Religion, rules and regulations according to Cindy

By Devon Dick

Cindy Breakspeare, former Miss World and mother of a child fathered by Bob Marley, spoke about her relationship with Marley, a Rastafarian, and said, 'Once again, was that word, religion - full of rules and regulations - just what I wanted to be free of.' (Gleaner February 20). Cindy was not a Rastafarian but Bob was. It is not clear whether Cindy was claiming that Rastafarianism was full of rules and regulations or if that was her understanding of religion in general.

Unfortunately, many persons have the impression that Christianity as a religion is full of rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are perceived as restrictions on a life of happiness and joy. Hence, Christianity is seen as a burden on a free-spirited human being. This is a misconception about Christianity. Rules and regulations are not an end in themselves. They are a means to an end. They are designed to create order, safety and happiness. Good rules ought to be a blessing and not a burden to the individual and the community.

There are rules and regulations on the road to prevent accidents, orderly and quick movement of vehicles and people. Can you imagine the anarchy on the roads and the number of accidents, injuries and deaths, had it not been for the rules? Life would be lost and property destroyed. Indeed, on average 300 persons are killed on the road each year because people fail to obey the road code.

Jesus was at pains to make it clear that rules and regulations of the religious faith are for the benefit of human beings. Jesus is in charge of rules and regulations, hence He says, 'not Moses says but I say'. In all these cases He wanted to ensure that rules are to the benefit of people. In Luke 6:1-5 Jesus rebukes the Pharisaic challenge of the Sabbath behaviour of his disciples. Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." v 5. Jesus appeals to David's behaviour to show that his disciples were consistent with Old Testament best practices. Jesus rejects the Pharisees' claim that the behaviour of his disciples was unlawful. He explains that the reason for Sabbath was to benefit people and not the other way around. Jesus has lordship over sin, illness, nature and the Sabbath. Jesus controls the Sabbath and the Sabbath does not control him.

Rules to live by

In addition, Jesus said the two greatest rules are: Love God fully and love your neighbour as yourself. If we follow those rules, then our murder rate would not be so high, there would be less stealing, less corruption, less lifestyle disease, less sexual abuse, etc.

It is almost impossible to divorce Bob Marley from his religious faith. His Rastafarian faith informed his music in songs such as Jah Lives, which was a response to the news that Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was dead. His music about equal rights and justice and warning about war because one race is held superior to another was an outworking of his religious belief system. Marley's music would be completely different if he was not a Rastafarian. Religion, based on the two greatest commandments, would make this world a much better place rather than a world where no rules exist - a world of 'free for all'. Free for all leads to oppression by those with money, power and influence over the majority who are poor, powerless.

Christianity, with its rules and regulations, are for our well-being, to facilitate us enjoying life to the fullest.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of 'The Cross and the Machete', and 'Rebellion to Riot'. Send feedback to columns@ gleanerjm.com.