The Editor, Sir:

As the political atmosphere heats up, there appears to be a religious element coming to the forefront that was never usually there - at least not as brazen as it is seen now. Mrs. Simpson Miller's constant reference to a mandate given from God is really worrying.

It is a misrepresentation of who God is when one of her supporters and apparent advisers/intercessors is being advertised on Impact, the television programme, as saying that many voters who go to the poll to vote for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will vote for the People's NationalParty (PNP) instead.

Is this how God operates? Indeed, I would love it if this were so. If God treated us as puppets on a string, who acts against what it is that we intend to do and instead carry out "His will," then certainly I could not be blamed for my sins. Whenever I sin, I might as well ask "So why the hell didn't you stop me from doing that, Lord?"

The more a fool opens his mouth the more he is exposed, and in the words of Mark Twain, I would advise, "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."

New phenomenon

This new phenomenon of playing on the psyche of the electorate by claiming God has ordained it to be so is absolutely rubbish, if not short of contempt for God and who He is.

In the days of Noah, God told him to warn the people. Other prophets were sent to warn people even as they turned their backs on God. There are numerous stories of the people of Israel turning their backs on God in the Old Testament and never did God programmed people to act the way that he knew was in their best interest.

The line between serving self-interest and really delivering a message from God is oftentimes distorted, and I have no doubt that it is happening in this case. I may go to the poll to vote for the JLP and vote for the PNP instead.

Personal decision

The converse may also happen. Whatever I do will be my decision and that is something, as unfortunate as it may be, which God has left up to me. The truth is I would love it if each time I were to do something against God's will, He/She would paralyse me and carry out His will in my life.

It is important that these people who profess Christianity stop misleading people and help them understand that one of the greatest responsibilities given to man is that of free will and choice.

This freedom of choice will be given to the people by God at the next polls, similar to how it was 2007 years ago at the death of Christ, and only the 'scribes andPharisees' can distort this and make the people act otherwise.

I am, etc.,

MARK A CLARKE

mermacster@gmail.com

Apt 501B, Haven Court,

10 Seaview Road, Stony Hill P.O.

Kingston 9

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