There is a widespread view among church members that nothing should encumber the message of salvation from being preached whenever and wherever.

We would therefore not be surprised if some righteously indignant person was now praying down brimstone and fire on Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie for chastising those churches that are breaching the Noise Abatement Act, popularly called the Night Noise Act.

Mayor McKenzie, not known for mincing his words, told the popular Observer Monday Exchange news forum this week that churches were among the worst offenders when it came to building breaches, and that the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) had been receiving complaints about noises from church services.

We are squarely on Mayor McKenzie’s side.

Our readers know that we are among the biggest supporters of the church and we have spared no opportunity to laud its redemptive work through spiritual, social and financial development of Jamaican communities, dating from the days of slavery. We can’t imagine what our country would be like without the contribution and prayers of the church.

Yet, we must acknowledge that some sections of the Jamaican church have not kept pace with the exigencies of modern existence. There is still, for instance, a stubborn insistence that regulations that govern the society are superseded by spiritual interpretation, such interpretation frequently varying from pastor to pastor.

Put another way, many pastors have their own interpretation of the doctrine that spiritual laws are to be regarded as above the laws of man. Those who do, find no problem in having loud speakers blaring through the dead of night, because men must hear the word of God, whether they like it or not!

There is good reason why we have a Noise Abatement Act to protect the sick in hospital, the student in school and the hard-working Jamaican who needs adequate sleep before going to work.

God is not without resources to ensure that everyone hears the word of salvation in due course. For everything under the sun there is a season.

Some of these selfsame churches, who operate without regard for the Noise Abatement Act, would scream bloody hell if a sound system started to blare next to the church during service.

What all this is suggesting is that we have to find a way to cooperate by respecting each other’s space. In other words, rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.

In this regard, we also take note of Town Clerk Errol Greene’s considered view that the churches could benefit from a public education campaign on practices they take for granted.

The campaign would cover problem areas including the staging of public events without amusement licences, mounting of banners and placement of advertisement without the requisite permission from the council, as well as the need to comply with building regulations for the safety of their congregations.

The Holy Book counsels the churches to make a joyful noise. It didn’t say to make it just anywhere and anytime they feel like it.