An Open Letter to our Church Leaders

To Our Dear Churchleaders WHAT DO SOME OF OUR CHURCH LEADERS DO WHEN A PRESIDENT AND HER CABINET CONSPIRE AGAINST THE CITIZENS? They tell the people what the people already know: *They talk about the moral fabric of society being assailed. *They urge everybody to be vigilant and to seek the truth. *They say the government reeks of corruption and opportunism. *They suggest it is time for a concerted and collective action. *They recite the mantras of "order", "constitution" and "Democracy". Yes, for the most part, some of our church leaders are inclined to tell the people what the people already know. How do the people know, certainly not primarily by reading books or listening to sermons or lectures. The people know because they have eyes and ears that see and hear beyond the legalese and technicalities of court hearings. They know because God has endowed them with the magnificent gift of discernment. The religious calls it the Sensus Fidelium, the voice of the Spirit within them; the people simply call it obvious Christ precisely became one of us - to make the Will of God obvious to the faithful. "Whoever believes in me, believes not only in me but also in him who sent me. Whoever sees me, also sees him who sent me. I have come into the world that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness…Yes, because I have not spoken on my own but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak." (Jn.12: 44-49) Christ dwells in his people. And He makes known God's Will to the people who believe and accept his Word. And when he wants to make known the Father's will to the world, he speaks also through the people, as indeed we all understand by the phrase Vox Populi, Vox Dei. This is not to deny the authority and mandate of our church leaders to proclaim the Will of God to the people. Rather, it is to stress that since God speaks also through the people, our church leaders likewise have a similar duty to listen to God in his people. The words from the musical 'Les Miserables' expresses this in a most poignant way: Do you hear the people sing, Singing a song of angry men?It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!When the beating of your heart, echoes the beating of the drumsThere is a life about to start when tomorrow comes! Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?Beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see?Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free! And the Scriptures are even more urgent and more challenging: "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. [Haggai 1:4-8] We discern at least three basic questions that might concern our church leaders, as they concern all believers in these most difficult and critical times: · How courageously and faithfully are you hearing to the Will of God in his people? · Where/how do you see yourselves in relation to the 'barricade' that has for so long denied our people a life of peace, freedom and dignity. · What more are you willing to offer/give up so that the God's Will might be heard faithfully and proclaimed fully? In concrete, we understand this to mean for our church leaders not to be content with the good things they are already doing in service to our people; But rather to become more active and committed towards being part of the people's present challenge: Rebuild the nation! Replace the corrupt usurper and her cabinet! Install a transitional council of leaders! Elect a new leadership through a snap election! Establish a working democracy! KAALAGAD Katipunang Kristiyano / February 20, 2008