A Baptist preacher yesterday reminded Christians that although the scripture advises submission to government authority, they should not turn a blind eye to evil.

“God expects you to submit, but not up to the point where obedience would mean disobedience to God. It is no time to see no evil and hear no evil; Christians must have backbone; say no to bribery, drugs and evil,” Rev Devon Dick told worshippers at the Boulevard Baptist Church in Kingston.

Basing his sermon on Romans 13: 1-14, which, in the first verse, instructs submission to higher authority ordained by God, Rev Dick said that people should willingly submit to the authority of Government. The nation, he said, had no need to fear those who have been given power, as God was in control.

However, he warned that governmental authority was not a blank cheque for absolute submission.

Persons in government and leadership, the preacher said, should see their role as one of ministry and facilitators of service. He said that the people must demand that their leaders perform or be removed from office.

Rev Dick asked his congregation what was happening in Jamaica to cause such a high number of murders being committed, and said that there was a need to “bring back love” in the country.

He urged the large congregation to show love for the nation, and to go the extra mile to make the country a better place. He said that loving people meant wishing for them the very best.

Yesterday’s service was dedicated to the HEART Trust/NTA which is marking its 20th anniversary.

Rev Dick congratulated the HEART Trust on its achievements, and said he was happy to see that the Government’s values and attitudes programme was being resurrected.

He said that last Tuesday’s leadership meeting of the church decided that Christian education was going to be included in all its outreach programmes and a letter was written to the Government asking them to include a component of moral education in the schools’ curriculum so that proper values and attitudes can be instilled.

He said that everybody who went through the education system should know right from wrong.

Robert Gregory, executive director of the HEART Trust/NTA, thanked the Boulevard Baptist Church for hosting the thanksgiving service and said that through HEART’s islandwide network, training was being provided for 32,000 Jamaicans. He said that systems were being put in place to significantly increase this number.