Abortion
Abortion rights, which fall under the broader heading of sexual and reproductive health rights, have become a very polarizing issue globally. It was one of the major campaign issues during the US presidential election. Although efforts to legalise abortion in Jamaica have consistently been thwarted by the church, politicians from the two dominant political parties have expressed their frustration that Christian voices continue to push back at every attempt to allow wholesale abortions. Others have secretly endorsed this practice, while law enforcement officials have essentially turned a blind eye to those guilty of murdering the unborn. An official study has indicated that some 22,000 pregnancies are aborted annually in Jamaica.
“To our shame, abortion in Jamaica is a thriving industry, with between 28 and 60 abortions taking place each day,” said Dr Daniel Thomas who leads the Christian advocacy group, the Love March Movement (LMM).
Pro-life advocates during the launch of a 40-day prayer vigil to end abortion.
Halting the spread of the LGBTQ ideology
Christians have been paying close attention to the government’s secret endorsement of the LGBTQ ideology which is being pushed in schools, workplaces, and even in apostate churches. Globally, Christians who push back against the lifestyle are persecuted, and some have lost their jobs because of their refusal to support gay pride events.
The overwhelming majority of Jamaicans have signalled their refusal to endorse the lifestyle, but with pro-LGBTQ international organisations pumping billions annually into the country’s social programmes, the stance of both political parties has been shaky. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has publicly stated that he would not ban gay persons from serving under him. His opponent, Mark Golding, has been mute on this topic, although some prominent members of his party support same-sex relationships. The signing of the Samoa Agreement, which promotes comprehensive sexuality education, has also not gone unnoticed by powerful Christian lobby groups in the country.
A State-operated bus in Jamaica being used to promote an LGBTQ message.
Crime and violence
The continued bloodletting through murders and other violent crimes is a serious concern for Christians. While the reduction in the murder rate by the Andrew Holness-led government is commendable, the rise in extrajudicial kills since the start of the year is causing some unease.
Christians are also very concerned about the brutal rape and murder of children and women and acts of violence, fuelled by domestic disputes. There is, however, some amount of caution relating to the treatment of gender-based violence which has been adopted as a major focus by feminist organisations who often discount the reality that men are also being abused. “I am happy to see the reduction in violent crimes, murders especially, but I want to know that it is sustainable, that we are not just doing things just because it’s an election year and it is not sustainable,” said Pastor Bruce Polson from the Christian Life Fellowship in Papine.
Cashlessness/Digital society
The Jamaican government has also bought into the global move towards a cashless society, which many believe will usher in the one world government, as prophesied in the Bible. Citizens have, however, rejected the rolloutof digital currencies, cashless wallets, and all the other initiatives aimed at making cashlessness seem glamorous. Prime Minister Andrew Holness moved Jamaica closer to becoming a cashless state with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India earlier this year to implement the unified payment interface (UPI), which is a digital payment platform being used by countries desirous of dethroning cash as king.
Rebuilding and Strengthening Families
Government’s failure to place greater focus on strengthening the family structure is being monitored by several Christian organisations, including the Association of Christian Communicators and Media (ACCM) and the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society (JCHS). In 2023, the ACCM had urged the government to establish a Commission/Ministry on National and Family Values which reports to the people through their House of Representatives. “In our view, such a commission/ministry must be tasked to promote and incentivise the family, where children are nurtured according to righteous values as outlined in the Holy Scriptures,” the organisation wrote. Chairman of the JCHS, Dr Wayne West wants programmes targeted towards men, women and children, with the aim of encouraging them to play their roles effectively. He also believes the government should assist in making child-rearing more affordable. “Without children, we have no future, and in Jamaica right now, the fertility rate is low,” he said.
NIDS
Some Christians believe the National Identification System (NIDS) is a part of a global satanic agenda. Although the government has consistently maintained that the NIDS will be voluntary, questions continue to be raised about the fact that financial institutions, businesses and even educational facilities will not be prevented from making it compulsory for future transactions. The NIDS which is being financed by the International Development Bank (IDB) was struck down, in its original form, by the Constitutional Court during a landmark ruling in 2019. A three-judge panel comprising Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, Justice Lisa Palmer Hamilton and Justice David Batts were unanimous in their decision that the NIDS Act was null and void because certain aspects of the legislation breached the rights of Jamaicans to privacy as is guaranteed by the Constitution. “ I believe that NIDS and other electronic ID systems around the world, called by different names, will become “the mark” or “the name” or “the number” of the Political Leader of the One World Government, prophesied in the Book of Revelation, to be fulfilled in the last days, before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” said pastor Joseph Buckland.