God or Mammon?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

In a recent interview on the television, the junior minister of tourism, in defending the financial support of the government for the Sting event, declared that government policy was not influenced by moral considerations. Each event was judged as to whether it would bring in people to the island, and naturally, people would bring in money. In other words, government policy is no longer determined by considerations of right and wrong, or good or bad, but by whether the event brings in money. It was a clear choice between morality and money. It was the Person whose Birth we have just celebrated who made the profound statement, "You cannot serve God and Mammon."

It would seem as if the present administration has made its choice, as the minister of finance, when questioned recently as to the certainty of many new hotels coming into the island, stated that this was sure because of the new laws permitting casino gambling. It is significant that it was the executive of the People's National Party which made a public statement some years ago that it would never support casino gambling in Jamaica. There has evidently been a change of direction and the present administration has opted for Mammon instead of morality and God. This is so despite the phenomenon of many ministers of religion having prominent positions in the administration. Is this only a face card?

Further proof of this choice is in the fact that after many years of discussion and debate, the government has now laid on the table in Parliament a bill which will significantly reduce the opportunities for the worship of God in Jamaica. The proposal concerning "Flexi-week" which will make Sunday and Saturday "normal working days" will mean that the times which used to be devoted to the worship of God will be devoted instead to work to earn money. The worship of God will, therefore, be substituted by the worship of Mammon.

slaves to sin

It may be said that the arrangements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dictate such a change. But this would only justify the words of St Paul who declared that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his slaves you are whom you obey, whether of sin or of righteousness. Jamaicans are, therefore, to be slaves to sin under the IMF rather than slaves to righteousness under God. This is a radical change from the principles enshrined in our national pledge and national anthem, both of which point the nation in the direction of God. The words of Jesus Christ are still true that neither an individual nor a nation can serve both God and Mammon. A choice has to be made. It is to be seen where this change in direction will lead Jamaica to prosperity or to disaster.

Rev Earl Thames

Spaldings

Clarendon