Warmington is right this time

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Some of these men of the cloth, so-called pastors, continue to gaze into the heavens with admiration while their hearts are immersed in greed and corruption.

Church leaders should inform both the people and the Government of Jamaica how much money is collected in tithes and offerings and how much of that money is sent monthly from Jamaica to their headquarters. It must be noted that most major churches operating in Jamaica have their headquarters in North America.

The pastors should make that declaration to justify their worthiness for assistance from the Government.

Yeshua the Christ put people first, stating clearly and demonstrating that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. It is rather repulsive that anyone would ask the prime minister to put the Church before the people. Think for a moment: without the people, there would be no need for churches.

Mr. Prime Minister, nowhere in Scripture are we instructed to love the pastor or the church. Rather, we are commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves. Yeshua the Christ was not here to build large churches among the poor and desolate. He came to make the heart of man a temple, his soul an altar, and his mind a priest. The Gospel can be taught outdoors just as Yeshua the Christ and His followers did.

Once again, Yeshua the Christ would have placed the needs of the people first. Let us follow His example at the Sermon on the Mount. When He realised the people were hungry, He fed them, knowing that a hungry man thinks with his stomach. To do otherwise would be vacuous. That same principle applies to desperate people: you must change their situation before you appeal to their hearts and minds.

Some of these men and women of the cloth continue to feed on the simplicity of their followers with absolutely no empathy. Yeshua the Christ said very clearly, and I quote, “It is when you give to the least among you that you give unto Me.” That should always be our motto.

All the men and women of God should declare the church assets and the amount of money sent to North America monthly while the poor continue to grow poorer from the very people from whom tithes and offerings are collected.

Never in my life did I think I would agree with Mr Warmington, but he is right on the ball this time.

ARTHUR TEDDY PHIDD