Dear Editor,
Today, I read with great happiness a report that the Christian Community will host a ‘Mass Good Friday Service’ entitled “Atonement 2008” on March 21st at 5.30pm at the Cenotaph.
The one hundred pastors who met and canvassed the idea along with my friend, Bishop Juan Edghill deserve our highest commendation and praise. All Christians, good citizens of every faith, and all patriots should, in one way or the other share in this event.
The organizers noted that, “atonement signifies spiritual rejuvenation and consecration to God”. This is a lofty and uplifting statement.
The release also expresses a hope that the event will be the “kick start of a spiritual revival countrywide”. Excellent! We must all share this prognosis. It noted that special prayers will be offered for ‘the Nation, children, young people, men and families’.
Allow me to suggest that in their prayers, a special and fervent prayer be proffered for all of our political and other leaders. Revival has to start and flow from top to bottom and from bottom up. This event should therefore be fully supported. However, as I commend this initiative, allow me this caveat.
In our real world, in order to secure genuine atonement and therefore healing, there is a necessary pathway or process that is an absolute necessity, before we can hope to reach the high plateau of spiritual rejuvenation and consecration to God’ referred to in the statement. Rejuvenation can only occur as a consequence of atonement.
Atonement in essence means, first ensuring satisfactory reparation, or explanation for injury or wrong done to a fellow human being, or group of persons. In simple words – to make amends. This provides the spiritual and material nourishment for rejuvenation. We should not miss the central issue and serious implication of the concept and intent of atonement.
The Mass service will be meaningless, and perhaps even regarded with some skepticism by some sectors of society, unless our pastors act like good Christians and with the courage and conviction which led Jesus to Calvary. This opens the gate to those in breach of our laws and moral principles to repent or make reparation. Our Lord stood up and spoke out against heresy, untruth and injustice. If as a precursor we fail to stand up against all evil and all sin, in a real sense, we will be defiling Good Friday.
Atonement is predicated in the recognition of injustice, and all of the unsavory acts that flow from human weakness.
The Maker that Great God, through Jesus the Christ never promised to see us in Heaven by words or prayer alone. He was and is always more concerned with our deeds. I believe this is cardinal to Christianity.
Some pray once a week, or on special days like Good Friday, but plunder and exploit the brethren for the other six days. This happened during slavery and in other periods of history.
I wish the mass well, and praise the organizers, but let it not be an empty exercise. Guyana is bleeding and we need a truly good physician to secure the moral and spiritual revival of all society.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
