Dear Editor,
As a Christian, my concerns are about the misuse of the name of Jesus Christ in politics by politicians of APNU/AFC and some of their followers in their commentaries, which by observation, have become more pronounced after May 11, 2015.
It caused me to wonder about the perception held by non-Christians when they hear the words and observe the attitudes and behaviour of some persons going under the name Christians.
This letter is not against Christians but against false Christians. There’s a difference. I am compelled to write because true Christians are witnesses and we need to be careful of what people are seeing in us.
Here are some troubling examples:
* Immediately after the announcement of the winner of last year’s elections, persons of a certain ethnic group took to the streets, singing hymns, calling God’s name, quoting Scripture and rejoicing in a manner that was unbecoming.
* Social media particularly – but also workplaces and communities – exploded with disturbing comments spewed from persons’ lips about the past government and their supporters. Scripture was used to make it appear that God deposed one party and one ethnic group to elevate another party and another ethnic group. The ethnic group and the deposed party became the subject of ridicule and condemnation again with the use of God’s name and Scripture. The victorious party leadership and followers publicly claimed that God has done this deposing. I wondered how they know this for sure since the Bible says. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom andi]” style=”box-sizing: border-box”> knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord?” (Romans 11:33-34)
* Most recently, I have seen a certain young man referred to the Lord when he rejoiced in Dr Jagdeo’s sister’s death. The individual “thanked God” for “dealing with the PPP and getting rid of Jagdeo’s sister” (sic) and knows that God will kill them “one by one” (sic) and asked “everyone to praise the Lord.” (sic). Disturbingly, several persons did.
* I saw comments from another man on social media threatening to kill various members of the PPP and vowed to protect the current government, all in the name of God.
* I heard a speech given by Mr Trotman that was laced with Biblical references, and noticed the insinuations.
My immediate thought was: are Christian leaders and church leaders seeing these things and do these things cause them any discomfort about the perception of true Christianity? I don’t think so because to this date, I have not seen any Christian publicly denounce these things or attempt to correct public perceptions about Christianity, given the false projections of the faith from persons who are not true Christians.
Let me first of all say this, that the God of the Bible is God for all people of every nationality, every ethnic group from every walk of life, everywhere. Christ came to save mankind from their sins and make them sons of God (John 1:12). Therefore, He is the God of the Africans in the same degree as He is the God of Indians, Amerindians, Chinese, Americans, Koreans, etc to as many as would receive Him.
So one group cannot claim exclusivity on Jesus Christ and denounce others for their political preference; if that preference is for another political party. Just as much as some Christians voted for APNU/AFC, some Christians voted for the PPP. Being created in the image of God means we have been given free will to make choices.
In true Christianity the brethren are unified. If one group is dancing and rejoicing on the streets, claiming that God granted them victory, then what does that mean for the rest of the believers associated with the other political parties? Was God split into two? God does not rival Himself, so why should His followers who are supposed to be one body? In other words, true followers don’t engage in such things.
Regarding the young man, who by his words, identified himself as Christian and thanked God for “getting rid of Jagdeo’s sister” and so on, I can say this much: such utterances not only depict a twisted mind but he is a perfect example of what sin does to people.
In Christian terms he is referred to as an unregenerate, meaning he is not spiritually born. The Bible teaches us that “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) That’s simple to understand. The comment of this young man is out of sync with this. In Ezekiel we are told: “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Eze. 18:23,32 & 33:11). How then did the young man come to rejoice in the death of someone and has presumptuously call on God to kill others?
I had the opportunity of listening to a speech Rapheal Trotman. The speech was posted online. While I care not for his politics it caused me some angst when he began to use Scripture. My first set of arguments about those who rejoiced after May 11, would apply to Mr Trotman. But I still need to go further. He speaks of liberation after 23 years in similarity to the Israelites’ liberation after 400 years of bondage in Egypt.
I mused on the following. Who is he trying to liberate? Is it an ethnic group or Christians? It can’t be Christians because Christ has already liberated us. It would be troubling if he is referring to an ethnic group – which I think he was. That would constitute racism and sowing seeds of discord, for which he is hiding behind Scripture and this is what troubles me. I say this because the crux of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt was not political as it was spiritual.
Therefore to use this story to refer to political liberation is misleading. To help Mr Trotman understand this, in Exodus 4:21-23, God told Moses to tell Pharaoh “This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.”
I’ll go further still. When Christ came to earth, He did everything to avoid political leadership although the people wanted Him to become a political leader. The Jews wanted Him to liberate them from Roman rulership but Christ made it clear that He didn’t come to deliver them politically. He came to deliver them from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
These are some of the truths about Christianity. Jesus Christ is a God of love. He loves everyone. The PPP leadership is God’s creation too. He loves them the same. Who dares to say differently?
The Bible however, makes it clear how to tell a true Christian follower and leader from false ones. It says “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16). True Christians go through a transformation process, a change which is seen in changed thinking and behaviour.
If persons profess to be Christians and Christian virtues cannot be seen in them or they are disobeying Biblical instructions – such as to love your neighbour as yourself, bless those who curse you and persecute you, pray for others, love our enemies, desist from slandering and speaking ill of others, and so forth – they are not of Christ.
The matter needed to be addressed because with the change of our politics last year, references to God and Bible have increased. Troublingly, many of the words spoken and actions portrayed are not in keeping with Biblical teaching, thinking and conduct.
Yours sincerely,
Daren Jaipaul
