The Church in bed with politicians

Dear Pastor,

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, churches in Jamaica came out against the Government because their collection plates were affected. However, they have barely said a word about the salary increase for members of the political directorate. It seems that the collections plates are not affected, so there is no need to speak out against the massive increase.

A few churches took to the streets to protest the increase, but the majority of churches appear not to care that politicians are paying themselves high salaries while the pensioners, widows, poor and oppressed live on starvation wages.

I am a Christian and I don't know who to trust, because the Church has failed me and the Jamaican people. The majority of churches are in bed with this oppressive Covernment and the sleeping Opposition. The People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party are the same. They have hijacked the coffers of the people. Almighty God is looking and he will come and remove their candlesticks, as he told the seven churches in Asia.

I want to give a special thanks to Reverend Alvin Bailey and Reverend Jeffery Shuttleworth, who have stood up for the poor, oppressed and pensioners and did not look at their collection plates.

P.

Dear P.,

I believe that you are free to express yourself, but your comments should be based on facts. Many pastors would have loved to keep their churches open during the pandemic and have hundreds of people in attendance, but to do so, they would have broken the law.

You say that the churches came out against the Government because their collection plates were affected. You also said that it seems that the churches' collections plates are not affected by the salary increase for members of the political directorate, so there is no need to speak out against it.

I doubt very much that you can prove what you have written to be true. You should know that one can protest without going on the street. It is ridiculous to say that because churches might not have gone on the street, they do not care about pensioners, widows, poor people and those who are oppressed. You know better.

As a Christian, you could discuss this concern that you have about the churches with your minister and other believers. You should consider the type of protest that would be most effective. As a Christian, you are a part of the Church, and you can call on the leaders to either support or not to support the Government in any matter.

It is unfortunate that you believe that the majority of churches are in bed with the "oppressive Government and the sleeping Opposition". How can you prove that?

Do not cry down judgment on the churches, because while you do so, you are calling judgment on yourself. And the Bible says God is no respecter of persons.

Pastor