Principal likens speaker to Bible character

 By GABRIEL LAHOC

A SCHOOL principal is supporting the decision by Speaker Theo Zurenuoc to remove traditional artefacts from parliament, likening him to the Biblical character Gideon.

Joseph Geparo is the principal of Maximise Well Christian School whose students amended the Papua New Guinea national pledge by replacing the words “cultural heritage” with “Christian heritage”.

He said the Christian faith in the country was at risk because some people who had embraced Christianity still clung to old beliefs and practices.

He said Zurenuoc possessed the spirit of Gideon, who (in the Book of Judges) destroyed the altar of Baal when Israel was under siege. God raised young Gideon to deliver the people of Israel.

Geparo said cleansing processes had been done by leaders in every nation and Zurenuoc had destroyed the curse on the nation.

“Out of ignorance, such objects were gathered in the name of decoration and it became altars for idol worshipping that has been destroying and denying the people of this country from enjoying its richness and beauty,” he said.

“The people who defend these altars say leaders do not fall before these carvings and worship it. But the attitude of reverence and honour given to such objects amount to worship.

“The reason why PNG is rich but its people live in poverty is because its leaders are not sensitive to the powers and forces that are at work trying to destroy and rob this country of its riches.”