Tudravu’s initiative recognises role of faithbased groups in maintenance of law and order
Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu’s initiative to visit faith-based groups was long overdue.
He was welcomed by Catholic Church leader Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, on behalf of the Faith Community Leaders. He recognised the important partnership between law enforcement and churches in responding to crisis.
It is indeed true, as stressed by the Archbishop, that people grow closer to God in a crisis. People tend to turn to God, a higher supreme being, when they are at wit’s end. It’s their last resort. They have tried everything humanly possible to achieve something they really need but are unsuccessful.
In the Christian faith they are taught to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and exercise it. They believe faith without work is dead. They have done what they can but fail. That’s when the reliance on God kicks in. If their faith is solid God will find a way for them to obtain what they need. And it always happens, irrespective of their circumstances.
In a crisis, and we have seen evidence of this in COVID-19 civil unrest as people defy the law, people are driven by desperation to satisfy a need or an urge.
In times like this we tend to blame others for our predicament, usually it’s the Government that becomes the convenient scapegoat. Some blame our secular state for our social ills.
It must be clarified that under our Constitution we are all free to practise our religion, as long as we are within the bounds of the law. We cannot impose our faith on others. We should not coerce people to join our religion. It’s ungodly. People can join any religion with their own free will and choice.
Our social problems are not because we are a secular state. We must take responsibility for our actions because we enjoy the freedom of choice in a free country. When people break the law it’s their decision, not because of secularism, but because they have put aside their cultural and religious values.
This is where the faith groups come in. They reinforce these values, not only in worship houses, but in the community working with individuals and families. History has shown that people will follow what their churches tell them.