Dear Editor,
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, proclaimed that the Methodist Church was raised up to spread scriptural holiness for the reformation of the nation. Wesley’s campaign for the abolition of slavery and social injustices in England during the Industrial Revolution contributed greatly to the Evangelical Revival in that nation. Wesley was also a key figure in the Evangelical movement in early USA 13 colonies known as the first Great Awakening. For Wesley, Christian Social Witness (Holiness) must complement Personal Holiness.
Yes, Christians are duty bound to “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s (St. Matthew 22:21). However, the Church must not pander or cozy up to political outfits or pledge allegiance to them. The Church has a higher calling – obedience to Jehovah God.
It is evident that some strands of the Church were very vocal in the weeks and months leading up to the March 02 2020 general and regional elections. This is commendable. It appears however that the Church has gone silent since March 02. The Church is called to be active “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Further, the Church is charged not to hide its lamp (light) under a bushel (St. Luke 8:16) nor to allow its salt to lose its saltiness (St. Mathew 5:13).
Is it that the Church has become too inward looking or has changed gears to survival mode? (Incidentally, what has become of ecumenism in Guyana?). The Church cannot claim immunity to the political and social happenings in Guyana. By some token, the Church ought not to be contented with token opportunities to recite opening prayers at national events. The Church is obligated to lead the way in setting the tone for the moral compass of the nation. For Jehovah God is holy, righteous and just.
I guess that the Church can say that it never stopped preaching and teaching about moral issues. Further, there is no shortage of Churches in Guyana. Some villages can boast of having more than ten. Then why are these communities not being reformed to reflect the teachings and preachings of the Church? Is the Church “getting through” to the people?
The average person who needs most to hear the message of the cross will not walk into a Church building and sit for two hours and automatically be saved. The real work of the Church lies outside the walls of the Church building – at the market places on the highways and byways, the street corners, the prisons, the hospitals… Alas, but will the Church (members) reach down to the hungry souls in those places in fancy air conditioned vehicles, high heels, expensive suits and ties, using the queen’s English and bearing titles that they have arrogated to themselves?
Has the Church lost the common touch or has become aloof so that it becomes them and us? Is it that the Church has dispensed with leg work? John Wesley is said to have ridden far enough on horseback to circle the earth ten times. Is it that the Church has become too sophisticated or has morphed to accommodate only the saved and sanctified? Is the Church still welcoming to the heathen? The Church cannot claim to be successful simply by elevating the decibel levels in the sanctuary.
What makes a Church successful? Is it the size of its membership role, the size of the sanctuary, the size of its bank account, the quality of the preaching or the comforts and equipment in the sanctuary? Already, some on social media have castigated the Church asking why it did not raise its voice between March 02 2020 and the protest actions following the killing of the two youths in West Coast Berbice.
In closing, if anyone thinks that the Church is useless, just think for a moment what this nation will become without the Church. With all its imperfections, the Church is still relevant. There is a lot of Church work to be done in Guyana. The Church must seek creative ways to meet these needs. Guyana needs the Church. Our morals are going.
Yours faithfully,
Bernel L.H. Wickham
