'Father, I have sinned'

Devon Dick

DEAR FATHER PIERRE:

THE SATURDAY before you scolded me for giving bad advice, ('Bad Advice, Reverend Dick' Saturday, September 29) I asked my 50 church leaders to forgive me for when I have given bad advice.

I know that I have sinned because I have done things I ought not to have done and left undone things I ought to have done. I have sinned against Father God so many times. Have you, holy father, ever given bad advice to your congregation in Morant Bay, St. Thomas?

In your second paragraph you said, "I am not sure what was the point Rev Devon was making". After reading your response I realise that you did not understand. My views are found in two articles on the subject dated September 18 "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" and on September 25 entitled "Colin Powell for such a time as this".

I believe that there "must be a coalition using force judiciously while looking at the long-term solution of using ideas through dialogue to create a peaceful world".

I make a distinction between violence and force and between murder and killing. In fact, I believe the Bible makes such a distinction. The commandment says, "Thou shall not murder" but the Bible sanctions killing of evildoers under certain circumstances. Violence is condemned but force used to liberate does not merit reproof.

You have dismissed my quotations from the Bible by stating, "because of the new covenant in Christ we can no longer accept them". However, Matthew 5: 17ff have Jesus saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them".

You claim that Matthew 5: 38 tells us what should be the attitude of Christians. Unfortunately, you did not quote the passage which states that, "You have heard it said, 'eye for an eye but I tell you that, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek and if he sues you and takes the tunic then give him the cloak too".

If you are taking that advice literally then you cannot say in your penultimate paragraph that, "The perpetrators should be apprehended and punished". Based on your reasoning USA should not add security features but turn the other cheek. By the way, why is it that the Pope has so many bodyguards? Is it to help him turn the other cheek?

You also said, "I sympathise with his congregation since I kept wondering what advice he will give them should there be tension and fighting between members of his church". It is insensitive to equate tension between members and what happened in New York. Please do not trivialise things.

Furthermore, Boulevard Baptist Church is a mature congregation that discerns the will of God. It is a fellowship where contending ideas and points of view compete and flourish. In fact, a member called me the same day the article appeared and told me respectfully that she disagreed with what I wrote. Furthermore, I publish a press release from the Baptist World Alliance on the issue although I did not agree with everything that they said.

You appear to be a sympathising father so I ask you to sympathise with the congregations where the priests have molested boys. The Roman Catholic Church has admitted that it has not been as sympathising as it should be and the millions of dollars paid out as damages are inadequate. Please sympathise, like the Pope, with the atrocities caused by the Roman Catholic Church to Jews and blacks. Sympathise with priests who have to endure celibacy when there is not one scripture that commands it. Sympathise with the women of the Roman Catholic Church who are denied access to pastoral ministry although there is not even one command prohibiting women from being pastors.

It is amazing that you claim that I have said what I have not said. You said, "To encourage hostility, war in a time like using sacred scripture is not only an affront to God but also shows a complete lack of interest and concern for the whole human race". Holy, father where in my two articles did I encourage hostility or war?

In fact I encouraged the President of the USA not even to use the word 'war' and the Sunday after the massacre I allowed time for every member of the congregation to pray that there would be no war. It is clear that the Americans are moving slowly away from arbitrary strikes and the original bragging and much credit should be given to cousin Colin Powell.

There are times when one should refrain from retaliating and give up one's rights. There are times to engage in mercy and not punish as the crime demands. So, I understand that, "an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind". I also believe that turning a blind eye to an unrepentant murderer with evil intent will leave humanity dead.

The leaders of terrorism against the World Trade Center should be brought to justice, which might include executing them. This is in the interest of the human race. These persons who plan these things are reprobates and as self-defence and for the preservation of the community I say that they should be neutralised. The long-term goal is to have dialogue with the 'small fry' and hope that ideas will help them to renounce terrorism. I respect your views but I object to you still treating me like a child. Naturally, I do not believe, Pierre, that you are the rock on which the church is built. Your illegitimate son,

DEVON

PS: If you do not remember me, I was born in Airy Castle, St. Thomas

The Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Andrew.

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