Dumb dogs that will not bark!

25.FEB.11

Editor: Christians have a significant role in our society as our people face the new moral and political challenges. Christians are never to be dumb in these moments of crisis, but are to assume the role as the true bearers of light in these dark moments of our history.{{more}} In spite of the need for the Christian’s voice, some preachers are busy imposing restrictions on the ways in which Christians are to protest the growing evils of this immoral administration. They themselves refuse to speak out in defense of the afflicted.

Our immoral ULP government has proposed and passed in our nation’s parliament an amendment to the Criminal Procedures Code on Friday, January 31st. It is an amendment that clearly abolished a right which our citizens enjoyed, especially the poor and needy among us. Anyone who is a victim of a crime cannot now access the Magistrate’s Court directly to bring a private criminal complaint against the one who did the harm. He must now get the authority or permission of the DPP, the office now held by the former PRO of the Unity Labour Party, Mr. Colin Williams.

God has declared a “woe” on the ULP Government for passing such an amendment. It is called an “unrighteous decree”, “grievousness”, since it “turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and [that] they may rob the fatherless!” Isa 10: 1, 2. Clearly, the poor are turned aside from judgment by the bill, towards the DPP and now have to face the frustration of possibly having their complains rejected by the DPP. The poor have only one choice remaining for them – find through some miracle a large amount of money to initiate a judicial review of the DPP’s decision. This is grievousness written on paper to frustrate and deny justice to those who need it most – the poor and needy.

God is not on the Government’s side in this issue. God “maintains the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor” Psa 140:12. Any act to destroy such right and to deny justice to the afflicted in their cause is a direct act against God. Further, any person who thinks he is a righteous man, must as a duty “consider the cause of the poor” Prov 29:7. That is what a righteous man does. This disqualifies the many spineless preachers in this country from being righteous men!

As a matter of fact, the scriptures describe the silent preachers as “dumb dogs”. “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs; they cannot bark; sleeping, lyng down, loving to slumber. Yea they are greedy which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter” Isa 56: 10, 11. The deafening silence from the likes of the Christian Council and other professed ministers of religion at a time of impending danger and violation of the people’s rights is all because of greed. They do not bark because they care most about their gains (duty free concessions, money from politicians, awards from the Gov’t, friendship from those in authority, etc). The scriptures declare that God will destroy you “dumb dogs” outside His city (Rev 22:15).

Only a few sincere Christians will stand up and speak out on behalf

of those who cannot speak, the poor, needy and disadvantaged among us. Real Christians count it their duty to “Open thy mouth for the dumb…open thy mouth, judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy” Prov 31:8,9. This Government is playing the part of an Oppressor. It cares nothing about justice and equity.

It is an immoral Government and God is not on its side. Neither is God on the side of “dumb dogs” in SVG. It is for those who have Godly moral convictions to be concerned about these immoral bills and speak out, as God is himself concerned about justice for all. It is true Christians who will demand better…repeal the sick amendment! May God help our country.

Shefflorn O. Ballantyne