The Tribune

By Derek Sweeting

I PICKED up the Tribune on January 4, 2016 and the headlines read: “Two dead, nine fight for their lives” Shootings mark bloody start to the New Year”, and again on January 13, 2016, “Policeman held for sex attack. Officer is accused of assault on child.”

And just recently, on January 15, 2016, the headlines read, “Pastor beaten and family terrorised.”

The truth of the matter is that you can pick up any newspaper any day of the week and the headlines would be similar.

The talk about a national day of prayer has been heating up recently, and given the current issues in the country, this should be a no-brainer. Record-breaking murders, rapes and robberies on the rise, child molestation and incest increasing, reports of lack of integrity by our leaders, be they political, religious or otherwise, are commonplace.

There is an obvious deterioration in moral values and a lack of respect for God and anything that is holy. There is no doubt in my mind that this nation is in need of prayer. Some will argue that this is the role of church and we don’t need to confuse the roles of the church and state. I would disagree. Obviously those people don’t realise that we are in a state of crisis. Desperate times require desperate measures. In the Bahamas we need to establish a national day of prayer. Not just by proclamation, but by an Act of Parliament. A day when both Church and state would be mandated to take time off for prayer and fasting for this nation. A time when our leaders could be found on their knees crying out to the Almighty God. Pastor and politician, side by side, hand in hand, seeking God’s guidance.

What a message we would send to the world as the news spread across social and other media of a little nation in the Caribbean who shut down a country for a day just to pray. But more importantly, what a message we would send to the Almighty God that we as a nation are prepared to forego meat and Mammon as a sacrificial offering for a worthy cause and to save this nation.

The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas was established on godly principles as the preamble opens with:

“Whereas, Four hundred and eighty-one years ago the rediscovery of this family of islands, rocks and cays heralded the rebirth of the New World; and whereas, the people of this family of islands recognising that the preservation of their freedom will be guaranteed by a national commitment to self-discipline, industry, loyalty, unity and an abiding respect for Christian values and the rule of law...And do hereby provide, by these Articles for the indivisible unity and creation under God of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.”

The United States of America has a National Day of Prayer. It is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress. During this day people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation”. Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. The modern law formalising its annual observance was enacted in 1952, although earlier days of fasting and prayer had been established by the Second Continental Congress from 1775 until 1783, and by President John Adams in 1798 and 1799. The constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer was unsuccessfully challenged in court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation after their first attempt was unanimously dismissed by a federal appellate court in April 2011.

In the US, it was said that during great times of tribulation the president would often call a day of prayer. Sometimes it would be a public holiday when shops, offices and schools would be closed. People would be directed to their various places of worship to take time out for prayer. We note that two months after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress, under President John Hancock, declared on June 12, 1775: “Congress … considering the present critical, alarming and calamitous state … do earnestly recommend, that Thursday, the 12th of July next, be observed by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this Continent, as a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer, that we may with united hearts and voices, unfeignedly confess and deplore our many sins and offer up our joint supplications to the All-wise, Omnipotent and merciful Disposer of all Events, humbly beseeching Him to forgive our iniquities … It is recommended to Christians of all denominations to assemble for public worship and to abstain from servile labour and recreations of said day.”

The conflict began that in eight years would result in America’s independence.

My fellow Bahamians and followers of Christ, our nation is under attack. This attack is not a physical one, although it may manifest itself that way at times, but it is a spiritual one. The Bible declares (Eph.6:12): “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

As a people we need to understand that spiritual matters need to be dealt with spiritually. Our crime and morality problem have gone beyond the police or psychologist. The politicians have no clue. Fasting and prayer are effective spiritual weapons. Let’s put aside politics and religion. Let’s put aside race and creed. Let’s put aside social and economic differences and come together and support this call for a national day of prayer.