Compelled

For God’s love compels us…

2 Cor. 5:14

It’s April and spring and perhaps even summer is now in the air and I reflect back on the first quarter of the year. Depending on where one lives, January was just cold, February was LGBTI History Month ( U.K.), Reggae Month ( Jamaica) or Black History Month (U.S.A.) and March followed as Prostate and Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Each in its own way shone a spotlight on things that matter; gender and sexuality, culture and tradition, racial and ethnic histories, and health and wellbeing. To be able to celebrate all of ourselves, in our varying degrees of wholeness in a single month, is perhaps our task for the rest of the year.

In January I attended a conference exploring the teaching of black theology within higher education. Organised primarily to encourage lively discussion on black and womanist (black feminism) theology at the under and post graduate levels, the gathering was also an assembly of friends and colleagues. It was hosted by my favourite Quaker Retreat Centre and was truly a day of fellowship that was food for my soul and nourishment for my physical bones. Numerous papers were presented, covering a wide variety of themes that included; teaching black theology through visual culture, gospel music and African diasporan religions and spiritualities. As they were presented in parallel, I was only able to attend three of the six papers and I choose; the teaching of the black theological perspective within the U.K., the importance of the work of the Bible Society of the West Indies in their translation of a selection of Gospel texts into Jamaican and the use of Jamaican folk tales within a multifaith landscape. The first confirmed the perspective and provided an excellent introduction to those in attendance unfamiliar with the genre. The remaining two were even more delightful. To hear the beauty of God’s Word within the framework of one’s own culture is exhilarating. Jesus spoke through the stories of his time and culture in an everyday language that made spiritual understanding and growth, available to the people. They were not reliant on an academically trained Church elite or required a formalised personal religious education. Black theology has a value beyond the academic when it is translated into an everyday language that makes sense of our daily journeys and encourages insight into our collective experiences.

During the Conference I was very conscious of the absence of any presentations or discussions on gender and sexuality within a black theological perspective. When the call for papers was issued last year, I considered the option, sensing an obligation within myself, to present again on this controversial subject. I hesitated and decided that the “should” needed to be replaced by a question – is it practical at this time for you to do this? I listened to that inner voice of wisdom - truly a God given Word. We read in Ecclesiastes – there is a season for everything. By-passed opportunities do not necessarily indicate chances have been lost. Timing is a valuable part of discerning the correct moment. But when our time comes, regardless of our circumstances – God’s love compels us to act and to share the Good News with those who are willing to listen, irrespective of the animosity of those who refuse to hear.

We put no stumbling-block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Cor. 6:3-10 NIV

May the Holy Spirit of God continue to bless you with a vision that transcends any limitations you may feel are within your daily circumstances.

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