The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. 

The evangelical church in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) will probably face its greatest test of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ in the coming months as the Christie administration moves forward with its plan to hold a referendum on gambling. Of course, this particular voting bloc is perhaps the most important within the PLP. For years the PLP was able to depend on the church, especially the Baptist church, for its political support during election time. Without the church's support on May 7, the PLP would not have won the general election. There's simply no getting around that. Evangelicals in the Free National Movement (FNM) would have faced the same test of fidelity had their party won on election day.

There is a group calling itself the ''We Care Coalition'' who are now openly advocating for the decriminalisation of gambling in The Bahamas. These brazen individuals have pitted themselves against the church of Jesus Christ. They think that they and their millions can defeat the church. But the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. Interestingly, gates in the Scriptures are a symbol of governments; for it was at the gates of the cities where the elders met to conduct official business.

According to the late Christian Reconstructionist David Chilton, ''Christians rule with Christ in His Kingdom now, in this age, and Christianity is destined to take over all kingdoms of the earth. All Christians are therefore commanded to overcome the opposition; and, in fact, all Christians are overcomers. The church is to take the initiative in fighting against the forces of evil – she must attack, and not merely defend – and she will be successful. She must pray for, expect, and rejoice in her enemies' defeat. God will give His church enough time to accomplish her assignment.'' (The Days of Vengeance, pages 587-588). The We Care Coalition is presently running several ads on radio highlighting the positive contributions that their web shops make to society. According to them, some 5,000 Bahamians are employed in the gambling business. The ad also says that millions of dollars are pumped into the Treasury. Approximately 60 per cent of Bahamians spend about $2 million each week in the gambling houses. Obviously, the government is looking at the money that it can earn annually from this lucrative industry. At present, a figure of $40 million is being touted. The way some Bahamian gamblers talk, you would think that numbers men have done more to enhance the over-all well being of The Bahamas than the Christian church. Nothing could be further from the truth, however.

Christianity gave to the Bahamas and to the rest of the world modern democracy, free education, human rights, the free enterprise and the work ethic; science, music, art and literature; the Salvation Army, religious hospitals, soup kitchens and thrift shops. In a word, without Christianity, there would be no Bahamas. Why do you think America and this country were founded? European Christians were looking to spread Christianity to the New World, that's why. The church need not cower into a corner because of the financial clout of the numbers men. They are no match for the church. With God's supernatural help, the church can grind these people to powder. The church can flex its muscle at the polls. Ninety per cent of Bahamians profess a religion. Thirty-five per cent of Bahamians are Baptists; 15 per cent are Anglicans, 8 per cent are Pentecostals, 5 per cent are Church of God members; 5 per cent are Seventh-Day Adventists, 4 per cent are Methodists and 14 per cent are Catholics. The church obviously has a massive following. Without the church's help, the PLP would have been in the opposition. But it looks like the Christie administration has forgotten this important fact. The Bahamas Christian Council should demand that the government immediately close down all the web shops. If the PLP goes ahead and legalises gambling, then the church can use its massive influence by chastising the government in 2017. The government might be leaning on the side of the We Care Coalition group. But the church must remember that God is on its side. Let the church arise, let the numbers men be scattered.

 KEVIN EVANS

Freeport,

Grand Bahama,

July, 2012.