The Tribune

By Rev. Canon S. Sebastian Campbell

“Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. The right time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel’.” (Mark 1:14)

Jesus’ mission was to re-establish God’s kingly rule on earth. A kingdom on earth where God is totally in charge.

Ever wonder who is in charge of the church; yes your church. Is it your bishop, your priest or pastor? Read Colossians 1:17, which states: “Jesus Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. He is the head of his body, the church; He is the source of the body’s life.”

Ever wondered, who is in charge of this country? Is it some popular political figure enthroned for a season by the FNM’s and another season by the PLP’s. Read Philippians 2:9, which states: “For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so in honour of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth and in the world below will fall on their knees and will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” In 2 Chronicles 7:14 the call goes out to submission, “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…” This is a call to all people, high and low.

Our call is to enthrone Jesus Christ as king as we join with all the celestial choirs, “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall, bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all..”

But are we doing that? That’s why Jesus came: To re-establish God’s kingly rule on earth. The thief on the cross understood this on Calvary. He acknowledged Jesus mission and asked to be remembered by Jesus when he entered his kingdom. Alarming, a thief sees kingship in Jesus.

In our Bahamas today is Jesus enthroned?

Our murder rate is unacceptable. Crime, generally, has gone through the ceiling. The drug trade eludes authority, while alcoholism goes unabated. Incestuous living is simply unbelievable. Illegitimacy dominates the birth rate; eighty percent of all births are out of marriage. Shacking up and loose living is now culturally acceptable. Homosexuality and lesbianism are called alternative lifestyles. And, yes, there is a growing constituency of prostitution, both male and female. Sex on school premises, even in primary school is being reported as common place. The prevailing culture of gangs gives rise to an alarming rate of crime among our youth. What are the names of some of these gangs? We have the: Bulldogs, Gun-Hawks, Vikings, the Pinewood Niggas, Bain Town Hoyas, War Dukes, Cowboys, Dog pans in Kemp Road, The Dogs in Malcolm Road, the White House Dogs in Golden Gates, The Hot Boys in Soldier Road, the Jungalist in Ridgeland Park and Montell Heights. Our girls are neck to neck in gangs with our boys, all working for stripes. They fight, ‘jook’ up and kill. All in an effort to get stripes i.e. respect which gives them power.

Do you know your children’s names? They have names such as: Patches, Dope-Boy, Ice, Super, Mob Princess, Rye Mob, Donkey, Mobcat, Birdman, Crab, Shocker, Strutter, Claw etc.

Mr Allergen Allen’s response is, “We need a minister of National Security who breathes fire and spits blood.” Many parents respond by rewarding children for worthlessness. Like bringing cigars when a teen or preteen daughter has a child far from wedlock. They buy their empty headed children, Tommy, Dickies, Stacy Adams, Buff Fee Leeno boots, Rockawear, etc.

The church must be God’s agent in re-establishing God’s kingly rule. Is the church that agent of hope? Or is the church so comprised we do not know what our mission really is?

I spend quality time writing letters or making telephone calls where I find rudeness or unacceptable behaviour. Too, I have written letters of commendation to affirm exceptionally good behaviour.

I have gone into schools such as Programme SURE and offered my services in counselling and teaching illiterates to read and write. I have given these inroads to priests, pastors and ministries such as our men’s group. I have been ignored by some. Ironically we wait for problems to come to us rather than go out to be conquerors. Jesus challenges us to: “Go therefore…” Go and minister.

Jesus’ mandate in St. Luke’s 4:18 states: “The spirit of the lord is upon me because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set free the oppressed and to announce the time has come when the Lord will save his people.” What a mandate. The church is too bogged down in internal warfare of its own making; it is too paralysed to go out and meet the challenges. We are ineffective in kingdom building. Someone opined that the A in ACW (Anglican Church Women) sometimes denotes “angry” and the C in ACM (Anglican Church Men) can denote “Cantankerous”.

Look, we have Satan’s territories to tear down. The forces of evil are united, how can we invade with a divided force? We have schools and gangs and fringe groups to conquer with love. Let’s get up and go for it. Stop being detracted with fund-raisers, bickering, fighting and hate thus rendering ourselves ever so ineffective.

Our agenda must include the recuse of our youth. Too many youth programmes, especially those in the church gasp for breath while we look the other way. Our children’s ministry starts and stops with the Sunday School. How short sighted can we be. We have broken families to rescue as they cry out for peace, hope and joy.

Kingdom builders we are called to be. Jesus wants us to put it on the ground. “Pray” he says, “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth…” it is clear then that God’s kingdom comes where God’s will is being done. I was invited to preach at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Malaysia one Sunday. There were four services that day. In all of the services the church was full to over flowing. I was informed that it happened every Sunday. Then I noticed there was only one priest in the parish. I asked him, “How he did it?” His answer, “We sticks to biblical principles… the Bible has all the answers, when applied the church grows and all baptized people accept their role as ministers within the church of God, I simply facilitate that.”

Our mission then is to enthrone Jesus Christ as our king in 2014. Let his kingdom come as his will is done. You in your small corner and I in mine.

Happy New Year Bahamas.