The Church and Social Relief

Some who live in these places are in urgent need of help.

In bringing help to people in need – our churches and their leadership should work in conjunction with the relevant government social agencies to pool their resources.

This effort would and could go a long way in helping resolve some of our society’s more vexing problems.

Interestingly, such a departure from business as usual could have the salutary effect of helping the government and its agencies as they strive to rid our streets of hordes of beggars – some of them children and their mothers.

In addition, such collaboration would assist ministries that are desirous of getting real in their Christian witness – where the profession of the Word is matched with the propaganda of the deed.

Put simply, the Church would put itself in a position where it could day that it did try to help feed, clothe, protect and comfort people in their time of distress.

This is one of the truer ways forward for all who would walk in the footsteps of a Risen Lord.

These people are called to help resurrect a people who are today entombed in fear, dread and locked in the coils of unimaginable despair. These troubles are deeply rooted.

Today’s myriad of social troubles is little more than an expression of yesterday’s neglect.

Indeed, as a people who routinely chat about the extent to which we are witness to a Savior who is in the world today – we must do better for and on behalf of those who are hurting.

Moving forward, we need men and women – wherever they are – to do their bit in helping to clean up the mess that has been made of this place.

Each and every church can come on over and help.

While government [at all levels] does matter, there is a large part that can yet be played by home, Church and neighborhood in seeing to it that this nation’s youthful hordes are better civilized; better nurtured and more adequately socialized.

Each and every law-abiding, God-fearing person in the Bahamas has a very important role to play in this country – either as part of the solution or as an essential cog in the machinery that constitutes the problem.

Whether we reap a harvest of shame or a bounty of goodwill and respect ultimately depends on what we want and what we do individually and collectively.

How we govern ourselves and how we discipline our appetites for good or ill shapes the kind of children we produce and the kind of society we bequeath our progeny.

Today’s appetite for the gun was whetted yesterday.

Evidently, the gun increases the likelihood that someone will end up the dead. This is precisely what has been happening in a Bahamas where guns are ubiquitous.

While lamenting what is broken might assuage some of the guilt some have for the current parlous state of things, they should take – if only a moment – to reflect on the possibility that they themselves might be complicit in the mess whereof they complain so mightily and so very heartily.

On any given day and on any given matter, pastors, preachers, evangelists and a motley host of other religious routinely strive to let the government know some of what is on their mind – either individually or corporately.

To date, churchmen and other religious have weighed in with views concerning rape, murder, burglary, attempted murder – and gambling.

While we are not sure whether these men and women have had any effect on the extent to which some of the offenses against the person or property; we know that they have had a mighty impact on the debate concerning the ubiquitous numbers business in our country.

Perhaps this is as it should and that – as the Desiderata advises – the universe is unfolding as it should.

Notwithstanding that source of sage advice, we are today moved to suggest – and yet again in this space – that the Church in the Bahamas can and should play a larger role in bringing more relief to people in distress.