Does the All Peoples Party want a Christian State?
One of the significant features of our 2013 Constitution is the secular state, which guarantees the freedom of religion and belief. Basically, we are free to practise what we believe, as long as we don’t impose it on others, and we operate within the ambits of the law. Even the rights of atheists (those who do not believe in God) are recognised.
In the past, some parties with strong leanings towards Christianity, had advocated for a Christian State. So far, the secular state has given all faiths a fair go. It has even spurred some faith groups to venture into politics.
The All Peoples Party is one of them. It’s outrageous policies aside, the freedom to participate in politics shows that democracy is alive and well in Fiji. While some may think that it’s morally wrong to mix church and politics, the fact that the All Peoples Party is one of the nine parties contesting this election, proves that it can be done. What has happened is that the All Peoples Party is taking its religious ideologies into the political arena. Whether you agree with them or not is beside the point. The party joins the frontline in the battle for 55 seats in Parliament.
If the 19 provisional candidates, it has announced, have an influential role in their church groups, then we can reasonably assume that they will have a following.
What is disconcerting, however, are some of their policies like the reverting of all freehold and crown (state) land to native (iTaukei) lease, and that major business houses will pay tithe (one tenth of earnings) to the church in addition to the taxes they pay Government. These are radical ideas supposedly based on the party’s interpretation of certain scriptures in the Holy Bible.
Their land policy sounds like a land grab that is designed to appeal to the iTaukei voters. It will cause endless legal battles in court, economic chaos and probably civil unrest. It’s an idea that is badly flawed. It is lifted straight from the book of right wing proindigenous activists.
The payment of tithe is a religious test for people’s faith in God and it operates on the principle of freedom of choice within the religious setting. While it is regarded as a commandment, no one is forced. But those who exercise their faith by paying tithe believe God will bless them. And God has, according to the many testimonies we hear from tithe payers. It has become one of the main sources of income for many churches today. It helps pays the bills, salaries and expenses for members of the clergy of some churches.
The concept of tithe and offerings is clearly explained in the third chapter of Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.
The party is also talking about rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Caesar represents the people’s Government. God’s Government is his church or churches. We need to pay our taxes to the Government as dictated by law. But tithe payment is up to individuals. That’s the difference and it exposes a fundamental flaw in the party thinking. It does not make sense when it wants businesses to pay tithe when it is about individual choice.
Second, it says it wants businesses to pay to the church. What church? The party has not clarified that it wants Fiji to be a Christian state.
That is something it must spell out when it releases its manifesto.
NEMANI DELAIBATIKI nemani.delaibatiki@fijisun.com.fj