As the conversation continues about what the verdict will be for convicted Cleric Al Miller, there are no shortage of opinions within the public space as to what his punishment should be, or even whether he should have been convicted in the first place.
It is important to remind ourselves that Al Miller was pulled over by the police having in his vehicle fugitive from Justice Christopher (duddus) coke , who was wanted to be extradited to the United States to answer to charges for which he is now serving time in a Federal facility.
At the time Miller argued that he was doing a favor to Coke who feared for his life as his father had suffered death in a Jamaican jail at a time he too was awaiting extradition to the United States to answer to criminal charges.
Christopher Coke who was Jamaica’s most established and feared crime lord could have used what happened to his father as a reminder to go in another direction.
Instead he not only took over his father’s criminal empire in Tivoli Gardens he exponentially expanded it.
For his actions in trying to aid and abet the escape of Coke, Al Miller was found guilty in a Kingston criminal court.
The guilty verdict was surprising to many court watchers including this writer who have little to no confidence in the willingness of the Jamaican courts to act in accordance with its mandate.
Many Jamaicans who understand the court’s reluctance and inability to find and hold criminals responsible for their actions, also found the guilty verdict surprising .
Some who celebrate this finding do so for political reasons, however this writer sees this guilty verdict as a useless exercise,unless there are significant punitive consequences for Miller as allowed by law.
Guilty verdicts are something reserved for the poorest of the poor who are unconnected politically, or by class .
Al Miller’s verdict must have created severe shock to another esteemed member of the cloth .
In an editorial piece appearing in the Jamaica Observer Dr Gerry O Gallimore former president/CEO of YFC International, and retired senior pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church wrote.
Under the headline Al Miller put himself at great risk as did Bogle and Sharpe.
In the noble tradition of the Christian prophets and of our national heroes whose life-changing legacies we celebrate at this time, God sometimes moves His servants to disregard their personal safety so as to secure a greater good for the nation. Are we, in 2016, going to indict servants of God like Sam Sharpe and Paul Bogle all over again? http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Al-Miller-put-himself-at-risk – as-did-Bogle-and-Sharpe_70097
I did not bother reading the entire text of Gallimore’s Article, sufficing to say I would like to point the goodly writer to a single passage of scripture.
And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
Jesus was responded to Pharisees wishing to trap him into saying they should not pay taxes to caesar the Roman Emperor whose armies occupied Jerusalem at the time.
As followers of Jesus Christ we do his Ministry and ultimate his death a tremendous disservice when we wrap ourselves in Christianity after running afoul of human laws.
It is reprehensible when we do that, because as christians we are selling a can of beans to would be converts if we believe there are no rules in heaven.
If we believe in God, If we believe in heaven and hell, we have to also believe in consequences for actions.
There is no scriptural basis or justification for not respecting earthly laws. In fact that is exactly what the scripture quoted above spoke to .
There is absolutely no scriptural precedent or evidence which indicate or suggest that Jesus supported the breaking of earthly laws.
Biblical scriptures are replete with examples where adherence to earthly laws are urged as a precursor to adherence to God’s laws.
While Jesus walked the earth he broke no law , even though he spoke about the injustice of said laws.
Al Miller, despite his motivations, took it upon himself not only to meet with a felon from the law, he took active steps to remove that suspect from the jurisdiction without the authority do so.
That is criminal conduct, it is not Christian conduct.
If we cannot adhere to earthly laws how can we present ourselves as ambassadors of christ and his kingdom?