The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I consider Bishop Neil C Ellis to be a spiritual giant in the Bahamian Christian community who is considered a spiritual father to many young clergymen. With a membership in the thousands coupled with an international reach that extends throughout the United States of America and the Caribbean, if there’s one Bahamian preacher of the gospel one would think would have the listening ear of the Free National Movement (FNM) administration and Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis, it would be Ellis.

The FNM government, I believe, is currently struggling mightily to beat the COVID-19 pandemic along with its wreckage of the economy. The Bahamian people find themselves on uncharted waters, with thousands unemployed and at their wits end. Thousands of Bahamians are stressed out.

This is where The Bahamas is in urgent need of a prophetic word from the Holy Spirit of God. This is where men of God, like Ellis, those should step in. What is God saying to The Bahamas, the United States and the rest of the world through this COVID-19 crisis? Obviously, this is judgment on us for failing to obey the Lord. We must repent.

In an October 26 lengthy front-page article in The Nassau Guardian, it was reported that the Mount Tabor Full Gospel Church pastor accused Minnis of developing a “theo ego” like the Old Testament Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. I think a more appropriate Old Testament analogy would have been Darius the Mede, ruler of the Persian Empire, two chapters removed from Ellis’ main text in the Book of Daniel, assuming it was chapter four. Darius had put into law an irrevocable decree mandating that his subjects, inclusive of the prophet and statesman Daniel, pray only to him. Prayer is a form of worship.

Nebuchadnezzar assumed leadership of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 605 BC, following the death of his father, Nabopolassor. The name Nebuchadnezzar means “Nabu protect my son”. Nabu was the patron god of Borsippa, a city which was located in southwest Babylon, in modern-day Iraq.

Being raised in polytheism, Nebuchadnezzar also worshipped Bel-Merodach, the chief Babylonian and Mesopotamian god, who went by the alternative name Marduk. Considered the greatest Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaohnechoh at the historic Battle of Carchemish in 605, in addition to subduing Syria, Phonenicia and Tyre. He would also sack Jerusalem three times, in 605 BC, 597 BC and 586 BC, during the reigns of the Judean King Josiah’s sons.

By all accounts, Nebuchadnezzar was a ruthless autocrat, who, like many of his ancient counterparts, had no concept of democracy and freedom of speech. According to 2 Kings 25:6-7, Nebuchadnezzar, after gouging out the eyes of King Zedekiah, executed his sons in his presence at Riblah. The word of Nebuchadnezzar was royal fiat in Babylon.

A nascent form of democracy had originated in the Grecian world in the sixth century BC, within decades of Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC. Builder of the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, one can see why Nebuchadnezzar “developed a God mentality”. In actuality, however, I don’t believe Nebuchadnezzar attempted to assume God’s position. His issue was pride. As a result of his pride, God judged him with clinical locanthropy. For seven years he believed that he was a wild animal. This embarrassing event has been confirmed by Eusebius and Berosus, the Babylonian astronomer and writer.

If Minnis is indeed a Roman Catholic, as claimed by FNM chairman Carl Culmer, it would then mean that he shares the same faith of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. It also dispels the claim of Minnis being an atheist. Ellis, though, might be thinking along the lines of evangelical Christians such as the writer. The question is, is Minnis a born-again Christian? The answer may be no. But that does not mean we Christians shouldn’t pray for him and his administration.

To the best of my knowledge, not one of our prime ministers, since majority rule, were evangelical Christians. In fairness to the late Sir Lynden O Pindling, father of the modern Bahamas, he was a devout Seventh-Day Adventist shortly before his death in August 2000. With over 6,400 confirmed infections of COVID-19 and a death toll of 132, the emergency measures are obviously not working.

Minnis wants the orders to be extended to November 30, which Ellis and many within the church obviously opposes. I believe Minnis is sincere, even if he appears to be encroaching on the church’s territory. He really wants to save lives. But he and Ministry of Health officials must come to grips with the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay.

The lockdowns and curfews cannot go on forever. I have said before that of the two poisons called COVID-19 and joblessness that Bahamians are forced to pick, they have chosen the former.

Unfortunately, The Bahamas is maxed out financially. We cannot go on without receiving a salary, especially with National Insurance Board unemployment benefits being reduced to $100.

As a pastor, Ellis is acutely aware of the struggles of the Bahamian people. I would assume that many of those who have been impacted by the layoffs at Baha Mar and Atlantis attends his church. I can imagine the strain of attempting to assist hundreds of struggling members.

Minnis and Culmer should extend an olive branch to Ellis and the entire evangelical Christian community, even if he’s offended at what was said on the pulpit at Mount Tabor. Both the government and the evangelical church must work in unison in order to defeat COVID-19.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama.

October 26, 2020.