IanBoyne

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) should not worry that the prophecy that Portia Simpson Miller will win the next election will give her a tremendous psychological advantage in a deeply religious country, as the denominational divisions of Christians will substantially mitigate that effect.

JLP Christians and those neutral Christians and church-influenced people who would be inclined to give the JLP their vote will simply dismiss prophet Phillip Phinn as a false prophet or a People's National Party (PNP) propagandist in prophet's clothing.

Showing skepticism

Public reaction already is showing overwhelming skepticism over whether God has, indeed, spoken to Phinn - and this is even among those who feel that Portia is likely to win. While the Pentecostal and charismatic movement, which stresses the five-fold ministry (which includes prophecy) is strong in Jamaica, it is a much divided movement with strong internecine conflicts and bitter rivalries.

Derrick Smith should have perhaps sought advice from those who know the religious runnings before publicly attacking a churchman as a samfie and obeah man.

In other words, if Smith had found out that there are enough fellow charismatics like Al Miller who would willingly chastise prophet Phinn - and do so more effectively - then he would have kept quiet and not be seen to attack any churchman.

But Smith and the JLP feared that in a fundamentalist society like this, any charismatic (meaning tongues-speaking, hand-clapping, and noise-making) preacher anointing Simpson Miller as God's elect and the sure winner of the next elections could not be ignored.

Partisan division

If Derrick had ignored the prophecy, it might not have received the widescale publicity it has. The reaction to Phinn's prophecy highlights just how partisan this country is and how our tribalism clouds rational thinking.

First, why the automatic rejection of the prophecy by Christians favouring the JLP and those disaffected from the PNP?

Why don't they consider the possibility that Phinn could genuinely have heard from God?

It is not because all of them, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, believe that God does not have prophets today. Many of them still believe that God gives prophecies to people today, and they can normally quote Scripture to prove that.

But when it comes to their politics, not even God's word comes before that. That is a manifestation of the tribalism that is so revolting and reprehensible about Jamaica.

People put political party loyalty even before God. They assess everything, religious issues no exception, in partisan terms. Listen to the JLP talk-show callers who identify themselves as Christians.

They impugn Phinn's motives, call him all sorts of names and would be ready to stone him in fulfillment of the Dueteronomic text if the prophecy fails. It escapes them that it is th of arrogance to assume that God's preference for a political party must be the same as theirs. He could, indeed, choose Simpson Miller even if she is not their preference. Don't they quote the text which says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts"?

But let me be quick to add that I personally have no basis on which to believe that God has, indeed, spoken to Phinn on this matter, so don't put me in the same partisan category or stop reading me at this point.

I have absolutely no indication that God has any particular interest in who becomes the next Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Nor do I believe He is expressly choosing political leaders elsewhere. (There is a difference between God's permissive will and His expressive will so the fact that Romans 13 says Governments are ordained by God does not mean He personally selects leaders. He is not operating a theocracy on earth.)

Against people's wills

In fact, it should not be flattering to Simpson Miller to know that God, for reasons best known to Himself, is choosing her to lead the country when the majority of her own people can't see those reasons and would humanly want to vote for Bruce Golding.

If she is performing, helping to put the country on a path of sustainable economic growth and advancing the interests of the poor and marginalised, then that should not be shrouded in mystery but should be plain to those who want to exercise their democratic right to put her back in office.

But when a Phinn associate prophet could say on Impact (television programme)last week that God will choose Simpson Miller even against people's wishes and that even those going to the polls to vote JLP will find themselves changing their minds through God's intervention and voting PNP, then that should give no joy to the Prime Minister. I would not want to know as a political leader that God would have to 'move in mysterious ways' for me to come back to power!

The Bible says "by their fruitsyou shall know them" and if people judge Simpson Miller's fruits and can't vote on that basis, then God help her (indeed)!

So, the public declaration by Phinn detracts from, rather than adds anything to, a Portia victory at the polls.

But let us balance this by saying that while Phinn's associates point might seem ridiculous and totally preposterous to many (certainly to the secularists), an omnipotent God could do, and have done things like that. God has on occasion forced people to change their minds and has intervened in human affairs to determine outcomes, according to the Biblical account.

Declaring the prophecy

So, notwithstanding my own skepticism as to whether God is going to do that at the next election, I cannot say that it is irrational for those who believe in the Bible to make that point. God can override free will and has done so, if we take the Biblical account as true.

But was it wise for Phinn to have made the declaration public? Many have condemned him for this or severely criticised him. His fellow charismatic brother, Al Miller ,feels it was unwise to declare the prophecy, especially because as Miller told All Angles (television programme), "God has also been saying some other things".

(Incidentally, it is important for you to know that Bruce Golding has regularly visited Miller's Fellowship Tabernacle, the same way Simpson Miller has been a staple at Phinn's prophetic conferences over the past few years. It might be purely coincidental that God seems to speak a favourable word concerning the political leaders with whom particular religious leaders have a relationship with!)

Miller and others feel that a private word to the Prime Minister would be enough. But remember that God specifically told the Old Testament prophets on occasion to declare their messages publicly so that when the prophecies are fulfilled "they (the people) will know that a prophet has been among them". Phinn wants to establish himself as "the father of the prophetic movementin Jamaica," as he himself said (immodestly?) on Cliff Hughes' Impact.

Non-church-going readers, you have to understand that church politics is more competitive and divisive than party politics. Church leaders are busily seeking market share and if Phinn gets maximum publicity from prophesying about a prominent personality (and how much more prominent can you get than the Prime Minister?), then the value of that free publicity is incalculable - if he is proven right.

Remember that the media does not pay any attention to church leaders except when they are commenting on national issues or caught in sexual sins. So, you have to be creative to get some publicity, and especially creative to get the kind of prime-time, prominent column-inches publicity which Phinn has been getting these days.

Not utterly convinced

But this very point leads us to reject the view that Phinn is not convicted that he has indeed heard from the Lord: Why would he stake his prophetic ministry on a single prophecy which could destroy his career? I gather he even went as far as saying that the entire prophetic movement hinges on whether this prophecy comes through - a most reckless statement if that was, indeed, said.

In my view, Phinn is sincere and is no samfie man or PNP propagandist who wants to make some mileage for his party. He is clearly fond of Simpson Miller, but there is nothing wrong with that. You have to understand religious empire-builders (no offense meant). They are not going to risk their essential calling for anything, except for sex. They might use politics to enhance their project but never to jeopardise it.

If Phinn were not absolutely convinced of his prophecy - and of his prophetic gift over the years -he would have spoken the word privately to Portia rather than broadcasting it to the world and setting up himself for not only ridicule but for his rivals to score points against him.

Having courage

Of course, if Simpson Miller loses the election, he will find someexplanation, as religious people always do when their prophecies, or prayers, fail. They are ingenious at that. After all, they have the Nineveh and other Biblical prophecies which were 'conditional'. You can never defeat religious people or prove them wrong. Their belief system is inviolable and unfalsifiable.

One thing the prophet must have and that is courage. He might always be willing to sacrifice his popularity. Go back to the Biblical prophets, especially Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel. So Phinn should not be put off by the avalanche of criticism, if he truly believes his word is from God.

Why we can't debate issues in Jamaica and have a disagreement without questioning people's motives and ascribing the worst to them is beyond me. Except for our sick tribalism which demeans us, and which makes God's granting us minds a waste of divine energy.

Smith should have trusted the tribalistic instincts of Jamaicans not to worry about Phinn. But perhaps even he naively assumed that Jamaican Christians put religion ahead of their politics.

Ian Boyne is a veteran journalist who can be reached at ianboyne1@yahoo.com.