Tragic events can often engender feelings of despair, anger and confusion. In their aftermath, there is usually a struggle to make sense of what has taken place, and into this maelstrom we often see the prophets of doom who seek to shine a beam of darkness into an area of gloom. It is at these times that many welcome the Church’s role in providing some much-needed leadership and reflection. However, for some, this is little more than the Church being opportunistic. 

This week's news 

The awful events in Woolwich continue to make the headlines.

There have been over ten attacks on mosques since the Woolwich murder. 

Forces charity Help For Heroes will not accept any donations raised by EDL members.

Britain forces the European Union to lift the embargo on Syria rebel arms. 

Australia is ranked the 'happiest' developed nation. 

Reflection

The recent tragic events in Woolwich have forced Britain to do a lot of soul searching on whether it is succeeding in its efforts to curtail religious and political extremism, and increase community cohesion and ethnic integration. 

Because the culprits were Muslim converts, Islamic teachings have been placed under the microscope and the ‘Muslim community’ in Britain has been forced to go on the defensive. Many political commentators and the inevitable detractors have used these events to call on British Muslims to work harder in providing leadership to root out radicalisation in their communities. They want them to provide support and guidance to new converts and the young/impressionable, and isolate and repudiate the preachers of hate.

An ‘extremist’ version of Newton's Third Law of Motion has seen far-right hate groups responding to this murderous outrage. Many of these extremist groups have little interest in promoting good community relations, and are looking to take advantage of this horrible event to stoke up hatred and undermine race and religious relations in the UK. 

Thankfully, this awful event has seen an alliance of faith leaders move quickly to provide guidance, encourage calm and generate a spirit of togetherness in the face of anger, fear and confusion. Aristotle argued that ‘nature abhors a vacuum’ and these religious figures have stepped into the breach to provide the measured leadership that will pour water and not oil onto the flames. 

At such difficult times, many look to the heads of the various faith organisations to provide some form of leadership. Indeed, in the Church’s’ situation, any reluctance to play a key role in proceedings would be interpreted as a dereliction of its duty, and result in real criticism. However, when it does act decisively, some, akin to the Pharisees with Jesus, question its ‘authority to do these things’. This places the Church in a Catch 22 scenario. 

Paul and the Galatians

In today’s reading, we see another faith leader, Paul, showing real leadership in a situation that was threating to spiral out of control. In Galatians 1.1-12, we see Paul moved decisively to assert his authority upon a Christian community in which discordant, meddling voices were threatening to undermine the coherence and clarity of the good news. In comparison with some of his other epistles, Galatians is more curt than courteous, as the Apostle sought to keep these Christians from deviating from the truth. 

We know that the Christians in Galatia were a very diverse group of believers, both ethnically and culturally. While we know that Paul affirmed diversity, he appeared to value biblical integrity and truth over everything else, and wanted this varied group of Christians to know that there was only ‘one gospel of Christ’.

As we can see in Galatia, the good news has the ability to bring people together, enabling there to be a unity in diversity. And in both Galatians 1.1-12 and Luke 7.1-10 we also see how the good news heralds healing and restoration for all those who accept its message. 

Prayer

This can be used as a prayer of thanksgiving at the end of a service.

Gracious Lord, 
we bring to you your wonderful world and its beautiful people 
and we consider the capacity of some to cause harm
to those who are made in your image. 
We thank you that
despite the apparent turmoil and confusion, 
you are a Sovereign Lord who is in complete control. 
We ask that you may change the hearts and minds
of those who are determined to create division and destruction, 
and we thank you for those men and women
who work to bring about healing and reconciliation 
in our hurting world.
And we ask that that you may continue
to give them courage, wisdom and strength 
to carry out this all-important work.
This we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Questions

• We often hear the term ‘unity in diversity’ within the Church. How is it manifested within a Christian context, and can we improve it?
• Paul cited the fact that he was a divinely commissioned ‘apostle’ as his authority to speak to the churches. Are we as bold as Paul in asserting divine authority when assuming a leadership role on range of spiritual and social issues? 

Action

Just before the above-mentioned prayer is said, invite the congregation to take some time to reflect on issues of unity in your neighbourhood, and then spend a short time praying for a resolution to any tensions or issues. 

Young People

After the Woolwich outrage the Archbishop of Canterbury and religious leaders from other faiths came together in a show of unity, and pledged to work together to improve community relations. Find out ways in which your church and local communities groups can work together to encourage cross-community cohesion.

Richard Reddie is a writer and researcher. His latest book, M artin Luther King Jr: History Maker  is published by Lion Hudson. He worships at St James Church (CofE) West Streatham, London.

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