Donald K. Stewart, Contributor 
STEWART
THE GAME of football is obviously the favourite sport for numerous Jamaicans; young and old, male and female, players and spectators alike.
It certainly is a fascinating spectacle to watch as the ball is delightfully passed from player to player, with professional skill and precision ... from a Carlos Alberto to a Ronaldinho, across to Adrianno or Ronaldo, and then floated over to young Robinho who graciously flicks it into the back of the opponent's goal. Football is, indeed, a great game, designed to generate seemingly unlimited pleasure and entertainment.
There are, however, some other things in Jamaican life that are carelessly being treated like a football, which if entertained, will definitely create unpleasant and confusing responses, ultimately producing frustration and disillusionment for all involved. One such thing is 'the Church', constituted of the regenerated disciples of Jesus Christ, called to represent His body, here in Jamaica. Over the past 15 (or so) years, it has become increasingly clear that the Church in Jamaica is expected to become 'all things for all people' based on the dictates of society and its fluctuating political and cultural agendas.
One of the interesting observations is that many who are most vocal at these times, demanding immediate action from the Church, are some of those who remain perpetually hostile to the Gospel message of the Church, who continue to ridicule its biblically-based morality and who so easily blaspheme against its Jesus.
LOUD VOICES
Some of these loud voices, including political activists, entertainers, government ministers, journalists and other influential leaders, have no understanding concerning the purpose of the Church in a nation. There are those who only visit church buildings for 'baby blessings', weddings and funeral services, and others who religiously show up for their annual Christmas, Easter and New Year's Day rituals ... nothing more.
The Church is often being knocked around, like a religious football, by people who basically live 'by convenience, instead of by convictions'. It is one thing to be ignorant but it is certainly a much worse thing to let the whole world know that you are. The Church was never commissioned by its Lord to have crime fighting, road fixing, mediation of domestic disputes, developing housing projects, running of schools and job creation, among other things, as its primary task ... nor is the Church responsible to do the Government's work.
Jamaican history books will eventually reveal what happened in the recent past to several banks, insurance companies and other businesses that neglected their core functions to do numerous other, seemingly legitimate activities. They were distracted by what they felt were good investments, but were later left to the mercy of 'Finsac Ltd.', and some of them never recovered.
The core function of the Church is primarily spiritual, as Jesus instructed his disciples: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you' (Matt. 28: 19-20).
PROCLAMING THE GOSPEL
The Church is responsible for the proclamation of the Gospel, which is the "power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Rom. 1: 16) and which transforms people's lives, starting from the sinful heart 'inside' (1 John 1: 8-9, 2 Cor. 5: 17, John 3: 1 - 19).
The Church continues to serve by providing the spiritual nourishment and context for empowerment, so that those who have been converted may develop to become spiritual, moral, responsible citizens, equipped to become the salt of the earth and light of the world, thereby affecting lives and systems wherever they function. It is in this way that the kingdom of God will impact the nations of the world, including Jamaica.
The Church is also instructed to pray for the Governmental (and other) leaders of the country (based on 1 Timothy 2: 1-2) so "that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness". Please note that the Church is never instructed to usurp the Government's authority or to take over its job, nor is the Church responsible to go into people's homes to educate their children and train their adults for them.
This is not be interpreted to mean that Christians should lack care and compassion, or that they should be indifferent or insensitive to those around them. Let me also state clearly that where the Christian church can address social ills such as corruption, injustice and wickedness, or where it can expose and confront immoral institutions, it has a moral obligation to do so. These activities must, however, be motivated by Biblical convictions rather than societal expectations.
When the Church allows the world to dictate how, where and when it should function, then it has accepted the role of 'religious football', to be unceremoniously kicked about until its sense of direction and purpose disintegrate into nothingness.
Every criticising, cynical, judgmental non-Christian needs to be converted by yielding to the lordship of Jesus Christ and to become a part of the solution ... instead of embarking on a futile fault-finding mission.
Donald Stewart is pastor of the Portmore Lane Covenant Community Church, in Portmore, St. Catherine.
