Church should be advocate of justice
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I WAS deeply moved by the sermon of the Rt Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin, Bishop of Dover in Canterbury, England, as she preached during the service commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Diocese of Jamaica at the Anglican Cathedral in Spanish Town on Sunday, February 11.
The bishop quite rightly pointed out that Christians must be actively engaged in the quest for justice, as justice is not to be left to the courts or delegated to politicians. She affirmed that as important as prayer is, Christians must act on their prayers to build a world where justice prevails for all people.
Referring to the Anglican post-communion prayer “Send us out in the power of the Spirit to live and work to Your praise and to Your glory,” she admonished persons to stop saying this prayer if they don’t mean it; and if they do mean it, to take action.
In my view, that action requires a significant portion of the Jamaican Christian population to relinquish the preponderant trend of patterning the ways in which US televangelists and mega-church pastors ‘do church’. Far too many Jamaican
Christians allow themselves to be influenced by messages preached in US mega-churches and by local self-proclaimed ‘prophets’ who promote the prosperity gospel of personal success, declare judgement on ‘others’, and lay the blame for society’s ills squarely on the shoulders of politicians. And while I do believe that there is nothing wrong with personal success and prosperity, their pursuit is abhorrent and ungodly, if the quest for social justice is ignored as is too frequently the case by proponents of the prosperity gospel.
The Church has a tradition of providing social services – education, health, food and shelter – that complement and fill the gaps where government resources fall short. In addition to continuing to provide these services, responsible Christian leaders must equip their congregations and frontline service workers and volunteers to advocate for justice. The Church must challenge itself, politicians and civic leaders to make policy decisions that ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to thrive and prosper in a world where justice prevails for all.
CAMILLE ISSACS-MORELL cisaacsmorell@videotron.ca