“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
Amos 5:24

From Pastors Martin and Esther,

We have never before made a personal written post on CLM’s social media, but in not having active, personal, social media accounts ourselves, we feel it is both appropriate and important to do so at this time.

Last week, when news broke of George Floyd’s shocking and abhorrent killing in the US, we were both sickened and appalled.  A week on, the world continues to reel.  The horrendous reality is that racism exists, in the US, in the UK, and across the world. It is real and it causes deep pain.  One of the great joys of our lives is to lead a multi-ethnic congregation, representative of our multi-cultural city. We love its diversity and we strive for unity. The notion that any one life may be of less value than another is so utterly contrary to both the heart of God and the message of the Gospel - which we passionately believe and to which we unswervingly hold.

We continue to listen and learn as we talk openly to brothers and sisters of different races and allow them to help us see the world through their lens and to share their experiences.  One of our black leaders told us yesterday that what saddened them as much as last week’s incident itself, was the familiarity of the backdrop of ‘black lives unfairly mistreated by white authority’.  As ‘white leaders’ we feel somewhat vulnerable even attempting to comment into this situation, but we are also aware that silence can be grossly misunderstood.  Further, we are aware that the early-in-the-week recording of our online Sunday services, meant we missed the opportunity to comment at the weekend, which could also be misinterpreted.   The reality is, many in our congregation, whom we love dearly, are hurting right now, deeply impacted personally by the ongoing effect of racism.  We do not pretend to fully comprehend these deep-seated wounds, that so many feel, but we acknowledge their pain and stand with them.

Let us be clear.  Racism is utterly wrong in any and every form and an expression of evil. It denies the individual the dignity of their humanity. Every life is of supreme worth as a being created by God, made in the image and likeness of God, and indeed valued sufficiently that God Himself would lay down his own life to redeem that human life.  Jesus won, by His most precious blood, people for God from every tribe, kindred and nation.

We should call out racism, and indeed all prejudice, wherever we find it. We should value every life equally.  We should seek to lift oppression from any that are weighed down under it. We should stand for justice at all times, seek to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves and we should pray for every stronghold to be brought down in the Name of Jesus. 

In the events of last week in the US, and in the violence that has followed, we see not only the choices of individuals but the fingerprints of the one who came to steal, to kill and destroy. This is the enemy who sows and fuels prejudice that it might result in a harvest of hatred, bitterness, murder, lawlessness, division and poverty.

Let us not forget that every one of us is made in the image of God - precious, desired, loved and fearfully and wonderfully made.  Each one of us is also fallen and will find, upon examination of our hearts, some seed of prejudice towards someone, somewhere and the ease of living with inequality which pains someone, somewhere else.  So, we invite you, as we respond ourselves in this matter, to examine the depths of our own hearts and invite the Holy Spirit to shine His light upon us and root out whatever is not Godly.

Ephesians 6:12-18
‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God… and pray in the Spirit on all occasions.’

Psalm 139:23-24
‘Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’

John 13:34-35
‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

With our love,
Martin and Esther Storey