In waging a $1,500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) fight for the YES votes in the impending - January 28, 2013 - gambling referendum... the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their web shop businesses.... ...They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas

What a ‘Yes’ vote could mean for the church

thenassauguardian editorial

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have historically dared not cross the church for decades on the issue of gambling for Bahamians in The Bahamas. Instead, both parties as governments turned away and did not see the numbers houses.

In recent years, with the rise of Internet technology and steely boldness, the numbers men of old and their new contemporaries came from the shadows and openly set up illegal shops in front of the political parties and police, declaring to Bahamians that they are now forces who will no longer accept being repressed.

The numbers bosses now sponsor charitable events, advertise and one has even donated openly to at least one government agency.

The Bahamas is a very protestant nation with the overwhelming majority of its people identifying themselves as Christians. Churchgoing is high. Consequently, the political parties have not wanted to face­off against a church that, for the most part, has been rabidly against gambling.

Despite this fear by our great political parties, the numbers bosses have now decided that it is time to demonstrate to the church of Christ and its Bahamian leaders that they do not fear them. They have set up a lobby and have let it be known that $1.5 million will be spent in an advertising effort to win the referendum scheduled for Monday, January 28. Via this act, they have declared opposition to the church.

This newspaper also reported yesterday that members of the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign and four pastors who are pushing for the regularization of the numbers business may join forces to push their cause. Members of the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign have also met with Prime Minister Christie to discuss the upcoming gambling referendum.

The Bahamian church is not used to this direct a challenge. It has historically been able to shout down adversaries on the gambling issue. Now, with a referendum having been pledged, the church has an opponent.

The stakes are high for this referendum. In our modern history the church has felt it had the upper hand on issues such as this. A defeat here will lessen the perceived power of the church. It would also demonstrate that well ­funded lobbies on moral issues could win against the church in a public fight.

What would a defeated church do? If it preaches to its members to vote against the legalization of gambling and those members overwhelmingly disobey their pastors, that act of defiance by Bahamians would demonstrate that though many sit in pews on Sundays, they do not listen to the people who speak to them with full regard.

In waging a fight in this referendum the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their businesses. They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas.

The pastors who like to make statements on this and that moral issue need to know that on the issue of gambling they are in a fight for legitimacy. Certainly, if the church loses it will not be totally illegitimate and irrelevant. It would just fall a notch in influence. And the next time a group thinks about challenging the church, if it loses this referendum fight, that group won’t be as afraid, further expanding secularism in The Bahamas.

January 03, 2013

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

In waging a fight on the road to the gambling referendum ...the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their businesses... ...They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas

The church vs. the numbers men: A fight for legitimacy

thenassauguardian editorial

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have historically dared not cross the church for decades on the issue of gambling for Bahamians in The Bahamas.  Instead, both parties as governments turned away and did not see the numbers houses.

In recent years, with the rise of Internet technology and steely boldness, the numbers men of old and their new contemporaries came from the shadows and openly set up illegal shops in front of the political parties and police, declaring to Bahamians that they are now forces who will no longer accept being repressed.

The numbers bosses now sponsor charitable events, advertise and one has even donated openly to at least one government agency.

The Bahamas is a very protestant nation with the overwhelming majority of its people identifying themselves as Christians.  Churchgoing is high.  Consequently, the political parties have not wanted to face-off against a church that, for the most part, has been rabidly against gambling.

Despite this fear by our great political parties, the numbers bosses have now decided that it is time to demonstrate to the church of Christ and its Bahamian leaders that they do not fear them.  They have set up a lobby and have let it be known that $1.5 million will be spent in an advertising effort to win the referendum.  Via this act, they have declared opposition to the church.

The Bahamian church is not used to this direct a challenge.  It has historically been able to shout down adversaries on the gambling issue.  Now, with a referendum having been pledged, the church has an opponent.

The stakes are high for this referendum.  In our modern history the church has felt it had the upper hand on issues such as this.  A defeat here will lessen the perceived power of the church.  It would also demonstrate that well-funded lobbies on moral issues could win against the church in a public fight.

What would a defeated church do?  If it preaches to its members to vote against the legalization of gambling and those members overwhelmingly disobey their pastors, that act of defiance by Bahamians would demonstrate that though many sit in pews on Sundays, they do not listen to the people who speak from them with full regard.

In waging a fight in this referendum the numbers men are doing more than attempting to legalize their businesses.  They are challenging the role of the church in the modern Bahamas.

The pastors who like to make statements on this and that moral issue need to know that on the issue of gambling they are in a fight for legitimacy.  Certainly, if the church loses it will not be totally illegitimate and irrelevant.  It would just fall a notch in influence.  And the next time a group thinks about challenging the church, if it loses this referendum fight, that group won’t be as afraid, further expanding secularism in The Bahamas.

Aug 04, 2012

thenassauguardian editorial

Caribbean Blog International

Bishop Laish Boyd Gambles Wrong on Gambling In The Bahamas

By Dennis Dames:


I write in response to the Anglican Church’s position on legalizing the numbers business in The Bahamas that was expressed recently by Bishop Laish Boyd.

The Bishop said that: “By enacting legislation legalizing numbers, the government would be "opening the floodgates" to the lowering of standards and values, and it would be doing so for financial reasons, so that it can make money from the numbers business".

He stated further in a pastoral letter dated May 12 that: "In short, it promotes values that are harmful to the moral fiber of our communities. It would be a mistake to affirm this subculture by legalizing it at a time when there are so many negative influences on the society, and when our community is suffering from a lack of values".

"In matters of this kind the government has the constitutional and moral responsibility to protect the value base of the country".

"Many persons who play numbers regularly become obsessed with finding the right number and wait anxiously to see which number will fall. It becomes a consuming force, often dictating every other area of that person's life. Most Christian moralists agree that the real danger in gambling lies exactly in this kind of excess".

"Persons who can ill afford to are often the biggest users, abusers, and losers," Boyd said. "It forms a false and unreliable foundation upon which to base one's personal finances. It encourages what seems to be a short cut approach to financial security rather than through the principles of Christian or other forms of stewardship”.

"It preys on those who cannot discipline themselves in these areas. Often there is a higher call to the funds used, i.e., persons need to spend that money on more basic and important things, but do not".

"It goes against the principles of Christian stewardship. Life cannot be simply about chance where so many people lose and only a few win. This is what the numbers game typifies. We need to be promoting culture and activities that are based on planning and productivity, purpose and positive advancement. Stewardship calls us to acknowledge what we have, and to build on it constructively and incrementally to accomplish higher goals".

"To argue that such a law cannot be enforced is to recognize that some of the things that we say about ourselves are sadly true; in other words, how can we enforce it by an across the board multi-agency, multi-department effort when too many of our best beloved citizens are lazy, dishonest, unwilling to do a full day's work for a full day's pay, unwilling to stand for principle, too willing to look the other way, too easily bought for a few dollars, and are prepared to accept mediocrity".

"In spite of the widespread acceptance of playing numbers, the Anglican Church opposes it, never mind how many persons see no harm in legalizing it. In spite of how many persons there are who support it, we say that such would be a bad move for the moral fabric of our society and far more devastating in its long-term effects than any monetary or taxation advantage that can be gained in the short-term".

I really don’t understand the Bishop’s logic and sense of reasoning in this instance. How moral is it to have gambling legalized for tourists in The Bahamas, and not for Bahamians?

How moral is it to have an unconstitutional law on our books that sanctions casino gambling for guests of our country, and not for Bahamians?

How moral is it to allow the illegal numbers business in The Bahamas to flourish for decades unabated and virtually unchallenged, and to the point of no return - because of protection and condonation in high places; and to suddenly wake up on day and say it’s immoral to make a wrong right?

This is a secular society Bishop, and the government has a duty to do the right things in the interest of the people and the social order. The time has come to legalize the culture of number buying and gambling generally in The Bahamas. It’s the decent thing to do Bishop and the majority of the Bahamian public agrees with it in my view.

We all need to take responsibility for our actions, and be wise in our daily living. If the man who works all week wants to drink out his pay – that’s his business; if he wants to gamble it out, so be it.

If he wants to spend it all on women – that’s his prerogative. If a woman who works all month wants to buy clothes and shoes with her salary – then let her live with her new attire Bishop.

Yes Bishop, we all will have to account eventually for our deeds; and Jesus Christ did not come here to overthrow the worldly authority. My understanding of Christ’s mission here on earth – is to offer us a better way and eternal life in his name.

He did not come here to tell us what to do or how to live, because free choice is God’s greatest gift to man in my opinion. Therefore, no bishop, priest, rabbi and so on are ethically qualified to dictate to a people on how they should live.

Rather, the sharing and dispersion of the good news of Jesus Christ should be their focus.

If the church in The Bahamas was spiritually, socially and morally effective, we would have a more peaceful, respectable and civilly upright society. We appear to have a nation of mullahs and ayatollahs who want to tell us how to govern our society and life.

The Bishop and other prominent religious leaders in The Bahamas are on the wrong tract as it relates to the work of God; because Jesus Christ has stated that his kingdom is not of this world. Preach and demonstrate the good news of the gospels, and render to Caesar all that’s Caesar’s Bishop.

We the people want to gamble legally in our beloved country and we want our government to facilitate this. Amen.

May 21, 2010

Bahamas Blog International

Apostle Cedric Moss on Rosie O’Donnell’s Homosexual Cruise to The Bahamas

Rosie O’Donnell’s Homosexual Cruise - The Bahamas

By Apostle Cedric Moss

Nassau, The Bahamas

 

 

 

For several weeks now we have been hearing about Rosie O’Donnell’s upcoming homosexual cruise with “family values” that is scheduled to make two port calls in The Bahamas.  According to the published itinerary, the ship will stop at Little Stirrup Cay on July 15^th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - and then Nassau on July 16^th  from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Today I offer a kingdom perspective on it, which I trust, will serve as a faithful guide for the Christian community’s response.

A Big Show Down?

There are those who hold the view that the Church should seek to stop this homosexual cruise and others like it.  There are others who believe the Church should stage demonstrations to protest against this cruise and homosexuality.  I disagree with both views.  My disagreement is not just in the present situation…  I have always held this position against protesting and seeking to stop such cruises.

I clearly recall the protests against homosexual cruise a few years ago.  Some protesters got into shouting matches with passengers and physical confrontations with the Police.  Clearly something is wrong with those pictures because such protests misrepresent the cause of Christ and the way of His Kingdom.

What Manner of Spirit?

I am reminded of the response of Jesus to James and John when they sought His permission to call down fire on the Samaritans just because the Samaritans did not welcome them.  Jesus rebuked the brothers for “not knowing the manner of spirit they were of” and reminded them that He did not come to destroy the lives of men, but to save them (see Luke 9:51-56).  Those who are minded to physically protest and confront this cruise- and other groups they oppose should be guided by these words of Christ.  If not, they should be guided by common sense: Such protests are counterproductive and do more harm than good.

Their only result is to cause persons who are trapped in and blinded by the sin of homosexuality to be further alienated from Christ and His ambassadors who are supposed to be bearers of good news and not inflammatory rhetoric.  So I would urge all in the Christian community to recognize the manner of spirit we are of, and pray for Rosie O’Donnell and those who will be accompanying her to hear and respond to the Gospel.

Hospitality and Honesty

 

We are a tourist destination, and as such - should be hospitable to all those who wish to visit our shores- and abide by our laws and cultural standards of public conduct.  However, in addition to hospitality- we need to demonstrate honesty, and the Ministry of Tourism or the relevant arm of government should appropriately and clearly advise the cruise organizers of our cultural standards of public conduct to be passed on to passengers.  The sad thing is that many will object to such honest communication because they believe some homosexual tourists will choose to not come to The Bahamas.

I am not speculating about this objection.  I have previously mentioned the need for this kind of honest communication to homosexual tourists, and some who oppose homosexuality disagreed simply because they fear the possibility of losing homosexual tourists and the money they spend.  In other words, they prefer that we continue to engage in national hypocrisy and keep quiet about our cultural norm against homosexuality because we might have to pay a financial price.  It leads me to wonder if their greed exceeds their conviction against homosexuality.  Clearly the strongest one will win.

Our Real Battle

Many years ago I learnt a very helpful lesson: You always have more battles to fight than you have bullets available; so you must choose your battles wisely.  Violating this rule of engagement means you might win unimportant battles, but you will lose important ones.  Bearing this in mind, the matter of homosexual cruises and land groups who come to visit our shores for a few hours or days is an unimportant battle, and fighting them is a waste of bullets…our time, efforts and energies.  Our real battle is to wisely engage our efforts to ensure that when our constitution is amended, citizens of The Bahamas are given an opportunity to decide whether or not they wish to encode in Our constitution the clear definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman, and the Prohibition of all forms of legal accommodations for same sex unions.

This battle should in no Way seek to infringe on the current freedoms, which our constitution gives to same sex couples to associate and relate to each other however they choose. It should only seek to enshrine the boundaries of marriage in The Bahamas from any possible legal infringement.

 

 

 

Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre.