Fight against principalities and powers and not criminals

In an address at a church gathering on 6 January this year Prime Minister Andrew Holness invited the church to partner with the government to address what he described as the epidemic of crime and violence in the country. In an online article reflecting on the event at which the prime minister spoke, journalist Chris Patterson reported that, according to the Prime Minister, the government had spent over $40 billion on infrastructure and equipment in the fight against crime. As effective as these strategies have been the prime minister is of the view that additional interventions were needed.

Prime Minister Holness’s invitation to the church to partner with the government, specifically to address crime and violence, is an indication that a change in approach is urgent. By referring to Jesus Christ and the church in his speech, Holness, essentially, cited the need for a theological and spiritual conversion in the society. This conversion of the heart is illustrated by the Psalmist who said, “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). This message to convert from evil to good, the basis of the solution, was also proclaimed by Jonah to the people of Nineveh and they changed for the better (Jonah 3:1-4). Such change of heart is not simply a matter of fiat but a commitment to face tough choices, make mistakes and like Jonah press on toward newfound assignments and opportunities. Genuine theological and spiritual conversion requires trust in God and confidence in a solution rooted in people’s capacity for goodness (Gen 1:26).

Theology is talk or discussions about God and conversion is the orientation or reorientation towards God. Discussions or conversations about God are preceded by conversion. Both constitute a way of life which thrives on respect for people as images of God. This respect, which is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something, takes seriously the scriptural injunction that we cannot love God whom we have not seen if we do not love our sisters and brothers who we see and interact with on a daily basis. Theological conversion or disposition towards God must therefore be accompanied by love and respect for people, especially the most vulnerable.

Vulnerable persons, particularly those living on the margins of society, have the secret to the spiritual conversion referred to earlier. How is this so, you may ask? Jesus was born on the margins of first century Roman society in a stable in Bethlehem. Most of his ministry was spent on the margins of Jewish society in Galilee yet it was in a key centre of power in Roman society as it was the place where military officers retired. These representatives of the elite of society entertained disdain for women and treated them as lesser beings, including as prostitutes. Jesus engaged spirituality rooted in relationship with God and flowed into a ministry in Galilee which puts theology into practice by feeding people and healing the sick. In this way, he demonstrated that God is a God of love and affirming of those despised by society. It is to these vulnerable that we must look for the process of spiritual conversion. 

Persons on the margins of society are strategically positioned to foster and facilitate the change of heart or conversion which is required to transform the epidemic of crime and violence in the country. By way of illustration, the vocation or call to facilitate national transformation was assigned to Jonah for the sake of the people Nineveh. Located in what is today part of northern Iraq, Nineveh was a very prosperous nation and was enjoying the fruits of its labour. Despite its economic, social and technological prosperity, however, the most vulnerable in the society were  being neglected by the rich and powerful. Though a nation of Gentiles, God asserted divine jurisdiction over Nineveh, and sent the prophet Jonah in the sixth  century before Christ to warn the people of imminent destruction.  This change in the nation’s theological and spiritual orientation or character was facilitated by the preaching of the prophet Jonah. It is this preaching and the response of faith and commitment to God which resulted in change in behavior which the Prime Minister is quoted as describing as “heart surgery.”

“Heart surgery” has no room for fighting criminals. It must be based on love and respect for people to the point of commitment to spend millions of dollars to show admiration and support for people. It is still a truism that money cannot buy respect as it is not for sale. At the same time a massive expenditure on social intervention, even the 40 billion managed effectively, could send children to school, provide well needed nutrition and create and maintain infrastructure in vulnerable communities. This expenditure is urgent. It will go a far way to foster and facilitate the well needed change of heart, lives and communities to make Jamaica a place to live, work, raise families and do business.

Garth Minott is Deputy President of the United Theological College of the West Indies.