Our youths for Christ- An act of the possible

The Good book charges us through the writings of King Solomon the author of Ecclesiastes in chapter 12:1 to ‘Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.’ It is a fact that our nation by way of our colonial experience has inherited a Christian heritage. This heritage has become one of the most predominant signposts in our culture today. Our constitution is clear on the issue that our nation as a sovereign state is founded on the “belief in the supremacy of God” and on the principles of a Liberal Democracy. Hence we can properly be categorized as a Godly people, the question must however then be asked as to what extent are we living this experience.{{more}}

In a speech delivered by the revered former South African President on 15th June 1997 at a function in commemoration of the International Pentecostal Church Youth Day, he stated clearly the following,

“The youth are the future of our nation. During the apartheid years, the churches and our youth made a tremendous contribution to the struggle for freedom. The responsibility for normalising our society is not that of government alone. Religious institutions can help to restore the culture of moral responsibility and a respect for human dignity. This means that each individual must take the responsibility for building our country and forging our nationhood. In our own small way each one of us can help to rebuild this country, by every criminal we refuse to shelter and by every policeman we help to do his job. If every church member decides never to buy stolen goods, the market for stolen goods will be made that much smaller.

As we strive for reconstruction and reconciliation, nation building and development, religious organisations can make a contribution of particular importance in their programmes for the youth, especially those that build moral strength, emotional maturity and civic responsibility in our young children. For it is these qualities that will equip them to deal with the challenges of their generation. Great courage and commitment will be needed to overcome the obstacles and for our young people to fully enjoy the benefits that our fledgling democracy holds for them. It will demand of them that they discipline themselves and work hard at school to acquire the skills that our country needs to succeed in the world market place.

It will demand of them that they use their energies to help old people put in place the policies and structures that will mean better lives for them and their children. We encourage the youth in the Church to continue playing the vanguard role you played before, but in a new way. Let us work together with the police and government to rid our country of the scourge of crime, let us join hands with teachers to educate ourselves; let us become pioneers of reconstruction and development. By your example, you will be helping ensure that South Africa indeed becomes the country of our dreams.”

This address by Nelson Mandela though particularized within a South African context is very applicable to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

There is no doubt that though the centuries there has been a ‘Separation of State and Church’. Whilst one may not readily envisage a reconstitution of the role of the Church as it relates to direct governance in a politically administrative sense, there needs to be a revival in the social and economic role of the church in our nation’s development. Our society without the Church is a dysfunctional one.

It is in this regard that we must commend our Churches for their involvement from time to time in the organizing of national crusades. These timely crusades are of more importance than can be summarized on paper.

The approach is a genuine expression to honor the great commission as commanded by the scriptures in Matthew chapter 28:19 to, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.’

The church is the only panacea for our social problems but our churches must meet the problems with a heads-on approach, we must become more engaging.

It is therefore important that as we live within a Godly national community that we be steadfast and become more committed to the cause for good.