Tuesday, July 29, 2025
EDITOR, The Tribune.
IT’S all too common place in the very fabric of our Bahamian life. This was played out in the case of Sebas Bastian in his quest to offer public service. It’s his inalienable right to so offer. Church leaders must not attack the character of individuals under the cover up of, “thus says the lord.”
Those of us called to be pastors are to offer pastoral care and counseling, one on one, before we come out blasting fellow Bahamians. Where there is a concern about someone’s action, we are to go one on one, in closet and offer spiritual guidance. Indeed, this is clear New Testament theology. This is what Jesus would have done. Do not destroy people’s names with the misconceived Old Testament approach. We are people of the New Testament.
Remember, “WWJD?”
Condemn no one.
The merits and demerits of gambling is not the issue but rather our call as pastors in dealing with a fellow Bahamian with whom we have issues.
A national blast out only creates pestering sores, unnecessary back and forth, alienation, hate and anger.
We can easily justify our personal viewpoint on biblical grounds while one and the same time destroy character.
As a pastor I have a higher calling to salvage a situation in the name of love. Using this narrow approach, used by pastors and self-righteous Christians with Sebas I can easily extend that to countless others offering for public life because of sin/flaws in their lives. But no, we cherry pick. It cannot be right and the most appropriate thing to do.
Let’s be pastoral, the country needs practising pastors.
REV CANON S SEBASTIAN CAMPBELL
Nassau,
July 23, 2025.
Comments
birdiestrachan says...
Thanks Father Campbell. We can respectfully disagree and show the face of Christ at all times. Calling men boys is disrespectful.
Posted 29 July 2025, 5:10 p.m. Suggest removal
pileit says...
This is weak, tepid, weak & kowtowing. But then the nation is already sold out to the love of money & power anyway... well past "private counsel" jokers don't seem to know the scale of this war or how late in the day it is...
Posted 5 August 2025, 3:35 p.m. Suggest removal
hrysippus says...
IWe can only wonder whether Mr. Campbell has ever received any financial advantage from a gambling organization or it's owner, that he has consider that gambling may have merits. What possible merit can Mr. Campbell discern in gambling? The misery and evil of gambling addiction is real and present. WWJD? He would overturn the gambling tables just like he did the money changers', perhaps.
Posted 6 August 2025, 7:21 a.m. Suggest removal
birdiestrachan says...
The God who made us did not make us robots
We can make choices. As joshua
Said as for me and my house we will serve the lord. Gamble or not drink rum or not it is ones who choice.
Posted 6 August 2025, 12:09 p.m. Suggest removal
hrysippus says...
'People like birdie who use Bible verses to justify their various biases amuse me as they almost of them eat pork, conch, crab, and lobster, although this is explicitly forbidden in Leviticus. Sigh...
Posted 8 August 2025, 5:52 a.m. Suggest removal
screwedbahamian says...
God give real hope to enrich the individual for a better life on earth and place with him in Heaven for eternity.
Web shops give false hope to individuals that further their poverty and emotional instability to enrich the web shop owners and politicians. Opposite of Gods teachings and will for mankind on earth.
When CHRISTIAN PASTORS ( supposedly religious leaders) support the deeper poverty and emotional distress of persons and allow their Church building pulpit to be used to conduct political campaigns events and regulating illegal foreigners instead of discussing the word of God and winning souls for his kingdom, God made Sodom and Gomorrah a lesson of his anger to worshiping false Gods and deceit. apparently some religious leaders have different points of view!!
Posted 22 August 2025, 9:36 a.m. Suggest removal
Log in to comment