17/10/2024
The Church's Voice: Navigating the Political Landscape with Integrity"
I’ve been reflecting on the “The Church Speaks” rally organized by the Dominica Association of Evangelistic Churches (DAEC) this past Sunday, and I'm a bit concerned. The moral issues discussed—like abortion, the Samoa Agreement, the decriminalization of buggery, X-***ed music, and women’s reproductive health—are significant challenges to our faith and values. As Christians, we need to unite and push back against these troubling trends.
Our pastors and evangelical leaders play a crucial role in this. We need to come together, support a Kingdom agenda, and hold our government accountable. We shouldn’t let a vocal minority dictate laws that could lead the majority down a dangerous path. The church’s voice is powerful, and if our government isn’t listening to the people, we can express our views at the ballot box.
Just think about it: if Christians truly understood this power, we wouldn’t have struggled to fill seats on Sunday. Unfortunately, our church has become a bit too political. Many people who agree with the DAEC’s rally agenda chose to stay away, thinking it was “too political.” I’ve spoken to some of these individuals, and many identify as labourites. They seem determined to protect their political leaders, forgetting that those leaders might be promoting laws that go against their faith.
This raises an important question: Are we more loyal to our political parties than to our churches? Are we prioritizing our political leaders over Christ? We must remember the importance of not giving what belongs to God to Caesar (Matt 22:20-22).
My issue though is with the framing of this rally. For years, critics have accused the church of being silent on pressing moral, political, and social issues. “The church must speak,” they say. So, with the rally titled “The Church Speaks,” it feels like the DAEC is finally answering that call. But I can’t help but worry that we might be yielding to political pressure.
We need to be careful. It’s crucial that no political party or special interest group co-opts the church’s voice. We exist to serve a Kingdom agenda. We are citizens of Heaven (Phil 3:20-21) and ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). Our message should be dictated by Heaven, not earthly powers.
I also take issue with the suggestion that we haven’t been vocal enough. That couldn’t be further from the truth! The church has always stood firm on biblical morality and a strong Judeo-Christian ethic. We’ve consistently spoken out against sexual perversion, the decriminalization of buggery, gay tourism, and abortion. We’ve called for censoring X-***ed music in public spaces.
Sure, we could have been louder, more consistent, and united in our opposition, but we haven’t been silent. Our voices have resonated without fear or favour, representing a Kingdom agenda, not bowing to any political party or special interest.
I’m glad that the DAEC and evangelicals are highlighting the hidden evils of the Samoa Agreement and women’s reproductive health. They’re like watchmen on the wall (Hab 2:1), alerting us to the alarming rise of drug-induced issues among our youth, the over-sexualization of our children, and threats to our religious liberties. The DAEC has its foot on the gas, and that’s a good thing. We need to keep advocating for change.
As Edmund Burke famously said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” We are those good men and women, and we cannot stand by while evil spreads.
So let’s speak out—but let’s ensure our voices aren’t hijacked by political agendas. We speak because Heaven demands it of us. Let’s keep our focus where it truly belongs—on truth and integrity.
