For Seventh-day Adventists who still hold dear the traditional belief that at some point SDAs will come under severe economic pressure, because of our faith, the commissioner's comments, far from being unfortunate, from our perspective, are rather a confirmation of what we have long believed.

But mind you, I don't speak for all SDAs. The brighter ones of us 'know better' and would try to appease the 'powers that be' in order to avert undue hardship. There is room for this, because the Apostle Paul did, at one time, make an appeal against certain ill-treatment he got, which were not legal, him being a Roman citizen. But there is also a time, as with Jesus, that even though all that is happening is unfolding, you quietly, with dignified resolve, endure.

Higher occupation

So you do not want us in your employ, keep your jobs. We seek a much higher and nobler occupation. If we must choose between the state and our faith, then we would "rather obey God than man."

Without anxiety for the well-being of my brothers and sisters who serve in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) I sincerely pray for the commissioner.

Serious indictment

I also challenge my church family that with the impressive network of congregations we have across the length and breadth of Jamaica we have the ability to organise programmes, not just the conventional crusades, that address issues of health and maladaptive behavioural traits, which are changing the social landscape of our beloved nation, making us indeed worthy of the not so dubious distinction of being the murder capital of the world.

That only 10 per cent of the population boasts SDA affiliation, is a serious indictment on us.

I am, etc.,

CHARLES EVANS

charock01@yahoo.com