Below is a lightly edited transcript of my Sermon for Hackney and Stoke Newington online service on the 19th/08/20

In our gospel reading this morning, which has been intentionally paraphrased by me, Matthew presents a seed-related parable about some aspect of the Kingdom of God, coupled with our response, to highlight the symbolic conflict between good and evil.

Jesus, the son of Man, is the one that sows the good seed and the enemy sows the bad seed discreetly when no one is watching. The bad seed looks like the institutional network often referred to as a religion, filled with discrimination and institutional racism. The good seed, however, represents the Church as a faithful community empowered with the Holy Spirit to practically challenge institutions and nations to work to dismantle discrimination and the structures which promote, sustain and enable institutional racism. Jesus teaches us in this parable that both coexist in our world.

In our wider Church, I believe we have some genuinely good lay people and ministers (of all races) who are filled with the Holy Spirit and want to be a vehicle of change. We also have those who are complicit and embedded in the system, often with an intention to systematically suppress the oppressed by creating division, forcing conformity to the status quo and using and abusing them.

In many parts of the world the anger and distress over the killing of black people and those who have been abused are being reverberated through the ‘Me Too’ and ‘Black Lives Matter movement’. In response to this, I recently did an interview with the BBC Radio 4 and the Methodist Church for their podcast which has been broadcasted.

In our wider Church context, the virus known as institutional racism is widespread. We’re busy pulling each other down instead of raising each other up. If you’re black you’re less likely to rise into senior leadership. If you’re black, you’re more likely to find yourself on committees in a voluntary capacity. Black people rarely transition into full leadership in the Connexion. The question is, are we children of a lesser God? Do we worship a lesser God? Or is our worship in vain? The answer to my rhetorical questions is frankly a NO. In response to some of these issues, with my active involvement, the Methodist Conference recently voted to increase work on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Jesus tells us in our parable this morning that there will be a day of reckoning. Brothers and sisters, I’m afraid the time is near. So we can either work together to get our house in order or hide through hypocrisy and tokenism, but that is not going to save us or solve our problems.

The good news is that God is with us. This morning God is saying to us a change is going to come. So wait, keep watch, and take heart! Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have received salvation; forgiveness for our sins as he paid the price with his blood on the cross and upon His dissension and ascension, the power of the Holy Spirit has brought heaven on earth to untangle institutional racism, sickness and oppression. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that God’s plans for us and the work has been fulfilled.

MOVING FORWARD we need to recognise that the kingdom of God is already here in our midst, not a part of some distant future. It carries authority to transform lives and set the oppressed free. This does not mean everything is hunky-dory – rather Paul in Romans 8:12-25 is urging us to fulfil God’s righteousness by living in the power of the Spirit and according to the Spirit, and trust that God will bring good out of current sufferings – in light of COVID-19, the ‘Me Too’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’ movements, the Church is being called to take dominion by playing a significant part in bringing hope and establishing God’s Kingdom on earth.

Luke 17:21: “nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” – Luke is revealing the corporate and public nature of the Kingdom of God. Therefore we need to be image-bearers of Christ by practically demonstrating to the world that we’re taking all necessary actions to correct wrongs of injustice, racism and stand in solidarity with victims. Brothers and sisters as a Church, I believe God is urging us to proactively seek, with a greater commitment, to address the lack of diverse representation in leadership positions and dismantle institutional racism.

Brothers and sisters, I’m submitting to us that the Kingdom of God is found squarely in the middle of institutional racism, social evil, discrimination, suffering and exploitation. However, God works maturity and redemptive good in the midst of evil. And we are being called to be partakers of God’s work and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

There’s a famous quote from Martin Niemoller who said,

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionist, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for”.

Brothers and sisters this morning I don’t know where your head is at. Perhaps you’re facing a difficult period in your faith journey. Perhaps you are feeling helpless and confused? Perhaps you have been directly or indirectly affected by racism. Maybe you need someone to take off the load? I want you to know that God cares for you. He is calling you – it is a divine invitation. So come, unload your burden and trade them for joy. Take a leap of faith and respond to His open invitation of love and your life will never be the same again. Amen

Gracious God give us strength and courage to be a faithful community empowered with the Holy Spirit to practically challenge institutions and nations to dismantle institutional racism and the structures which promote, sustain and enable it. Amen