A unity of God and Mammon

Dawn Ritch, Contributor

WITH crisis comes opportunity, from chaos comes the chance to reorder.

The recent massacre in Jamaica - not just West Kingston, western Kingston, or Kingston - has opened up the possibility of effecting real change. That change has to come from - or around - the political leaders of the day and there are only two groups which can force that change. Force, because it is not going to come willingly.

Those two groups were the first and most prominent to move into the area (after the police and the JLP), one by intention the other by "invasion". They are the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the church, used here in the broadest sense of all denominations claiming Christianity.

If Mammon and God come together and demand a change from our political leaders, it may just happen. One thing is sure, they will listen to pocket and pulpit. (Some will argue that Mammon and God have already come together in assorted money ministries, but that's another topic for another time). Both the PSOJ and the church have a vested interest in bringing about some change in this country and heading off anything like what happened in 1980.

The "mammonites" make their money here and that should be a powerful enough argument. They may or may not be able to make that money living outside Jamaica, if worse comes to worst and there is a mass exodus like what happened in the mid to late 1970s. But they will never enjoy the prestige and "respect", which I have found to often be somewhat of a narcotic and as important as the money, that is afforded them in Jamaica.

Humbling experience

Many a big wig has packed up and left these shores only to find that beyond Newark or Pearson they are just another nigger. Nobody nudges their companion to point out that that is Mr. So and So, nobody acknowledges the presence of greatness with a furtive glance and quickly lowered eyes, nobody laughs too loudly at their corny jokes. It can be, I understand, a very humbling experience.

However, the PSOJ does not seem to be interested in solving the situation that is facing Jamaica, only containing its most obvious element, crime. Note containing, not solving. As long as business can go on as usual, the PSOJ could not care two hoots about how many people are killed. We don't see them doing much (or anything?) unless downtown is locked down, do we?

But in case it has not occurred to y'all as yet, we will never contain crime in the "towns" and "lanes" again. We will never have a situation where crime is restricted to the few. It is going to affect business in one way or the other ­ does anybody really think that it will not make the overseas newspapers and hence tourism?

If the church people are serious about their profession of faith in Jesus Christ, then thy will should be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. I suspect that God is not quite pleased with his people being slaughtered in the streets. I suspect, also, that God would rather see an orderly society where people can go about their business in peace than one in which fear sits on the shoulder constantly. I also suspect that, while God has space in his Kingdom for us all, he or she would rather that new entrants came in without gunshot or stab wounds.

Prevention

If the church folks were so concerned about the situation in West Kingston that they would bring in food and prayers after a couple days of mayhem and murder, I would hope that they are concerned enough to head off another such situation and also address the factors underlying the crisis. And from where I sit the primary of those factors is politics. The gangs, the guns, the drugs, the poverty ­ it is not as simple as "remove the politicians and all this will change", but Jamaica's politics has created a situation that encourages, that utilises gangs, guns, drugs, poverty.

Politicians will listen to the PSOJ because they cannot survive without the money and influence that its members have. In fact, the PSOJ can lock down the country more effectively than any roadblock or riots with two simple words: No business. They will listen to and solicit the support of the PSOJ and its members because that's where a lot of the campaign money comes from and these are the movers and shakers that no Government can do without.

Politicians will listen to the church, even if only nominally, because Christians/churchgoers form the largest group in this country. Without mass support, they are in deep trouble.

Also, I think that deep down they all plan last-minute repentance and are afraid of going to hell. Together, big business and the big business of God can make a change in this country. It is a change which needs to be made if we are to survive, much less thrive. And survival is the bottom line of both Mammon and God.

Back to Commentary