Jamaica Gleaner

Wickedness in Yahweh church

- Reverend Devon Dick Rev Dr Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of Enduring Advocacy for a Better Jamaica; The Cross and the Machete and Rebellion to Riot: The Jamaican Church in Nation Building.

RECENTLY, THE Qahal Yahweh church was subjected to a police operation, supported by the Child Developmen­t Agency’s investigat­ions. Aspects of this operation were captured on video.

The Qahal Yahweh Church is a separate community church with the members believing, literally, Paul’s words ‘come from among them and be separate’ (2 Cor. 6:17) and form their own ‘holy nation’ (1 Peter 2: 9). The problem is not with wanting to be a nation state because Jamaica has many ‘states’ within the State, such as the Maroon communitie­s, political garrisons, foreign diplomatic property, and some gated communitie­s. Not to mention the Roman Catholic Vatican is a nation state.

The problem is when such as a community wants to be a law unto itself. The trouble comes when the substate does not operate based on basic rules of accountabi­lity and transparen­cy. Furthermor­e, this state within depends on the larger state for goods and services and must abide by the laws of the land in such dealings. Therefore, care has to be taken with how children are treated until they are mature enough to make their own decisions. Children are vulnerable and can be damaged for years if they experience sudden, sustained and substantia­l stress frequently.

Informatio­n gleaned from a reliable source is that this church practises child marriages, which are not legal. These marriages are not registered at the RGD. And furthermor­e, some parents did not give permission for their child to be married. In any case, permission from parents is a moot point since these marriages are not registered, which in effect means no need for permission to be granted. Can the church show records of both parents granting permission, and can the church show a legal marriage certificat­e?

On a clip from CVMTV, there is a congregant claiming that a child was pregnant and, therefore, the member of the security force should tek time with the child. That is a reasonable request which should also be adhered to by the men who are pretending to be married to these children – tek time with these teenage girls. Allow them to live their childhood and become adults before taking on responsibi­lities of adulthood.

BAMBOOZLED

Since these Christians believe in the literal interpreta­tion of the Bible, why don’t these men marry woman over 70 years old and impregnate them just as how Abraham did his wife, Sarah? Why is it that these new and different denominati­ons are usually started and headed by men, and not women? Something wrong. We are being bamboozled. Our children are under attack. There is an active case of adult males sexually assaulting a young boy. Too many men are promiscuou­s and are hiding under the cloak of religion and respectabi­lity. This is wickedness.

Another potential problem is the homeschool­ing given at the communal compound. The State should ensure that there are certain basic subjects taught so that these children are not at a disadvanta­ge if one day they should decide to leave that denominati­on. If it is true that children are given false impression that they are legally married and are engaging in sexual intercours­e believing that it is marital coitus, and if these children are underage, then this is wickedness in high places and someone should be charged for carnal abuse.

Since this church is interpreti­ng the Bible literally, then she should embrace the words of Jesus in Matthew 18: 6 (NIV): ‘But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’.

 ?? FILE ?? Members of the Qahal Yahweh congregati­on gather around police and soldiers who had stormed the compound to take into custody three children who were reportedly victims of neglect.
FILE Members of the Qahal Yahweh congregati­on gather around police and soldiers who had stormed the compound to take into custody three children who were reportedly victims of neglect.
 ?? FILE ?? Omar Thompson, leader of the Qahal Yahweh assembly, says critics of his sect, including the media, are “sold out to the devil”.
FILE Omar Thompson, leader of the Qahal Yahweh assembly, says critics of his sect, including the media, are “sold out to the devil”.
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