Dear Editor,

As a Christian I am deeply disturbed that any well-thinking Jamaican, let alone our legislators Senators Lambert Brown and Tom Tavares-Finson, would think to introduce legislation to sink our already ailing country into deeper distress by decriminalising (legalising) Obeah.

Instead of seeking to bring our country closer to God, given that we are a Christian nation, we are seeking to legalise the very things that God opposes. The Bible tells us that God HATES and FORBIDS all such practices of medians, spiritists, witchcraft etc, which clearly therefore includes vodoo and Obeah. I have read Dr Diana Paton letter published Feb 25, 2013 in the Daily Observer and my stomach churned as I read it to think that yet again here is another overseas-based observer being published in our local newspaper seeking to support this 'evil' agenda. Well, neither the Church nor the Lord Jesus Christ will stand idle, while our legislators drag this nation to hell along with them.

Instead of seeking to direct or nation towards what is right to God, we pass laws that are eroding our morals and values which is what helps to keep this nation afloat. What I would expect our leaders to be doing is to have lobbied the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Security to actually enforce these laws ... not to remove them.

They should have the police visit so many of these pharmacies downtown, and see the number of Obeah oils, candles etc that are on sale in these 'Pharmacies' though Obeah remains illegal in our country. This is not about religious freedom, though that is another issue. This is intended to be destructive and not helpful to anyone. Why was it outlawed in Jamaica to begin with - because it was found to have been evil. The intentions were and still are evil, a wicked deception from the very evil spirits they evoke.

The very reason we got sold into slavery out of the 'mother' country Africa, was because we were entrenched into this evil practice (just like the Israelites were). As strange as it seems, our being shipped off from Africa was a blessing in disguise. Don't get me wrong, slavery was an evil thing, but the fact that we were removed from that environment and exposed to the true word of God became the blessing. I urge these Senators and our leaders to strengthen the laws against all such practices in our nation Jamaica and not seek to unleash them upon our people. There are simply some things in our history that were destructive and of no positive benefits to us as a people. Not all history is good to keep alive; some must die for us to move forward in the right direction.

Don't be deceived, evil is evil in all forms even if the 'well educated' are the ones putting it forward. I make a further appeal to those of our leaders who are true Christians, to oppose, oppose, oppose this move if you know your God. Do not be a part of the destruction of our nation. To these Senators I say to you, Sirs, the God who holds your heartbeat in his hands can stop you from doing this wickedness, but I recommend you stop yourself before He does. I close with only two bible scripture of many, please ponder it ...

Lev 20:6 "If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.

Rev 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

The Jamaican Watchman

Jamaica Opposed (to sin)

jaoppose@gmail.com