Convulsions of madness

How can we respond to recent tragedies? 

Various events over the last few weeks have truly shocked the nation, sending out convulsions of shock and violence which will continue to reverberate for some time to come.

Tragedy in our nation

I struggled to sleep after reading how the police handcuffed the poor young student, Henry Nowak, as he lay dying, disbelieving his breathless pleas that he’d been stabbed, all seemingly because his murderer lied that he’d racially abused him. By all accounts, he was a young man with at least an emerging faith in God, and certainly someone who lived a life of love and kindness to others. I couldn’t help but play over in my mind the images from his dying moments, probably made more personal because my own 18-year-old son will be heading to university very soon, and so imagining thus the pain of his parents too.

The brutal stabbing attempt by a Sudanese asylum seeker on the streets of Belfast was also horrific. We still know nothing about why he perpetrated this crime, which may have left his victim blinded – was it terrorism, mental illness, or was it a targeted attack?

Both of these incidences triggered a violent response, in Belfast in particular, where stories of families having to be rescued as their houses burnt down seem to me as coming from a different time and place, not the country we know and love.

And now, we hear of the shocking and almost unbelievable abuse and murder of a poor little beautiful toddler Preston Davey, by one of the two men who were entrusted with his care, his adoptive dads. The baby’s maternal grandmother, who couldn’t care for him as she was going through breast cancer treatment, has reflected that her concerns about them as adoptive parents were possibly ignored as homophobic. 

Racism rearing its ugly head

In response to the events in Southampton and Belfast, some, especially in these days when Christian nationalism seems to be taking a dark turn, would have us rail against immigrants and immigration. The murderer, however, of Henry Nowak, was not an immigrant, but a man who had been born and grown up in the UK, to a Sikh family. The Sikhs are well known to promote peace, however; they are a group who have contributed to the UK in many ways, and who eschew violence, except to protect those under attack. Sikh leaders have gone out of their way to effectively disown Vickram Digwa, saying that he is no true Sikh. 

Immigration is, nonetheless, something that has played into the events in Belfast. And thus, there are very relevant questions needed to be asked – and answered – about how much national security is a factor in decisions about who can come to this country to settle. That is a serious question that cannot be ducked, in the face of the attempted murder in Northern Ireland, and also other recent crimes, such as sexual assaults by migrants. But rioters did not just demonstrate against poor national security considerations. They targeted innocent families, just because they were of a different race.

But rioters did not just demonstrate against poor national security considerations. They targeted innocent families, just because they were of a different race.

There is, in Christianity, absolutely no place for racism. The New Testament could not be clearer about this. I was reading Galatians this morning, where Paul passionately reiterates two main points – one, that works of the Law, such as circumcision, are not the basis of our faith. And the other is, effectively, that race (and also sex and status) should no longer be a dividing matter. In Christ, as he writes, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:28)

Reasonable concerns

There is nothing wrong, per se, with being concerned at the pressure recent high immigration levels have put on housing and public services, nor is it wrong to question security issues arising from large numbers of undocumented male migrants arriving and threatening safety. But if ever legitimate concerns about immigration begin to drift towards any sort of racism, Christians should be in the frontline of reminding others that God created all people, of all races, in His image – all are of worth and valuable to Him, and all need to know Christ. 

Christians should be in the frontline of reminding others that God created all people, of all races, in his image – all are of worth and valuable to him, and all need to know Christ.

There is no New Testament ban on criticising other cultures, however. Paul, in Galatians, points out many of the wrong actions of those who don’t live according to the Spirit, but by the prevailing culture of the day. But again, this criticism is reserved for ungodly behaviour, not simply different ways of doing things, and these criticisms can be applied as much to native Brits as to immigrants: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19-21).

But he does say that “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal 6:10) He outlines that we should be people of love, peace, patience, and kindness (Gal 5:22-23). Our response should always, thus, be seasoned with the fruit of the Spirit. 

No favouritism

Another key point from the Bible, which is relevant to recent events, is one that the police are meant to adhere to – acting “without fear or favour”. This is not just for the police, however, but should apply to all those in influence or in authority. (In the days of social media, all can be influencers – as we are quick to pronounce judgement on comments/Twitter etc.)

Modern society has been so busy promoting minority groups, that it frequently seems to have forgotten this key principle, though I am pleased to see that the relevant judges in both murder cases have applied the law fairly.

James tells us not to treat the rich preferentially to the poor (James 2:1-4); the Torah equally points out that the poor should not be favoured over the rich in the law (Lev 23:2)! Ezekiel strongly articulates that blame rests upon the perpetrator of a crime, not someone associated with him, such as their family (Ezekiel 18). 

Neither the native white British person nor one whose ancestry is from elsewhere should be shown favouritism.

Neither the native white British person nor one whose ancestry is from elsewhere should be shown favouritism. This is important for us as citizens. It is also a principle that the authorities need to re-establish, for they are losing the trust of the general population.

We don’t actually know if social workers failed to investigate the gay couple who had adopted little Preston Davey because of a desire to promote gay couples in adoption. We can’t know for sure that it was a willingness to believe accusations of racism before anything else that led the police to handcuff Henry Nowak. What we do know is that there seems to have long been a pattern in promoting various minority groups above others, and that this is destabilising the country, something that is increasing with intensity to a worrying degree.

There seems to have long been a pattern in promoting various minority groups above others, and ... this is destabilising the country.

Equality for all and Justice should go hand in hand. Both are vital biblical principles. At the moment, twisted logic is tearing them apart.

A truly Christian response

Despite everything, it was encouraging to see how Christians have responded to events in many ways. In Southampton, churches joined others to clean up the mess after the riots there. Another church has been supporting Henry Nowak’s family. In Belfast, it was a Christian pastor who helped emergency services get one of the families to safety. 

Like those Christians who have demonstrated their faith practically through loving actions, let us all seek to be make a positive difference in our own communities.

That is what it truly means to be salt and light in this seemingly dark and decaying world. Like those Christians who have demonstrated their faith practically through loving actions, let us all seek to be make a positive difference in our own communities, by continuing to model the life of love and grace that our Lord God has demonstrated. 

^{Generic image by Florian Olivo on unsplash.com}