There is an invisible sculptor who chisels the face to fit the attitudes of the heart. — Anonymous

Is it really possible that the unseen can affect what is seen? Can the invisible aspects of our lives impact the visible aspects, can the spiritual affect the physical, in a cause and effect type of relationship?

For the purpose of this article we are defining spiritual and supernatural as the invisible realm and physical and natural as the visible realm. Both are real. Many of us believe that what is visible came out of that which is invisible; hence, the invisible is more real than the visible.

All effects must have specific causes. If that thought is true — and I believe it is — could it be possible that more often than not we are not attributing the right effects to the right causes. Therefore we are not finding the right solutions to transform the effects.

Consider this: ‘Cause and effect’ is both a scientific principle and a spiritual truth. Everything in our world has some spiritual significance attached. Most of life is in the spiritual. The natural is only one-third of our reality. As human beings we are two-thirds spiritual and one-third natural. The real you is more than just your physical body; it is the invisible spirit and soul within.

If the above is true — and I definitely know it to be — then all decision-making in life should bear that in mind. Therefore, when making a significant decision we should consider if there are any spiritual consequences that will, in turn, negatively affect the physical dimensions of your decision.

Leaders of old believed this, which is why they often had spiritual advisors along with those who simply advised on public policy. Similarly, today, I believe we have to, on each issue, carefully consider what is the cause and effect in both the natural and supernatural areas.

Don’t make this mistake!

The grave mistake we often continue to make is not to apply the law of cause and effect and to do so appropriately connecting the invisible and the visible. More often we look only on the physical causes and their physical effects ignoring that most things have a spiritual cause and physical effect and some a physical cause and spiritual effect.

The first two are our present focus.

For example, the fine architecture we see across the country, the cause is not the construction crew, but the invisible concept that was in the mind of the architect. Problems that arise in the construction will best find the solution with the architect, not the contractor. In our nation, whenever there are problems with physical effects we look only for physical causes, when most times it has spiritual causes, hence the inability to find the right solutions.

Take the perplexing issue of the crime monster. Most social thinkers say the ’cause’ is too many poor, unskilled, uneducated, at-risk, fatherless youth suffering injustice who are on the loose. The ‘solution’: More policing, more jobs, more prisons, etc.

The cause is not in the physical, but the spiritual — visionless homes; youth without values, hope, order, discipline, and faith. These invisible elements are referred to by some as soft skills.

Cause and effect

May I further suggest that we must not just consider the effects of the spiritual on the spiritual, but also the effects of the spiritual on the natural.

The Word of God, for example, speaks against nations embracing witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism. It says to nations: You are not to practise divination or witchcraft. It also speaks to the effect of bloodshed, ie murders, and it’s the pollution of a nation that affects its economy.

Some of the learned among us, along with those who claim to embrace an Afrocentric sociotheolology, claim that such an injunction is not for us. It’s for a different culture of people who imposed their beliefs on us. However, let’s look at cause and effect to see if such an injunction from the Bible makes sense.

Ask yourself the question: Are the practices associated with witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism usually negative or positive, reparative, or destructive?

Ask yourself: Why is it that the nations which seem most steeped in the practice of divination or witchcraft are the ones at the bottom of the economic ladder; mired in poverty for most.

On Sunday, June 16, I wrote an article discouraging the legalisation of Obeah, titled ‘What’s the merit to legalising Obeah?’ Some readers indicated their displeasure that I should even bother with the topic. One reader even wrote that perhaps Obeah should be legalised if only so people could see that it can’t live up to the hype. However, this is not about hype, it’s about cause and effect.

Consequences

From time immemorial, this principle has been in effect! The rebellion of Adam and Eve resulted in physical thorns and thistles springing up in the Earth — cause (the rebellion) and effect (thorns and thistles).

Let’s wake up to the realisation that violating spiritual laws sometimes has natural consequences, and we are not making the association.

Let’s wake up to the realisation that violating physical laws sometimes has grievous spiritual consequences, and we are not making the association.

When someone long ago considered importing guns into our island nation, do you think they ever could have imagined the current effects that we are currently experiencing? Many national problems, like crime and violence, corruption, poverty, abortion, the LGBTQ agenda, and even the review of the Obeah law, could all be instructed by the principle of cause and effect. Most of us make the mistake of ignoring the principle in our decision-making, but national leaders cannot afford to do that.

Take, for example, the historical account of the nation of Israel about 4,000 years ago. During David’s reign as king there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord. The Lord answered, “It is due to Saul [the previous King] and to his bloody family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

The Gibeonites were not Israelites, but rather a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for the Israelites and Judah. So David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (2 Samuel 21)

The historical account records that King David made an offer of restorative justice and an appropriate recompense. Subsequently, they were able to come to an amicable agreement and the historical writing concluded that a day after the restorative justice the rain poured down from heaven. As a result, the drought that caused the famine was broken.

This story indicates a few issues for consideration:

1. The negative policies and actions of national leaders can have devastating effects on the whole nation.

2. The restorative actions of a national leader can have a positive effect on a nation.

Prime ministers and parliamentarians must therefore be careful as they make decisions. For their good or bad decision can affect the well-being of millions of citizens for generations.

Rev Al Miller is pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle. Send comments to the Observer or pastormilleroffice@gmail.com.