The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

SOME Christians go home and leave God at church on Sunday. They go about their daily lives throughout the week and forget to acknowledge God. When Sunday comes back around, they are back in the pews lifting holy hands.

The one-day-a-week or Sunday Christian is a characteristic unbecoming of disciples, according to the bible, which encourages Christians to consult God in all things.

Proverbs 3:6 states: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".

Though these commands are clearly outlined, some Christians are preoccupied with the hustle, bustle and drama of their lives.

"I do not know what it is but I am guilty of being a one day Christian. It is nothing I am proud of. But it seems as though I allow life and the things of this world to take my mind off God," said Keisha Taylor, an Anglican adherent.

The idea that God is far away, overlooking the earth from his big throne in heaven is what some Christians say make them think a vast physical separation exists between God and man. The lack of knowledge of who God is, is also what they say creates this distance.

Realising that God has made a home in the hearts of his people can help God become more accessible to Christians, said Presbyterian follower Ann Burrows.

"It will take people first, knowing who God is and understanding he does not need mankind to be who is. My grandmother always told me that God does not need you, you need God. And if you do not call upon him in the good times how can you call upon him in the bad times," she said.

Allowing God to be the sole consultant of one's life is mandatory for all Christians. If not decisions made without seeking God in prayer can have detrimental impacts," Gloria Cunningham, a Catholic faithful told Tribune Religion.

"Sometimes we do things we regret and often times we do not consult the lord on personal matters. If we don't we end up making bad and costly decisions. We should not rely on our own understanding but in all our ways we should acknowledge him as God, and he shall direct our path," she said.

Though they may be religious, that is, attend church services and engage in the Christian traditions, Chris Sawyer, a Baptist faithful, believes some people have not nurtured their relationship with God. He said because of this, some people exclude God from their life and daily decision making.

"You should know the lord personally because if people do not know him then they would not know to call on him. If you know him and have proven him before, you would be inclined to call on him again because you have confidence in his ability and willingness to help you again," he said.

Davette Munroe said God should always be remembered in all things, because he is able to help his followers whose existence depend on him.

"We can ask God for everything but we need to ask God to direct us as we go to make our decisions to vote. We must include God into this because these are important decisions we have to make on our lives and the future of our country. We cannot lean onto our own understanding. If we lean on God he will definitely show us the way," said Ms Munroe.