, the service that day was based on the words of Martin Luther King.
To quote the first two verses:
We have a dream: this nation will arise
And truly live according to its creed,
That all are equal in their maker’s eyes,
And none shall suffer through another’s greed.We have a dream that one day we shall see
A world of justice, truth and equity,
Where sons and slaves and daughters of the free
Will share the banquet of community.
Toward the end of the service, we committed the members of the congregation committed themselves to “proclaim the good news of reconciliation in both word and deed”, to “acknowledge and address the prejudices” that keep us from “loving all God’s children”; and “to strive to see Christ in all persons and value those with whom we disagree”.
On that Racial Justice Sunday the worship was led by a minister whose mother came from Jamaica, while the preacher was a minister who had come from Nigeria. Although the congregation was more than 50% white, nonetheless there were many black and brown Christians present. The black Christians for the most part came from Nigeria, while most or the brown Christians came from South India. We were – and continue to be – a living sign that “In Jesus all the many races and cultures to form a glorious harmony and are a taste of heaven”.
Thankfully Britain is a country which is one of the least racist. So, for instance, according to a 2019 European Union survey, the prevalence of harassment toward people of African descent was the second lowest among the 12 European countries surveyed. Indeed, I am amazed how my grandchildren are colour-blind. But they go to schools where the pupils come from many races and cultures. Alas, this does not mean that racism is not present in Britain. For instance, a staggering 66% of students in the UK say they have experienced discrimination, either whilst in a job or when applying for one. 40% of individuals who are employed say that they have experienced workplace discrimination.
Generally speaking, racism and racial discrimination are suffered by Asians, Africans, or people from the Caribbean. However, people of ‘colour’ can also be racist too. I vividly remember the day when a black university professor in the theological faculty of the National University of Congo said to me, when I too was a university professor in that theological faculty, said with venom “I hate you because you are white”! I could not believe that a fellow Christian could not only think but also say “I hate you because you are white”.
In Chelmsford Caroline and I have many good friends who are Africans. For instance, one good friend is a Ghanaian who is a heart consultant at the NHS hospital in Colchester; another good friend is a Ugandan, who is a member of my Rotary Club and is the ‘Voice of Africa’ on the BBC World Service; another good friend is an accountant from Pakistan and is a member of my Rotary Club; other good friends are Nigerians who commute to London and are members of my former church, viz. Central Baptist Church, Chelmsford. All of these good friends are Christians. Now that in retirement I worship at Chelmsford Cathedral, at the point in the Sunday morning service where we exchange ‘the Peace’ , I spend most of the time giving ‘the Peace’ to the many Africans and Asians who are part of the congregation.
How I look forward to the day when we I will be part of that vast crowd before the throne of God. As John wrote in the Book of Revelation: “I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every tribe nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne…. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belons to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7.7-10 NRSV). It is in this sense that we can say that when we worship God on a Sunday we discover that “in Jesus all the many races and cultures form a glorious harmony and are a taste of heaven”.
We too have a very diverse congregation with all races represented. It’s interesting that you say your grandchildren are colourblind; two of our grandchildren are half Indian, and we feel just the same about them as the other four; in fact two of those are half Italian !So we are a very mixed race family now and what a privilege that is ! May we all be part of a glorious harmony !