Dear Editor,
Please allow me space to vent my concerns on certain erroneous and extremely troubling things George Williams said quite recently from his pulpit.
To do so I will borrow the Biblical perspective.
Now, Revelations chapter 4 verse 11 confirms all things were created by God for His pleasure – This includes the creation of man and music.
Mr. Editor, It has always been the will of God that man uses his talents to bring praise to Him; hence the verse, ‘ You are worthy O Lord to receive glory, honour, and power, for you have created all things and for your pleasure, they are and were created.’
But, the undisputed truth is that many instead have used their God-given gifts to promote violence, sexual immorality, lawlessness and a host of evil; which are all products of the Devil.
Verse 8 of the said chapter describes God as Holy, and songs that influence bad behavior- Songs that encourage the masses to get drunk and misbehave bring no honour and glory to God who is forever holy.
This same holy God warns against revelry and says those who practice this will not inherit His kingdom.
Sir, If the singer’s preferred genre is soca, the lyrics to his songs must be crafted to give praise to Almighty God in order for that composition to be deemed Godly and pleasing to the Creator.
Finally, I’d like to urge all to know the holy God experientially; that way no one will be able to deceive you.
Concerned Reader
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This statement is true … speak your truth.. some people change there words because of the circumstances… what a world we live in ….
Very true, the priest or speaker here at the funeral must temper his words to suit the occasion (passing of the artiste) here. He will not speak the truth from the Bible at this particular funeral.
I also perceive you to be naive, for the book from which you quote, we received in Antigua in 1833. Have you ever thought of our belief structure before 1833?
If there is a god, why would he need to be worshipped and honored constantly? Why would he need humanity to praise him nonstop? Is he a narcissist? What’s the point of demanding unending worship and praise? Only an egomaniac would demand that. Beyond that, why do black Antiguans follow Christianity to this day when it was forced on them by the slave owners? The slaves did not have Christianity before being brought to Antigua. They had their African religious beliefs which were taken from them and replaced with Christianity. Why do the ancestors of these slaves still adhere to Christianity? Does not make sense.
You hit the nail right on the head with the questions and the statements. We are still brainwashed and it is sad!
Well, I believe the answers to your questions on worship can be found widely on the internet if you look instead of repeating supposedly clever atheist talking points… Most theologians I’ve heard suggest that worship is more for our benefit as it puts us in the mindset of submitting to God, which works out better for us instead of exalting ourselves and being deceived following bad paths in this life and for eternity. As for blacks, very good question. Have you ever considered that since people choose to remain as Christians in spite of it having been a “forced” religion there must be some value or truth to it? Why do you assume that black people today are not thinking for themselves when they choose of their own free will to follow Christianity? Also, the cruel slave traders and slave owners were clearly NOT following Christianity anyway as anyone can see from reading Jesus’ words and teachings. So, why abandon God because humans were doing nonsense and pretending to represent Him. Some African religions included various practices that noone would want to participate in today. Choosing to follow a religion is about seeking truth not just choosing your deity based on what your Ancestors did. Have I answered your questions?
Ancestors of slaves did not of their own volition choose to follow Christianity. They were taught Christianity by their parents and kept following it for the term of their lives because that is what they were taught. The whole of Antigua is Christian. Why did none (or very, very few) of these ancestors not choose Buddhism or Islam or some other religion? Because they were not taught any of those religions by their parents. Humans are very much followers. The very same bible that they follow teaches slaves to obey their masters. That is why slave owners forced the Bible on slaves. It also teaches that people should look for their reward in the afterlife, not on earth. The Bible was a useful tool to keep slaves quiet and docile.
@Questions… Once people have been introduced to Christianity, it is very difficult to be persuaded that any of the other religions are better. So, persons are not particularly likely to leave to another religion unless they personally had a bad experience in the church. Usually, the bad experience is with people not God. Even as a child I had to consider how the negative behaviours of other practicing Christians affected the question of the truth of Christianity and quickly came to the conclusion that other people’s faults are no reason to abandon God. So, you are mistaken if you think that everyone stays just because that’s what they were taught. Some stay, some leave, some stop practicing but still believe. You were not there to hear whatever slave masters said to slaves. Whatever they said is irrelevant though since a proper reading of the Bible shows clearly that God would not be in favor of the kind of slavery practiced in these parts. In the Old Testament, people who owed money often chose to sell themselves as servants or slaves to pay off their debts. God actually commanded that they be offered freedom after 7 years. But, if they liked their home arrangement and working conditions they could choose to be a servant in that household for life. That was more indentured servitude than slavery. Also, the Bible clearly states that persons are to treat their servants as brothers so clearly that would not include whipping, lynching and other atrocities. Many slaves could not read at first so they wouldn’t have had any idea what was actually in the Bible. Again those slave masters were not practicing Christianity. And, they did not enslave blacks for Christian purposes they just wanted to make money from sugar etc. As the Bible says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.”.
Young people are fleeing from the church in droves and it’s incumbent on church leaders to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible and it is a fine line to walk. The late legendary artist did alot of good by putting Antigua and our culture on the map. He also gave back to the community and did many fund raisers and outreach to uplift the youth. We are all human beings trying to find our place in the world. This young fellow did things. Most people do nothing. Give him his flowers for his well doings on earth and put out some positivity into the world.
Good works don’t save anyone, culture doesn’t superseed God’s principles. God ask us to be his diciples.
There is a God, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, and you my friend has seen enough evidente to know that there is a God, don’t wait until cancer take hold of your body to call upon him, do it now before it’s too late. I know when the pain start to hit you it’s only on God you will call.
Agreed fully on this article. Coming from a believer.
Lol, a believer who is ashamed of the gospel of Christ so much so that you go by an alias?
Oh for your ignorance…does an alias define someone? Ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because I go anonymous? How more foolish can you be?
It’s a funeral for a high ranking soca star surrounded by many others so what you expect the man to say? At most funerals lies are often spoken at the pulpit and why not? You are compelled to show some good to the body lying before you. I remembered sitting and listening to many a send off and I was wondering if preacher was talking bout the same person I knew. I think we get way too serious about our religion in these parts and in these days much is being revealed and even about our ministers forgetting they are humans just like me and you who instead of studying to be a lawyer or engineer went for theology. Why would you now think the lawyer and engineer should end up being wealthy and the theological student because he is doing God’s work end up poor, don’t they all have the same college loan to pay back?
Who delivered us from bundage òut of Egypt with a mighty hand , who gave us his ten commandments on Mount saini to be obey ,was it the slave owners being obedient to GOD’S laws means we win in every bit of our lives….if we read the book of deuteronomy we will see how GOD PROMISED to be disobedient to his law/commandments we will be the buyer not the seller….we follow Satan and we want a holy GOD to blessed us in our disobedience…. REPENT ALL because soon we will all have ato bow before a holy GOD for dishonoring his name… father son and our comforter the holy spirit….
Did Father George say Soca Music is not evil or Ricardo Drue’s music is not evil? Please clarify
KJV Matthew 23:9-10
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
The Bible said it and we all follow GIFTS from the devil doesn’t last IN THE END YOU HAVE TO ANSWER TO FOD ALMIGHTY….wake up fire 🔥 and brimstone is real hell is …Satan knows the beauty of heaven u think he wants u gain what he loose.
What is so utterly amazing is that no one has figured out that if god didn’t want the so called sinful forms of music around he would not have created them. Religions have brainwashed the world and when you don’t agree with them their followers who are supposed to so holy insult your intelligence and character.
@At Antigua First People are brainwashed by many things some good, some bad. If Christianity has brainwashed anyone, that’s way better than being brainwashed by the other side. God commands us to try to be holy, but only God is holy. You can’t judge God or a religion simply based on some people’s reaction to your statements especially when you yourself are insulting people by suggesting they are brainwashed. Many people’s lives have been transformed for good by Christianity.
@Antigua First Also, why would you suggest that God created sinful music? God leaves us the ingredients, we choose what to make – good or sinful.
Ecclesiastes 3
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
One of the issues I have found as I grow older about indoctrination is that people gave been too lazy to learn who God is.
They have not established their personal relationship with God. They go only by someone else’s interpretation of meaning of every Bible verse.
Ricardo Drue has added to our culture using his gift in significant ways that many of us who have an opinion will never be recognized for our gifts which we have never developed.
There’s a time and place for everything under the sun.
The minister’s message was powerful for those open minded people who are willing to listen.
I applaud him for having the cost to deliver it in a timely fashion.
RIP, Ricardo.
Your work will live on for generations to come.
The church is controversial and corrupt. That’s why som may young people are fleeing
Questions is so correct. I also add we are slaves to translation. There are so many misquotes and bad translation in the bible. The virgin birth. Betula in Hebrew is the translated word virgin. Alma is translated to a young woman of child bearing age. Before we go on and on about God the bible and religion, most of all Jesus you Christians need to read research and get your FACTS straight about the bible and where it came from. David danced naked in the streets to give thanks to the same God. Christians please read and research and stop calling people atheist.
I believe there is a creator being but not the God of the bible.
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