Sean Major-Campbell | Peace, fire, division!

ONE WEEK after Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness called the date for Jamaica’s general election, the previously set gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary sees Jesus saying, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptised, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” Luke 12:49-51.

The Prince of Peace appears to contradict his mission in the world. However, a closer reading of Jesus’ ministry reveals that peace and justice come about not by the absence of division; but by the presence of a resolve to serve truth, even in the face of those offended. And here let me proceed with Mahatma Gandhi’s reminder, “Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.”

DIFFICULT TO FORGIVE

At the micro level of the family, sometimes division occurs because someone has chosen the kingdom values of peace, love, compassion, and justice. People who are selfish in their thinking find it difficult to forgive and to advance community-building relationships. At the macro level of countries, sometimes division occurs because people are unable to unite around what is in the best interest of country.

Division becomes necessary when one set of people joins with Jesus who overturns the tables of the money changers, while others seek to protect the inherited status quo of the colonial legacy. Division occurs not only at the national level between JLP and PNP. Division occurs within these parties too.

The division of which Jesus speaks is a process that sees a battle between kingdom values and those of this world’s politics and empires. The believer is tasked with keeping the ethic of the kingdom of God above any earthly leader. And yet all this while giving to Caesar what is due to Caesar and to God what is due to God.

To be a Christian is to be a witness. The Christian is therefore called to participate in the political process as politician and as voter. The task is to do so with eyes wide open on the way of Christ and with the loud prophetic voice that speaks to the den of robbers and overturns any oppressive economic system that would work against abundance for all.

MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD

The Church ought of necessity to tell His Majesty’s loyal prime minister and His Majesty’s loyal leader of the parliamentary opposition that all Jamaicans are members of God’s household. And the message remains the same regardless of who becomes the prime minister in September.

The Church’s voice is important not because it is a religious body; but because its constituents form a large part of the voting block in Jamaica. In an Independence Day message, the Rt Rev Leon Golding, bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, observed, “We have arrived at the 63rd anniversary of our nation’s Independence. The journey has been filled with bumps, highs and lows, success and failure, joy, and sorrows, but we are here. Since August 6, 1962, we have accomplished much in all areas of national life. We have achieved international recognition in fields such as sports, academics, music, medicine, politics, and hospitality. We can ‘Be Proud, Be Bold in the Black, Green and Gold’, as the theme for the celebrations this year invites us to be. Amid our celebrations, it is important to pause and remember the journey we have traversed, our past, and to give God thanks and praise for sustaining and guiding us along the way.”

Notice that the call is much more than a happy greeting. It is a call to pause, reflect, and work for an even better future. Bishop Golding also noted, “Israel’s constitution, as prescribed in the Ten Commandments, was to guide them onto a new path as they faced the future. It summoned them to a unique relationship with God and their neighbour. We have made great strides in all compartments of our national life. Though this is true, we cannot be proud of the declining quality of community life caused by the crime that stalks our land. In this election year, as political candidates vie for power, there is concern that the violence will increase. A sizeable number of individuals do not participate in voting or democratic activities. This is not healthy for independent Jamaica and democracy.”

CREATING OUR IDENTITY

While it is easy to forget human rights concerns, the diocesan bishop also made this call: “Remembering our past is important as we celebrate our Independence and work to reform our Constitution. Reforming the Constitution implies that we are still on the road to true Independence. The project is, indeed, a way of creating our identity and enhancing our Independence. However, the Constitution must be inclusive and protect the rights of all God’s people, especially the vulnerable; our children, senior citizens, those with disabilities and minority groups within our society. We do not have to agree with groups to protect their rights as human beings. Remember that God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, for even the worst of us, for our salvation, and, as Christians, we must love and protect all God’s people. In moving forward as a nation, let us seek to shape an independent Jamaica where all will be free, knowing that they have a place, and a future.”

The difficult conversations around a Jamaican republic, moving our final appellate authority to the Caribbean Court of Justice, and advocating for reparatory justice, are all matters of sacred trust which may cause division. But, having these talks we must!

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.