An extract from Make It Fiji First Facebook Post: Well well well RELIGION Our manifesto affirms SODELPA will place God in His rightful position. -Ro Teimumu Kepa An interesting statement that sounds like God is out of place and it is amusing to see that it sounds like SODELPA intends to put Religion/Christianity/God back in His rightful position by amending the 2013 Constitution. Question: Have we not been taught that in the Good book and Religion classes in school or on Sunday school that God is already EVERYWHERE, omnipotent and does not need a helping hand to work let alone from a political party. Question: So why is the inclusion of making Fiji a Christian State so important to SODELPA in its intended new constitution? Seems like the only two logical reasons that made sense was: First, the combination of religion and chiefly authority that represented tribal society in pre-Cession Fiji is still very much alive in modern Fiji that is; obeying and respecting one’s chiefs is seen by many itaukei to be part of the natural and supernatural— order. And this is totally respected. Secondly, there is the flawed belief that the chiefs ceded Fiji to Christianity and Queen Victoria, There is absolutely nothing in the Deed of Cession to support the former claim. The myth, for what it is, has been kept alive by extreme iTaukei nationalists, and a lot of wishful thinking. For a iTaukei nationalist party such as SODELPA, being seen to restore God to His rightful place— is obvious to everyone that they hope they will therefore win votes from the less educated. SODELPA clearly wants those unaware to think “that God is on its side, and the secular state defined in the 2013 Constitution makes Fiji a state without God” This, of course, is arrogant nonsense. SODELPA has no special claim on God and this tactic is unlikely to win many votes from liberal Methodists and other Christians. Research clearly shows that no other Methodist Church anywhere in the world and no other Christian denomination in the world nor Fiji has called for a Christian state. Indeed, the Catholic Church in Fijis (Second major denomination,) has positively endorsed the secular state. In one of the workshops for Church leaders and politicians held a while back, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said: The Catholic Church is clear in her role in politics. Pope Paul VIs letter clearly states the role of the church and State are separate. Ro Teimumu, a Catholic herself, attended the workshop so, she said, she could hear from the experts who have been teaching on secularism, secular state, those who have done studies on it, they have written papers on it so we can hear from them what is the position of the church in as far as the secular state is concerned.” But SODEPLAs Manifesto was already written and her mind made up long before she attended the workshop. Immediately afterwards, she ignored the teaching of her church and the workshop, and spoke instead of the historical facts in the 1997 Constitution included the Deed of Cession. The die had already been cast. But it is not only God SODELPA wishes to include in the Constitution. He is to be joined by Taukei chiefs, or more precisely, the Great Council of Chiefs for only it, they claim and despite assurances to the contrary, can protect iTaukei land and customs. There is much more to the SODELPA Manifesto but everything else is subordinate to these two primary pillars, the inclusion of the Christian state or God and the restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs. And this, it is hard to believe, from a party whose name proclaims it to be both DEMOCRATIC and LIBERAL; a party that wants to govern a multi-racial and multi-religious Fiji in the twenty-first century. Whilst this strategy would have worked many MANY years ago, the fact is, especially ITaukeis are better educated now than ever before (especially the grassroots or tawavanua to be precise). On the other hand, ITaukeis who are still trying to work their way up the education ladder (especially ones in villagers) have seen firsthand the difference the current regime has brought to their lives when it comes to keeping promises. The notion that God needs a political party to recognize the role of the Military and Police is ridiculous. What we need in Fiji are strong willed leaders, people who have problem solving backgrounds, we need people who can unite under a clear command structure, people who know the importance of obeying orders, people who respect their leadership for the betterment of the people and not self. Response To Make It Fiji First Post: Proverbs 3:6 (KING JAMES VERSION) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Yes God is everywhere but government/leadership needs to put him first. Your thoughts about the subject matter are very SATANIC/UNIVERSAL. God can neverbe out of place. You are assuming that he is out of place, SODELPA never said that he is out of place, you said it not SODELPA. Yes God is everywhere. But you are very misguided, Fiji First. SODELPA is not saying that God needs a helping hand, it’s actually vice versa. SODELPA needing the helpful hands of God to function biblically, ethically and morally! I do not think an island can be Christian, as it has no head. People should be Christian not state. 1 Corinthians 11:3 (KING JAMES VERSION) But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Its crystal clear that God wants us TO REALIZE, that the head of EVERY MAN is CHRIST. God knew that HUMAN INTELLIGENCE/SELF-RIGHTEOUS will KEEP us in the FOG. Thus he said that there is one thing he wants us to KNOW that the head of every man is Christ – this is the only way in which we are going to lift the FOG/ MISCONCEPTION. If a state contains people and the bible says the head of the people is Christ then it also means that the head of the state is Christ – thus we must put him first not our human intelligence A.K.A VAKILAKILA A.K.A VAKILS. First thing first then the rest will fall into its rightful place. There is nothing mythical about Christian BELIEFS and CONCEPTS. It’s not wishful thinking neither. Deuteronomy 1: 15 (King James Version) So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. God himself assigned the chief, wise men, public figure and made them captains, leaders over us. Chiefs have wisdom and that is something that has been bestowed upon them. Not really sure whether you’ve experienced rural village life. It’s the chiefs that set S the accepted standard of what is the itaukei way of living in the village. There Godly given wisdom qualifies them to be a mediator, counselor, peace maker, organizer, coordinator, manager within the village. They also proactively solve issues that are supposedly reported to the police. These offers us a safe net, peaceful and tuneful way of living orderly in the village. So chiefs are biblical. Talking about how arrogant SODELPA is for trying to create awareness of the ABSOLUTE FIXED TRUTH – God has to be put first/head of the state. This is the truth and what is more loving then the truth. Please allow me to diagnose what SECULAR STATE is. It’s a state that neither supports religion or irreligion. Somewhere in the middle, unsure, undecided, confused, lost, doubtful, etc etc. Like an atheistic person. Very dangerous and arrogant indeed. If the state is secular (state is the supreme ruler) then whatever law is put in place by the state(man-made) especially if it violates your freedom and fundamental civil rights you have to get along with it, that passing our national debts to our children is OK(in fact it is a form of slavery and bondage), that it is OK to reallocate wealth from people who really deserves it to people who do not deserves it (I’m talking about taxation loopholes), that it is OK for man to not provide for their households, that it is OK to hate, that you are OK with man-made truth rather than Godly Truth(the absolute fixed truth), that is OK to be controlled by the state, that infidelity is OK, that discrimination is OK, that unequal treatment is OK, that materialistic greed is OK, that it is OK to love money, etc etc, these are only a few things that secular state is conceiving, which we have gradually accepted. I’m sorry God does not need a political party, his kingdom is not from this earth, but what the state needs to do is to simply recognise that there is a higher supreme ruler than the state, which is God. If this is the case then the state will then have to function within the WILL of God (not human will) then keep watch of the many blessings. If the state recognses God as a supreme ruler then theyll FIGHT EVIL not CONCEIVING IT!!!!!
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 21:42:06 +0000
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