ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN CARIBBEAN TIMES (08 08 2014 - pages 10 - 11) Writer: Bishop Charlesworth Ev. Browne Calling On All Christians As former British colonies of the West Indies, many Caribbean countries are steeped in a culture of celebrating the 1834 Abolition of Slavery Act with Carnival festivities. During the Carnival festivities in Antigua and Barbuda (observed at the end of July to the first week in August) people go to see colourful floats and dancers in flamboyant costumes, hear music particularly calypso and soca (“soul calypso”), and taste Caribbean food from street stalls and the like. Feel free to note anything I may have missed. Well, of course, permit me to add here that it is also a time for remembering the past history of our people and the struggle they went through even for me, personally, to be able to write regularly in a mainstream publication like this newspaper. I have real cause to celebrate. It may seem like so long ago to some people but actually, it is less than 200 years ago that the formal institution of slavery was abolished by way of “An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies” – Indeed, no matter how long ago, we all, one way or another, have cause to celebrate. The question is: How do we or should we celebrate? Coming to think of it, how did you celebrate this year? As for me, away from home, I simply celebrated in a sweet spirit of holiness, joyfully joining in fellowship with brothers and sisters who truly love the Lord. Needless to say, I continue to celebrate subsequently with the submission of this article. Throughout the British colonies August 1 remains a significant day of celebration and numerous events are organized to remember and to give thanks. In her book Emancipation Day, author and historian Natasha Henry reminded readers that the period (long weekend as the case may be) represented a time for commemorating the freedom day. “There are many traditional features to Emancipation Day commemorations. Thanksgiving church services were an integral part of Emancipation Day observances”. I must impress upon my readers what the historian said: “Thanksgiving CHURCH SERVICES were and integral part...” - today, that is the last thing on some people’s minds. Henry continues: “Celebrants attended many different churches — for poignant sermon and speeches, fellowship, and entertainment. Parading was an important public ritual — Marchers led by musical bands walked for miles, publicly displaying colourful banners, emblems, ribbons, flags, and signs.” There must be balance and decorum in our culture for better, not for decadence. Henry helps us find our centre of gravity where this whole matter is concerned: “Emancipation day served to bring the community together. It was a great vehicle to mobilize people on issues of social justice”. Pay careful attention as we go along here. - “People of different racial, economic, and social backgrounds worshipped together, ate together, partied together, and built important community networks”. How much of our history do we really see in the celebrations today? Have we lost it all through all that evolved and birthed what we now have for appropriate carnival celebrations? These are questions for which one must have soul-searching answers. Let the soul-searching begin and I call upon those who claim to be Christians or who claim membership in Christian churches to lead the charge. Bring to mind what you can recall of the festivities including the recently concluded celebrations. - Is carnival in Antigua and Barbuda now all carnal and a notorious bacchanalia, unwittingly influenced by a form of ancient Greek religion with Bacchus the god of wine and women at the helm? Or is it, as some experts posit, that the carnival tradition dates back over 5000 years connected to the festival held with roast beef and half naked women in honour of the Apis bull in Egypt. Apart from all of that, if I were to include some carnival pictures which were freshly taken, the words of this article would refuse to be placed beside them. I think I can even now hear the words of this article saying: “On your marks, get set ...” (photo inserted...) The apostle Paul (in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; and 7:1) addressed the issue of whether outside religious practices and customs had any place among Christians he wrote: “Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” On the subject of carnival, whatever its origin (s), based on what it has become, it is my firm belief that there is hope for a more excellent way, but this hope must be carried on the wings of sincere Christian verve and determination. Sooner than later, we (beginning with born-again Christians) must all turn unapologetically to the dictates of the God of the Holy Bible with a greater sense of responsibility to uprightness, human dignity and unflinching reverential fear of God. – All the same embodied in holiness of life worthy of celebration to the glory of the God who continues to restore, realign and release for richer and more meaningful existence.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 13:46:49 +0000
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