A Christian Response to the Events in Belfast
Nathaniel Jennings is OMF’s first Intercultural Ministries Director. In response to the riots in Belfast in June, we asked Nathaniel for his insight into how Christians should respond.
I never imagined I would witness the brutal attack in North Belfast last week, or the violent hatred shown toward people because of their skin colour. I never thought I would hear anyone try to justify such terrible acts, especially those who call themselves Christians.
Throughout history, Christians have often lived in times of division and conflict. In those moments, people are tempted to see others as outsiders and to accept harmful words and actions, forgetting that everyone is made in God’s image. This happens when fear and suspicion towards others are encouraged.
In Jesus’ time, it was the Samaritans because of their mixed blood. It was the tax collectors because they were collaborators with the enemies. It was the Gentiles because they were unclean and oppressors. Most people bought into this, including the religious establishment of the day. The early church faced similar divisions. Jews and Gentiles mistrusted one another, masters owned slaves, and some called others barbarians.
Yet Jesus called his followers to something better. He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, and that his kingdom was not of this world and would not come by human might. He told his followers to turn their cheeks, carry their enemies’ cloaks, and pray for them. He ministered to them and dined with them. The Apostle Paul taught that the good news of Jesus was that he had died to bring people back to God, break down the barriers of hostility, and create one new humanity in him.
Northern Ireland knows the pain of division, dehumanisation, and violence all too well. For decades, people were treated as enemies rather than neighbours, made to feel like outsiders in their own land. Yet even in those dark times, some Christians refused to stay silent. They chose reconciliation over hatred, built bridges across communities, and worked to show grace where others spread fear.
So who will we be in our own divided and violent times? Our attitudes, words, and actions reveal where our true loyalties lie. We can be drawn into the fear, rhetoric, and othering of our age, or we can live for the kingdom of Christ. That choice will not be easy. It may cost us comfort, approval, or even reputation. We may be called naive, weak, or traitorous for refusing to join the anger of our culture. But if that happens, we are in good company with others throughout history who chose faithfulness over conformity.
“We can be drawn into the fear, rhetoric, and othering of our age, or we can live for the kingdom of Christ”
What does this mean for students right now? A hundred international students from Queen’s had to flee their homes last week. They will be traumatised and anxious.
Our response can bring beauty from ashes. What was meant to harm can become an opportunity to show the grace of Jesus. To our brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be family and show the Lord’s care through our actions. To international students from around the world who are not Christians, we have a chance to show them the unconditional love, welcome, and compassion found in Jesus.
Blessings, Nathaniel
