By D. Eric Williams
It is my deep concern for the stability, growth and well-being of the church that has moved me to address this matter. I am kindly asking the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventists Church to address this matter before it causes serious fracture among the church membership and damage the reputation of the church that the pioneers spent decades building.
In this 21st century, politics has become more polarised than it has ever been in our history, and the church should be a place of refuge from the divisive politics that rule the day. Knowing this, the leadership of the church, president and pastors especially has a responsibility to refrain from discussing politics outside of their homes/family circle, being representatives of God and the church. Their actions should be unambiguous and beyond reproach.
It troubles me deeply as a lifelong Seventh-day Adventist Christian, what has been communicated to me about the involvement of the church in politics. When the church cuddles with a particular government/party, the church becomes compromised and is unable to speak out against injustice or wrongdoing committed by that party/government. The church should be unbridled and free to speak for the cause of justice and fairness at all times. The church’s moral standing then becomes undermined by such association.
The church’s mission is to make disciples of ALL men. Not some men, or those who support a particular political party, and we do that through evangelism. Considering the nature of our politics today, how can we a church evangelise everyone when it is perceived that the church and its leadership in the tank for one particular political party? It has been brought to my attention that the President of the SDA Mission in SVG appears to overtly promotes a particular political party and has appeared on that party’s platform at political events. I was also reliably informed that some SDA pastors are following suit.
These actions are against the church’s policy and position regarding politics. The church is not to be used to promote politics in support of one party over the other. It is the pastors’ and leaders’ responsibility to make this clear to their congregation. Members should only be encouraged to exercise their civic duties in casting their votes, and that is where it should stop.
With general elections on the horizon, I am appealing to Pastor Dermoth Baptiste, the president and leader of the church in St. Vincent, to communicate in writing to all the churches, the position of the church regarding politics, and cease from appearing on any political party platform or functions, and instruct the local pastors and other leaders to refrain from doing the same. A public statement should also be published in the local papers also, stating the church’s position concerning matters of politics, since the church has published statements in the past on other matters including homosexuality. The church’s reputation and the unity of its members are at stake. Do it for the good of the church!
The church’s presence predates us all and will remain after we are gone. Governments come and governments go, but the Church of God shall remain.
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Hats off to you D. Eric Williams for being the one dear to write and post this disappointing and discomforting practise of not only the ‘Adventist church’ but a disgrace to all of us devotees and affiliates who parade the name Christian. A woeful fact that the Adventist’s congregation in itself has chosen (for so long) to pretend that all is well, the Religious hush hush approach as though the same Mighty God whom we serve is blind, deft and of no wisdom and might.
Correctly so “The church’s mission is to make disciples of ALL men.” It would seem that those of political ambitions; sees it more beneficial to obtain a theology gradation than that of the political educations. The fact that the title of ‘Pastor’ strategically has become the prerequisite parachute to politics, enabling many pastors a placement into some of the most prestigious international positions of government, a sure way in gaining people’s trust, an evangelistic approach in gaining votes.
“Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.” Luke 11:43
Well said Mr Williams. I totally agree with you. In fact I have said some time ago if I am in any church and the pastor is even giving an idea who I should vote for I am walking out out of that building for good and find a different church to attend.
I have no problem if they want to attend any political meeting but again no campaigning because it will be believed that they are supporting that particular party.
God is the one who set up government and he expects his children to respect, obey and support which ever government he set up. For too long adventist keep their mouth shut and it has affected the church deeply. We must be wise while conducting church business. The problem with us is we have become too business like as a church and more concern about money than making disciples. We live a country and must have a say in who lead and handle our affairs.
No wonder (secular state) SVG economy is in limbo.
Long overdue sir, and well said. I hope hope that those involved will not offer your head on a platter as that of John the Baptist, to their political king Herod.
Then that Leader doesn’t know what he believes. ……unfit for that position of leadership to fine SDA members of the island.
The question is, do we as a people, believe in the “Apostles’ Creed,” the early church’s statement of Christian belief, that states as we know, as follows;
We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s (unique) (God of the very God) (essence of the very essence) only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. (Into Hell) (Separation from God the Father)
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (worldwide) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
And if we do believe in the Creed, how do we behave as persons in ecclesiastical office in accordance with this given passage at Matthew 22:21 New King James Version (NKJV) 21 “ ………….And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Therefore, should the prelate serve two masters? If he is untrained no doubt that he would!
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Calvin%20Institutes%20of%20Christian%20Religion.pdf
And thus do as he so pleases.