Dear Editor,

We tend to wonder if the church has lost its prophetic voice, or are we afraid to use the Bible creatively? Let us quote from Luke 1: 52-53, “He has brought down the powerful from the thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” I remember quoting this passage on Christmas Day in the 1970s, and a visitor left the church service, because she thought it was very radical and socialist.

Luke 4: 14-19, was a text that also created conscious vibrations, especially for some of the black middle class. “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” Why are these passages of scripture so provocative? Are they touching the conscience of some of us who attend church, causing us to wrestle with the truth? Let us look at what Marcus Garvey had to say April 16, 1922 at Liberty Hall, in his speech, The Resurrection of the Negro: “He is such a loving God. He is such a merciful God. He is such a God that He is no respecter of persons, that he would in His great love create a superior race and an inferior one.” Let us continue to let the writings of Marcus Garvey and the voice of scripture disturb our conscience.

Rev Canon Ernle Gordon

gordfm@yahoo.com