Women, don’t let Pastor Jennings define you

‘Let us establish a fact. Both Pastor Jennings and Mr Vegas are performance artistes, but long-practised in his special snake-oil delivery, Jennings is a master of his craft, and worse, the women whom he denigrates love his act, his artistry and his maste

MR VEGAS, a new convert to the Christian faith, was always set to lose in a stage debate with the hip hop style of American preacher, Gino Jennings.

First, Vegas did not have an American accent, something highly valued among less educated Jamaicans. Second, the preacher had an open Bible, his sheep of a loyal congregation, and all Vegas had going for him was reason, an attempt to use logic to rip Jennings’s dogma and a need to defend Jamaican women.

Remember now, Jennings had, back in his country, criticised women in his church who wore hairpieces, ankle bracelets, lipstick and hip-hugging attire by calling them ‘hoes’ – just another Americanism for prostitutes. For women to be pure when they came to the church, it was his law that they dress like they walked out of a page in the 19th century.

In the end a Jamaican, Vegas, was ordered dragged offstage by an American. Right here in Jamaica. And the toughs who roughly hauled him off were Jamaicans.

The local chapter of the First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ has defended throwing out Mr Vegas.

MR VEGAS NEW TO THE GAME

“The apostle Gino Jennings was making great points based on scripture, but Mr Vegas was merely speaking his opinion, with no scripture to support his argument. When he was asked to quote a scripture, he wasn’t answering, he started acting defiant and standing up and talking, he did not act like he was in debate,” said Minister Stephen Baker.

Poor, poor Vegas, new to the game and unaware of the rules. He was there to defend Jamaican women from the poison coming from the mouth of Jennings, but he didn’t know that according to Jennings and Baker and their ilk, the answer to all things are to be found in the Bible.

Let us establish a fact. Both Pastor Jennings and Mr Vegas are performance artistes, but long-practised in his special snake-oil delivery, Jennings is a master of his craft, and worse, the women whom he denigrates love his act, his artistry and his mastery of the stage.

Where is the rest of the Jamaican ‘church’ on this matter? To no one’s surprise, silent. The only Jamaican female churchgoer I found who was willing to give an opposing view would, I believe, have done better than Vegas in the ‘debate’.

Said the 66-year-old Clarendon woman, “Me nuh like Pastor Jennings. Him physically separate man and woman in him church. How him can criticise woman fi wear hairpiece. Whey him nuh criticise di man dem fi wear false teet.”

The following is the sort of religious rant delivered by Jennings to loud applause in his hometown. “You so-called Christian-looking hoes, jumping in some church, flopping your ankle chains around. On the choir, breasts hanging out, lips all red, nails painted red, purple, blue, green, long like bird claws, all this fake hair, breasts implant, toenails painted with little fake diamonds in it, your toes ain’t richer. You’re nothing but a prostitute.”

The religious cynic would say that Pastor Jennings need God and goodness in his life. His message is part of a warped hip hop driven by the captive audience in his church, and as long he walks around with an open Bible, all is legitimate.

In local entertainment, we still have many dancehall DJs denigrating women, but that remains outside of the church. In the church is where goodness and mercy and forgiveness ought to flow.

When an American touches down here and enters the church, he can do no wrong.