What’s Next By: Brother Hantz Maxime M.S
When Christian who is supposed to be the light of the world chooses to stay silent in the face of injustice and abuse that destroys people around them, it is simply an act of not caring. We cannot hand pick which evil deed to back up and not back up. This has been the way many Christians in Haiti have been doing business. It appears that many of them are tied up to the same corruption that entangles the Haitian government. There is an attitude that if it does not affect me personally, it is okay for it to happen. But little that they know, everything starts small. If you cannot speak on the small matter that impacts people’s lives, you cannot show authority in matters that may impact you and others that are associated with you.
So many talks have been taking place about the roles of Christians in Haiti. It has been said Christian in Haiti representing 52% of the population. If this statistic is right, we have a lot to answer for, given the current condition of the country. If we representing 52% of the population, why is there so much corruption? Do we only care about people coming to your churches while giving a blind eye to the needs of the same people that we claimed to love? The leaders are not concerned about the health and wellbeing of the nation.
Not too long ago, the government released the country’s “Penal Code” which has many things that contradict our values as a people. It has been said that some of the laws also violated our Christian Faith. Many people suggested that the proposed laws are immoral. The Haitian churches both in Haiti and abroad have protested the new penal code. To be honest, I believe that was a great response where the church stood and questioned the validity of the new law. For the first time in my life, I notice the Haitian church come together to fight for a common purpose. The church petitioned and organized a street protest to further expressed their dislike for the law.
Everything thus far is good to let the government know that this law is not going to be accepted. But I would like to go further on this issue. I believe It is an insult for any government leader to decide on matters that have lasting effect on his/her constituent without first informing all the major players. It has been said the voice of the people is the voice of GOD. If that is true, why did the government act alone or could it be that the government was looking for anyone representing the 52% of the population but could not find any. This is the dilemma that the Christian churches in Haiti are facing. It appeared that there are no true Christian leaders representing God in government. This is the only reason that law such these can be projected on the people without anyone’s knowledge. Or could it be that some of our leaders are devoid of their responsibilities while becoming corrupt and have allowed themselves to be brought with money.
What lessons can we learn from all this” Well, if we want Haiti to be better governed with Christian principles, 52% of the population must be present in every aspect of the government? We cannot cherry pick which issue we want to address. We have a Godly obligation to get involved in the social rebuilding of the country. The churches must come together as one to introduce a National Plan that addresses the needs of the country, not an individual’s profits. For example, infrastructure, education, social needs, and the spiritual needs of the country. We cannot sit back allowing other people/nations to think and decide on how we should look and live. The Church should invest heavily in better education. Especially, how to choose political leaders. The church is very powerful because it can penetrate the most restricted locations that the government cannot reach. Every region in the country is small or great as a church. This is power. If we begin to educate and invest in our young people and support them to run for offices instead of allowing the special interest to snatch them and make them their servant rather than the people’s servant. If there is a time for such a thing to happen where the people can be galvanized and regrouping to create a better Haiti for all, is NOW.
The Church Speak! (Legliz Palé) !
As you might now, since the fall of the dictatorship in the country, Haiti has not had anyone to defend it. Everyone comes and takes from it, but very little is giving back. I am not talking only about the privileged few. But I am talking about the leaders that represent 52% of the population also, who requires so much from the people and aboard, just to better themselves individually, not to help the country. It is time for all Haitians especially the 52% of the population to come together, to organize and take the country from the hands of all the greedy Politicians and Christian leaders who are politically vested. It is time for the churches to start developing and investing in young people politically to serve their country. If we continue to rely on other nations and those who profited from the country’s current condition, we are going nowhere. If we fail to act now, we have no one to blame but ourselves. when other nations with no spiritual and moral standing bring their immoral and filthy laws for us to abide by, we will have nothing to say but to accept it because when we had the chance to do something, we did nothing. My question now to all of us who are upset with the government and taking the street to protest, WHAT’S NEXT?
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