THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN RESPONSE to your headline article of December 6, entitled 'Welfare Warfare', I must say the contents were very disappointing. I believe the religious leaders involved missed the point completely.
Jesus came to change hearts, not to buy them, the hearts of 'dons' included. Outlined in the article was a competition between the church and the 'dons' to determine who could or would give the most welfare money to the inner-city people. The Lord said by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread.
Our people must be provided with the opportunities to be educated, to acquire skills, to work and earn a living in order to keep their self-esteem intact, to provide for their families, not just to receive handouts, however substantial these may be.
We must pray to God that the leaders who formulate plans and policies for the country, seek His wisdom and guidance in every aspect of their business. When prosperity is achieved, we won't have just baby mothers and baby fathers with children who are never adequately loved and cared for. There will be wives and husbands, good mothers and fathers, who will grow children in loving and secured environments, so these children will, in turn, learn to love others.
Jesus told His followers to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all that He commanded. No handouts mentioned here. Supporting the disabled, old and indigent cannot be neglected; it will bring its reward. However, many of our young, strong and able men and women who, through circumstances, have learnt to depend on welfare, ought to be the ones contributing the programmes to assist the less fortunate.
We can get it right if we follow instructions from the manual, the Holy Bible. If it is done God's way, it will prosper, for it's not by might or power, but by the Holy Spirit. God's promises never fail and He has promised to heal our land. If we faithfully do what is required of us, the good results are guaranteed.
I am, etc.,
Mrs M.E. LOVE
1 SargassoAve
Kingston 17
