LETTER OF THE DAY - In defence of the faith
published: Sunday | May 7, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Ian Boyne's column in The Sunday Gleaner entitled 'Innocence lost' made an uninformed statement which I quote: "No pastor took to the air to explain texts from Romans and Daniel showing that the PM's appointment from God is Biblically defensible from a conservative reading of scripture and is common belief among Christians." In my article published in The Observer entitled 'Right on Portia' I did just that.

INSINUATION

The insinuation that the Church is a mixture of uncleanness and righteousness is not correct and needs clarification. The Lord Jesus, the head of the Church, knew that the public would see corruption in the visible Church and so gave the parable of the wheat and the tares to explain the behaviours of those who were among us but not of us.

The Prime Minister, therefore, who is not sent to judge the Church, can use her discretion to appoint to the boards a cross section of those professing godliness. She is not a pastor in the sense of watching over a flock and knowing her sheep, but appoints the righteous to places of honour. She does have the benefit of a testimony of good behaviour in her appointments and if a man when walking with God cannot bear testimony of truth, how can he stand before people of honest conscience? If a nation loses the power to forgive and work together for progress and prosperity, that nation is dying and will die. So the Prime Minister is within her rights to use citizens who she thinks can assist to foster good moral relationships and positive habits of honest decision making.

I am, etc.,

REGINALD CRUTCHLEY

ingeniouseio@yahoo.com

Motivation consultant

and spiritual educator.