Love

…may your love and truth always protect me… Ps. 40.11 NIV

Two Sundays ago I was invited to preach at MCC East London. My sermon titled – God bringing us through, began their reflective period on the theme – In the most difficult times the Spirit of God has led us. Thus I began their Lenten programme which includes reflections on the Diaspora, transgender, HIV/AIDS and foster-parenthood. I was mindful of how God is constantly bringing us through the difficulties of every day life regardless of whether we have earned it, feel it or even know it.

Last month, the Prime Minister followed in the footsteps of his Australian equivalent by apologising for the Child Migrants Programme, that ran from the 1920s to the late 60s. With the active support of the Catholic Church, thousands of under privileged children in State care and religious residential institutions were transported to Australia and Canada for a better life. This programme sought to relocate orphans and illegitimate children as ‘good white stock…to bolster dwindling populations’ in the British Commonwealth. It is now recognised that many children, some stolen from their families, were transported from one abusive environment to another. Stories of systematic sexual and physical abuse and exploitative child labour led to a determined campaign to expose the programme’s brutalities and demand an official apology. This colonial child resettlement plan has now been reclassified as shameful and misguided. I thank God that my colour precluded my being part of this cruel and disgraceful episode in our colonial history.

Events like these beg the question - how did the Church not know that this was contrary to the love of God as expressed through Christ? This contradiction in faith, has many counterparts as I was reminded by a conversation at the last Black Theology Forum. The topic for discussion were the challenges facing the Black Church in the 21 st century. Mention was made of the co-founder of Pentecostalism, Charles Parham, who was a Spirit filled, tongues speaking white racist who barred black folk from his services. I remember my own shock in learning of the historical racist undertones of my home Denomination, the Assemblies of God. It is not enough to admit our humanity as an excuse for denying the inclusive love of Christ. It is not acceptable that many ‘difficult times’ are caused by an excluding Church that preaches to and loves, only some of the people. We are not excused by our lack of knowledge or experience.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. I Cor. 13:1-3 NIV

May the Holy Spirit of God continue to bring you through the difficult times, with much love.

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