All that glitters is not gold

BY BISHOP C EVERTON THOMAS

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

THE current furore over Sunday racing has once again sparked renewed public debate with the Church being accused of practising 'selective morality' by jumping on 'pet peeves' but not 'speaking out' with similar passion on other important issues.

Let me admit that the Church has not spoken at all times on all matters affecting our society. However, without making excuses for the Church, the fact remains that there have been many instances when she spoke but was not heard.

However, there are many questions for the Church. Isn't it a case of religious extremism for the Church to be imposing its Christian standards on a secular nation? Doesn't the church realise that Jamaica is a pluralistic society and as such no group has a right to demand of the entire nation compliance of its beliefs?

Why is the Church calling for a pull back on Sunday racing when Saturday racing has been around for decades, the day on which many other Christians worship? What's the difference between Sunday, Saturday, or any other day for that matter? When is the Church going to wake up and 'smell the coffers', and realise that there is significant economic benefit to be gained for Jamaica from this kind of entertainment, as well as gaming, aka gambling?

Another important question is how can the Church be claiming to have moral authority when it has experienced so many failings? And what has the Church got to say about the huge sums of money it placed in unregulated investment schemes? Isn't that the height of hypocrisy? After all, many see that as a form of gambling.

Make no mistake. It should be understood that the Church has a right to be heard as an equal stakeholder in society. The Church plays a role that is both prophetic and pastoral. If she speaks, she is dammed. If she does not, she is dammed. So she might as well speak. She has to speak, for her purpose is to both herald the good news and sound the alarm of impending danger. But when the Church speaks prophetically or pastorally, she is acutely aware of the possibility of losing her head like John the Baptist.

The biblical account portrays the beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Herod Antipas. According to the Synoptic gospels, Herod had imprisoned John because he reproved Herod for divorcing his wife, and unlawfully taking Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip I. On Herod's birthday, Herodias's daughter (traditionally named Salome) danced before the king and his guests. Her dancing pleased Herod so much that in his drunkenness he promised to give her anything she desired, up to half of his kingdom.

When the daughter asked her mother what she should request, she was told to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Although Herod was appalled by the request, he reluctantly agreed and had John executed in the prison. — Wikipedia.

From this account, we see that when the Church speaks out on certain moral issues she draws the ire of some in society.

Now let us examine the position of the Church. There are three points to consider in this article as it relates to gambling. But before making the points let me agree that not everyone who gambles is addicted to gaming. However, should we care about the significant number of persons who are? In response, many say that if we argue like this, then are we going to have to also argue that bars should be closed down or restricted? They say it is an irrational point and therefore no calls should be made against Sunday racing.

I want to go on record that I am not calling for a ban on Sunday racing. And neither am I calling for a ban on any other day or on any other gaming or gambling activity. People must be free to make choices, but should be aware of the consequences. It is against this background that I share this message as a warning to those who wager bets.

First, the principle is wrong. Second, the motivation is wrong. And third, the fruit is wrong. Before you vehemently disagree, hear me out as I offer rational explanations for these statements. The principle is wrong because it violates good work ethic. The sustainability of life is based on the principle of productivity. This is best achieved by gaining from honourable labour and investment, not get-rich-quick schemes.

The principle is wrong because it also violates the stewardship ethic. In human relationships we are required to give an account of our stewardship. Many people gamble for a quick buck, willing to risk what is not theirs. Persons who gamble away their earnings and have little or nothing left to meet the obligations of their dependents are careless and irresponsible.

The motivation is wrong if people gamble because of greed. Their desire to be rich often leads to foolish and harmful lusts, destruction and perdition. The love of money leads to loss of faith and many sorrows. In other cases, people gamble because of covetousness.

The third point is not to be taken lightly. The fruit or winnings from gambling is wrong because it takes advantage of others' weaknesses. For somebody to win, somebody has to lose. It exploits others or extorts money for one's own advantage. Do gamblers care what happens to those who lose?

It leads to unsavoury companions and others who are motivated by greed and covetousness. It leads to people such as bookies, loan sharks, etc, who are quick to take advantage of others. It leads to addiction in many cases. Gambling can become psychologically and physically addictive. According to Hans Breiter, MD, co-director of the Motivation and Emotion Neuroscience Centre at Massachusetts General Hospital, "Monetary reward in a gambling-like experiment produces brain activation very similar to that observed in a cocaine addict receiving an infusion of cocaine". It leads to other vices.

As debts build up, people turn to other quick sources of money (theft, drugs). Suicide is common, along with abuse, divorce, and other mental disorders.

An important question that should be asked is whether there is any correlation between undernutrition or malnutrition and the learning situation in schools today. The poor performance of many of our students is lamentable and the CEO at the Ministry of Education has declared that it is a national emergency. A UNESCO study entitled The Impact of Malnutrition on the Learning Situation by Sven Amooff states the following: "From the beginning of the 1960s knowledge has accumulated about the way that different types of undernutrition, occurring during different phases of development and at varying times, have influenced the development of the central nervous system in animals.

"It has also been documented for a long time that the cognitive development is delayed in children who have suffered a serious lack of nutrition for a considerable length of time. Attempts have been made to correlate these findings, and — in somewhat simplified terms — it may be said that undernutrition in the foetus and young child causes disturbances in the morphological and functional development of the central nervous system. These in turn affect the cognitive and emotional development of the child."

Is it possible that many of our potentially bright children are underperforming because the money that should be providing their much-needed nutrition is wasted away at the track, the off-track and on other such gaming activities? I heard that some 10,000 persons gathered at the track on the last Sunday race day. I wonder how much was spent, how much won, and how much lost?

What percentage of the 10,000 won anything, if any? And yes, I know that it's their choice as free-will agents, but again I say, this message is for the addicts who are controlled and mastered by the habit of gambling. As a pastor, I am offering counselling for those who are desirous of kicking the habit and I am sure that other pastors and churches are willing to provide this service.

To those of you who are not addicted, I urge you: go back a couple of paragraphs and read again what Dr Hans Breiter said about the possibility of becoming addicted.

Finally, I invite you to consider these titbits of wisdom. "Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing from something." — Wilson Mizner; "The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket." — Hubbard; "Gaming we lose both our time and treasure — two things most precious to the life of man" — Felltham; Lottery: "A tax on people who are bad at math." — Unknown

One thing you can say about John the Baptist is that he knew how to 'get ahead' in the Kingdom of God (no pun intended). If the Church is afraid to lose its head it might as well close its doors. But, no way! She is a relevant and necessary agent of change for whosoever will listen and take heed. The Church cannot impose standards of morality on society, but her influence as salt of the earth and light of the world is non-negotiable.

So he that has ears to hear, let him hear. The nation is not compelled to follow the Church's advice nor to accept her teachings, but while the Church takes responsibility for and correct her shortcomings, she must continue to sound the alarm and warn people that 'All that glitters is not gold'.

— Bishop Thomas is the presiding bishop of the Emmanuel Apostolic Church, past chairman of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union, past chairman of LOVE FM/TV and past chairman of the Portmore Ministers' Fraternal

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All that glitters is not gold