President of The Bahamas Christian Council, Ranford Patterson issued a stern warning to politicians to tread carefully during this election season and conduct themselves in a manner that would not bring peril to the country on Monday.
“We must not allow ourselves to do (any) damage to our country that cannot be repaired in our effort or in our desire to become leaders of our country,” he said.
Patterson gave the sermon during the Parliamentary Church Service at Zion Baptist Church in New Providence following the adjournment of the House of Assembly.
Patterson said he is concerned about some of the things that are happening and are allowed to happen in the country.
“Parliamentarians, there are too many bars in our communities; there are too many web shops in our communities; there are too many children falling through the cracks in our communities,” he said.
Patterson said there is no longer any reverence for God and society is at the point where anything is allowed.
“We need in our country a people who dare to be different. We need a people who dare to stand up for what we believe is right,” he said.
Patterson said too many people are obsessed with material possessions and would willingly trade their souls to get ahead, to be elected to political office or be invited to major community functions.
He noted that despite the country’s problems, The Bahamas still remains a Christian nation.
“Let us not reject God to win at any polls. Let us prove to the rest of the world that The Bahamas is still a God-fearing nation,” Patterson said. “Let us also remember, when the dust is settled at the end of the election, we still have a great country to build.”
He noted that in their leadership positions politicians have a responsibility and should not encourage them to be divisive as the political season heats up.
Patterson said most of all, the public should be reminded of their collective bond as Bahamians.
“We must tell our supporters that they are still Bahamians. We must tell the public they are brothers and sisters. It doesn’t matter what side of the political divide they are on, they must still be brothers and sisters. We must tell our neighbors that they can still speak to each other until after the election,” he said.
Patterson said Bahamians must work together to build a great country despite political affiliations be PLP, FNM, or DNA.
“Let us love each other and let’s make this the greatest country in the world as we continue to build on what God has given to us,” he said.
Patterson said many Bahamians are concerned about providing for their families, they are afraid and some are concerned about the future.
“With all that’s happening around us in The Bahamas sometimes we can become so consumed with what we are facing and what we desire that it lead us away from God and towards other things,” he said.
Reading the preamble to The Bahamas’ Constitution, Patterson noted that the nation’s forefathers were aware of the importance of God to the country and added that he prays that the country would keep that same awareness.
