Richard Ho Lung
THERE ARE DIFFERENCES between the various evangelical churches and denominations. And, we are busy and don't seem to have enough time for one another. But unless we Christians find time, unite, and go forward together, our island will lose its soul, which is Christ himself.
Why are we so threatened by one another? Is it power? Is it money? Is it fear that there are difficult issues that need be discussed in the spirit of truth? The Lord told us, 'Fear not.'
I am convinced that the life of Christ is sufficient source for a fundamental unity, and that the Lord himself is crying out for us to join hands together to battle against the forces of sin, destruction and death in our island.
MESSAGES OF LOVE
When Brothers Suresh and Marco were murdered three months ago, we received beautiful messages of love and condolences that we will preserve forever. There were moving testimonials of love and support from Al Miller, Herro Blair, Devon Dick, the head of the Seventh-day Adventists, the head of the Methodists, the Pentecostal Church on Wildman Street, the Church on the Rock, and many others.
I remember not so long ago how we united on issues of hedonism and as Christians, quietened, if not silenced, the call to a lifestyle of hedonism. I remember our battles against flexi-week and abortion and the resulting withdrawals from that position - at least for a while.
THE POWER OF CHRIST
I believe that we Christians have the power of Christ within us to unite and battle against the evil forces around us. We love Jamaica. We believe in truth and justice. We are ready to sacrifice anything to build up this island of ours in the name of Christ.
I believe the one major deterrent is our love of power, position, and protection of our turf. We don't want to lose our numbers, our membership, our supporters. We want to be number one among all Christian bodies. Doesn't St. Paul tell us we are one and warn us of dissension and division? "Each of you says, 'I belong to Paul,' or 'I belong to Apollos,' or 'I belong to Cephas,' or 'I belong to Christ.' Is Christ divided?" (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). St. Paul continues by reminding us that to build unity takes crucifixion, but at the end of it we will conquer the devil.
Christians, we need to arise! Corruption and the spread of evil are proliferating in the media more than ever before. In professions and all areas of life, false values are being spread, driven by an obsession with money, pleasure, power, and popularity. The result is a confused and totally false set of values in Jamaica today.
CULTURE OF DEATH
We Christians need to go to the streets and solve the problems of evil that derive from joblessness, no family life, no education, no system of values, violence, and no serious attempt at a justice system. We Christians need to stop the culture of death which will destroy mankind on matters of a purely worldly obsession with money, production, and development. The unborn are being killed, the elderly are being exterminated in the West; there are same-sex marriages. These are all contrary to the law of God and life. It's a generation bent on me, on what I want, what I choose, what I desire totally disregarding the life and rights of others. Moral anarchy has been let loose on the world.
We have been leaderless in the political arena for some 30 years. Likewise in the Church, we will be leaderless and powerless unless we unite as Christians and present one united front, built on the life, word and actions of Christ.
Christians, arise! Let us meet! Let us unite! Jamaica came from and belongs to God; don't let the devil take possession of the soul of this nation.
Father Ho Lung is founder and leader of the Missionaries of the Poor.
