#BTColumn – Apologetics – Part 2 of 3

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados TODAY.

Digression: The store I work in is situated in a mall. It is closing time, so the mall is quiet, or was quiet. Employees of other stores were walking past to head home. Every head turned to our store as their bodies passed by.

“Do you know what the Jewish word for God is?”

“I just told you, YHWH,” I repeated.

“No! It’s Ela. E-L-A!”

Coming to me, Jas said, “He is right. I have seen it in the Bible.”

Turning to her, I said, “No, the primary Jewish word for God is YHWH. There are several names for God, but YHWH
is the primary.”

Jas was across from me in the other aisle fixing the pants that were on her side.

“The reason I say that Allah is not God is because they (Muslims) do not believe that Jesus is God.”

A miracle happens: Mohamed heard what I was saying to Jas despite the volume at which his voice was reverberating around the store.

Mohamed’s volume increased, “Jesus is not God! He is the ‘Son of God’, but he is not God. He is just a prophet.”

I flinched a little bit. I don’t think he noticed.

“It is impossible for Jesus to be God,” Mohamed said. “If he was God, why would he say on the cross ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do’?”

I replied, “Jesus also said ‘I and my Father are One’.”

My eyes were on the pants. I couldn’t seem to get them fixed properly. His voice was pounding in my ears and my fingers kept slipping off the metal hangers or held on to them too long.

Further Digression: My boss has two stores in this mall. This one and a smaller one.

The smaller one does not have a card machine but fortunately the stores are close enough that whenever a customer is looking to purchase an item in the smaller store by card they are simply directed to this store.

To reconcile the funds at the end of the day, this store gives the smaller store in cash any sales that were sent to be swiped.

My colleague from the other store came in and I went to her hoping that she was ready for me to give her the money my store had for hers.

“Are you ready for me?” I asked.

The expectancy of being rescued should have been obvious in my voice. An affirmative response should have come. Instead I got,

“No, I just came for the broom,” she replied.

I returned to my side of the store to continue fixing. I was still at the pants. Mohamed was on my side of the store, still ranting.

“You have been brainwashed. You believe the lies that the white man has told you. You need to get knowledge.” He gestured as he spoke/shouted/screamed.

“You go into a church and worship the image of a white man created by Charles {somebody} and call that God. You worship this white man’s image that was created to keep you in bondage.”

I sigh, “Jesus was a Jew.”

Who told me to say so?

Mohamed changed gears and started revving another engine, “Jesus is not a Jew! Jesus is not a Jew! Jesus is a Levi!”

“Jesus is from the tribe of Judah.” I corrected.

Achievement unlocked: I finished the pants and was then able to move onto the dresses. Small victories need to be celebrated in the midst of great turmoil.

Jade Gibbons is an arts and business graduate with a keen interest in social issues and film-making. See https://www.jadegibbons246.com