Dear Editor,
As Jamaica continues the review of the Sexual Offences Act and related laws, including the 1864 British colonially-imposed Offences Against the Person Act, I find it ironic that in our Parliament, and from many pulpits, descendants of slaves feel morally justified to sit in judgement of other descendants of slaves and tell them what they can do with their own bodies.
The irony is compounded by the fact that these neo-slavery pronouncements are based on a narrow interpretation of biblical passages that, if consistently applied, would have been used to keep these "neo-slavists" themselves enslaved.
Let us not forget: "Slaves, obey your master..." Colossians 3:22, 1 Peter 2: 18, and Ephesians 6:5. Not surprisingly, these new enslavers advocate for a liberal interpretation of the enslaving passages -- as this benefits them -- but adamantly support a restrictive reading of other verses that would deny the human rights of vulnerable minorities.
To these modern-day "backra massas" I say, "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you." Deuteronomy 15:15.
As such, they should be reminded of the great command: "Do unto others as you have them do to you." Luke 6:31.
If this gracious instruction is too onerous then they should strictly adhere to all biblical pronouncements: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:10. Any other approach would simply be hypocritical.
Maurice Tomlinson
Montego Bay
mauricet@lgbtiawarecaribbean.com
Embrace the whole Bible
-->
As Jamaica continues the review of the Sexual Offences Act and related laws, including the 1864 British colonially-imposed Offences Against the Person Act, I find it ironic that in our Parliament, and from many pulpits, descendants of slaves feel morally justified to sit in judgement of other descendants of slaves and tell them what they can do with their own bodies.
The irony is compounded by the fact that these neo-slavery pronouncements are based on a narrow interpretation of biblical passages that, if consistently applied, would have been used to keep these "neo-slavists" themselves enslaved.
Let us not forget: "Slaves, obey your master..." Colossians 3:22, 1 Peter 2: 18, and Ephesians 6:5. Not surprisingly, these new enslavers advocate for a liberal interpretation of the enslaving passages -- as this benefits them -- but adamantly support a restrictive reading of other verses that would deny the human rights of vulnerable minorities.
To these modern-day "backra massas" I say, "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you." Deuteronomy 15:15.
As such, they should be reminded of the great command: "Do unto others as you have them do to you." Luke 6:31.
If this gracious instruction is too onerous then they should strictly adhere to all biblical pronouncements: "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:10. Any other approach would simply be hypocritical.
Maurice Tomlinson
Montego Bay
mauricet@lgbtiawarecaribbean.com
Embrace the whole Bible
-->