NIGERIA: Clerics On Limits Of Church’s Involvement In Politics
While the Constitution of the Federal Republic has made attempts to separate the State from religious groups, the line that ought to detach ...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2015/01/nigeria-clerics-on-limits-of-churchs.html
While the Constitution of the Federal Republic has made attempts to separate the State from religious groups, the line that ought to detach the two is thinning.
For instance, politicians go to religious bodies to seek prayers and political support. In turn, religious men offer their opinions on how the state should be governed. Sometimes, it gets messy, as it is today.
What should be the relationship between the Church and the State; should men of God who are supposed to be neutral take sides in political matters without restraints; where should the romance between the church and politics stop?
Some clerics believe that though it is good to tell politicians the truth, men of God should not get too involved because of the dangers it portends, as put together by CHRIS IREKAMBA.
‘This Time Around Church Should Pray More Rather Than Taking Sides’
(Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu and Bishop of Enugu, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion)
THE church should not go into serious partisan politics. This time around, the church should pray more rather than taking sides. Men of God should pray more for the will of God to be done, rather than the will of man. What Rev. Fr. Mbaka said is very much unfortunate and as I have said before, he is contradicting the Spirit of God, Who had made him to say earlier, when Mrs. Patience Jonathan visited him that Jonathan is one of the best presidents and he can go ahead and all that. For him to turn back now, one wonders what type of spirit is leading him.
Men of God should be consistent and constant in their prophecies. They should confess and prophesy positivity for Nigeria and not negativity, because we have no other country than this. All we should be concerned about is good governance, sincerity in government and a government that will be for the people and by the people, whereby the mandate of the people is respected in election time.
The church is the conscience of the nation and so, we should be able to speak the truth, conscientise the minds of politicians to allow peace to reign and the truth to prevail. We should also make them know that power belongs to God and nobody can perpetuate himself in office without the people’s mandate through the will of God.
I believe it is not for us to take sides as men of God. If the Lord says that Jonathan is coming out, as it has been constitutionally proven that he is qualified and he wins the mandate of the people, then the voice of the people is the voice of God. But if He says it is time for Jonathan to go and somebody else takes over, then God will definitely direct us through the mandate of the people by voting.
I would not want anybody to say that somebody should step down for anybody. Let them go to the polls and let Nigerians decide who will rule Nigeria through their mandate and by exercising their franchise. No man of God should become a prayer contractor. And politicians who go to such people should desist and know that they have no spiritual powers to put anybody in power. It is God that determines. So, by going to prayer contractors, politicians are making them look relevant, when they are not.
It is unfortunate that some people are becoming more powerful than their Bishops. We have seen such people at Elele, but where is Elele today? Such people can also fizzle out because they are all business people.
When the money they make out of such ventures finishes, they will abandon spiritual work and that is what we are seeing. So, they should not use the church to make money and become prayer contractors. I don’t care what anybody says, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t spare politicians. We know that all is not well, but the thing is for the Lord to decide. God can bring out good from something bad. If in the next dispensation Jonathan comes out and God makes him to repent and he is thereby made to perform well and better, then we thank God for it. Not that President Jonathan has done too bad though, just that there are areas, where he needs to improve and we need to pray for him so that God will strengthen him. But for me as a Christian leader, I think my part is to pray for him that the good Lord makes him a successful leader wherever he has made a mistake till now, when he comes back again if the Lord approves. I think God will give him the will to be able to repent and repair that which people think is bad. But if God says it should be someone else because any one in a political party is capable, then it should be accepted. But let the will of God direct the mandate and the nature of people that are coming out and then we shall be satisfied. But the church should not be partisan in any way. We should be doing more of praying now than condemnation.
We should draw the line in making politicians to be disciplined, and that none of them should make any inflammatory statements that can cause disorder or feel that it is a must that they must come to power. Nobody can rule this country by force and if any body tries it, he/she will not last. Things should be done constitutionally and we should allow God to decide who comes by the will of the people and then INEC should be sincere to make sure that nobody hijacks or rigs the elections, because so much money has been committed to INEC and in that regard it should be sincere.
The Church should not be concerned about the political party, but the personality of the individuals; their integrity and performances in the past, and what we feel such people can still do.
‘We Do Not Engage In Telling People Who To Vote For Or Not’
(Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos)
THE relationship between the church and citizens on the one hand is considered very vital because what concerns citizens also concerns the church. Therefore, when it comes to election, the role of the church is to sensitise the citizens on the need to vote wisely and from the depth of their conscience, knowing fully well that the votes they cast have an impact on their lives at present and in the future, as well as the lives of their children. We encourage them to vote wisely.
We see politics as a tool for the welfare of people and, therefore, it is to that extent that those leaders of the church should sensitise people to vote wisely and encourage them to secure their votes as much as it is within their powers.
As a church, our duty is to lay out before people the principles that should guide them in making their choices. These are principles of good governance, of welfare of people and of the common good. All this we will have to teach our people and bring to their awareness. But the church, as it were, does not go into saying that this is the person to vote for or that is the person not to vote for.
Our duties include, in the first instance, asking politicians to tell people exactly what they want to do for them that is better than what had been done before. And then to also tell the people how they intend to achieve those things they are promising, because it is only when they do this that the people will be able to decide whether one has a better way of achieving it than the other.
So, as I said, we have a responsibility to tell politicians to do what is right in terms of informing people of what they have as agenda and the people on the other hand to examine critically what they are saying in order to make the right choices.
Our business, as church, is to ask people to vote wisely, looking at what politicians have said that they are going to do for them. And so, when a particular person such as Father Mbaka speaks, obviously he is speaking as an individual and cannot be said to be speaking on behalf of the church, because obviously, the church does not speak in the terms that he had spoken, but as a Nigerian citizen. And that is why he is speaking the way he does. But we in the church and as leaders will not speak in those terms.
‘The Church Is Conscience Of Society’
(Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, Church Growth Consultant, Ipaja, Lagos)
JESUS was apolitical and so should we His disciples, if truly we belong to Him. In His earthly ministry, there were lots of political storms by the Romans, Jews and religious leaders of His time, yet He never dabbled in it but maintained His focus on His mission of dying to save men from eternal perdition.
Throughout church history, whenever the church becomes one with the state, it only leads to corruption and disappearance of godliness in the church and nation. Of course, we are both citizens of our country and heaven and should be interested in what is going on, yet we must exercise great restraint.
I have noted many so-called preachers speaking from both sides of the mouth, for peculiar gains. Also, many preachers are too close to government that they cannot but be compromised.
The truth of the matter is that the church must not be the friend or enemy of government, but be the conscience of society. The church should speak truth to those in power and hold the government accountable to the people. That is the uniform testimony of the Bible.
If truly we are men and women of God, we are to pray for government and encourage them to rule in the fear of God. Pastors can allow their members that God called to go into politics, but they must maintain no favoritism to one political party or the other.
I’m afraid the way we are going, many church leaders will ruin their lives, ministries and name in the current political dispensation due to undue interference, hobnobbing and financial lucre. And the backlash on the church will be very severe.
‘Partisanship Will Divide The Church’
(Rev. (Dr.) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, National Vice President, Christian Association of Nigeria/President, Nigerian Baptist Convention)
ON the relationship between the Church and the State, I believe the church is located in the world but the church is not of the world. There is an extent to which the church must be separated from the State if the church is to be respected. The church must be apolitical, which means it must be the conscience of the State and speak to the ills of the State in order to check the excesses of political leaders, as well as pointing their attention to the expectations of God from them. It must do this with much transparency and objectivity as much as possible.
The church must be non-partisan. On many occasions, partisanship removes objectivity. The moment the church is taking political sides; it can no longer be the mouthpiece of God to the nation and national leaders. If the church is partisan, it will be divided because there are politicians from different political parties in the church.
Therefore, it is my submission that the church must not be patronising on political matters or give any candidate political advantage over others.
While the Catholic Priest Mbaka has the right to voice out areas, where political leaders have failed us, he has no right to influence the decision of others on the person or particular political party people should vote for. His personal political decision on the person to vote for should be a private one. Who tells him that his assessment of President Jonathan is sacrosanct or that of any other politician contesting for the same position?
In my own opinion, I think his comments, in terms of the person to vote for, is over the bar and embarrassing to the Church. It is my advice that people should allow God to guide them on the person to vote for. There is only one person in the mind of God out of all the people who want to be president of this nation. It is through prayer that God can reveal His mind to us and after He has done so, we should keep it to ourselves. Electorate must not vote on the basis of ethnicity, political inducement, but only on credibility.
‘True Men Of God Will Not Use Their Sacred Position To Heat Up The Polity’
(Pastor Ezekiel Joel, Full Salvation Believers’ Assembly Int’l, Nnewi, Anambra State)
ORDINARILY, it is an aberration for the Church of Christ and her true leaders, who are supposed to be the representatives of Christ, the Lifetime Head of the Church universal, to become enmeshed in the murky political waters of our nation. But, because our nation’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and association, no one should be prevented from expressing his or her opinion on the political happenings in the land, be the person a Priest or not; so long the person does so without breaching the laws of the land.
Problems arise, however, when any one assumes the position of God’s mouth-piece and speak on behalf of the Church regarding political issues on which he has little or no knowledge, thus bringing the Church of Christ into public odium and shame. Truth is, there are clerics, who are known as such, only by men, but who have no record of being the servants of God in Heaven - Matthew 7:21-23).
Unfortunately, we have such charlatans, who masquerade as God’s servants, seeking relevance and attention all over the religious landscape today. I will not go out of my way to name or condemn any one, as that is beyond the jurisdiction of man, but those who are out to tarnish the image of the glorious Church of Christ surely know what they are up to and up in arms against, except they are living in delusion.
The calling of God for or upon the Church and Pastors or Bishops is to be the light of God to the world by living a Christ-like life in character and conduct, by preaching the gospel, and by interceding for the sinners to be saved as well as for the political leaders - Matthew 5:13-16; 28:18-20; John 15:5,8,16-20; 17:6-18;Acts 1:4-8;Romans 13:1-7; 1Timo.2: 1-4).
True servants of God in the New Testament do not go beyond this divine mandate, irrespective of their titles or religious appellations. The utterances of Rev. Fr. Mbaka of the Catholic Church is already being addressed by the Catholic Church authorities, as can be gleaned from on-line media reports. It is at a time like this that we know those that truly represent Christ and those, who for political relevance and pecuniary reasons wear the garb of religion to deceive the gullible populace.
True men of God will not use the sacred position they occupy to heat up the polity, give hair-raising prophecies or raise false alarm because of their illicit romance with political parties and their selfish leaders.
‘In Matter Of Partisan Politics, Men Of God Should Be Neutral’
(Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, General Overseer,
Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc./Senior Pastor, Church of the Anointing, Warri, Delta State)
IN the matter of partisan politics, men of God should be neutral. This means that they must not openly take a position in favour of any political party. Members of their congregations have different political leanings and everyone should feel at home in church and before their pastors/priests. The primary responsibility of a minister of the gospel is to lead men to Christ and mature them in Him. And God requires total and exclusive devotion from His servants; hence, the Levites were told clearly that the Lord is their portion and inheritance. During the ordination ceremonies for pastors/priests, specific Biblical vows are taken that forbid partisan politics and such things.
This, however, does not preclude the Biblical responsibility for men of God to speak the truth to leaders when they err, especially when corruption, oppression and idolatry are involved. During the military era, our country was blessed with such servants of God. But to openly canvas support for one political party or candidate in an election year is not just unethical, but sinful, ungodly and wicked.
The church excuses pastors/priests, who involve themselves in partisan politics, during the period of their political engagement. But for those who have a cult-like following of a huge crowd, denominational leaders are careful in sanctioning them when they go wrong for fear church could split and lead to loss of many members. Thus, you have such religious leaders openly going partisan and are only privately counseled.
Simple observations of such religious leaders across the country show that they react thus because they had been compromised financially. Sexual immorality, power and money are the three satanic killers of men of God. These leaders have fallen to the god of mammon. Political leaders who understand this reach out to vocal frontline gospel ministers with irresistible gifts and visits to prevent falling out of their good books. A politician in Nigeria today that fails to do this does so at his own peril. And the challenge is that such religious leaders are growing in number by the day.
‘When Men Of God Get Emotional It Becomes Dangerous’
(Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State Chapter)
A LOOK at the history of the Church will confirm that there has been a mutually essential relationship between her and the State (that is, political leaders or rulers of the State). This is so in both the old and New Testament dispensations. What then are the central roles of the Church under this relationship, as defined by God in the Scriptures?
One, we are to pray for the rulers or political leaders in the land, because God Himself allowed them to be in power, whether they are His choice or the people’s choice (1 Timothy 3:1-3 and Romans 13:1).
Two, we are the salt and light of the nation (Matthew 5: 13-16). Salt is for preservation of God’s quality as far as the nation is concerned and light is to absorb and consume the darkness in the nation.
How do we achieve this? It is by being of highest and most transparent moral standard upholding God’s integrity and speaking nothing but the truth at all times - 2 Corinth 13:8). This is where the issue of “neutrality” must be carefully examined because as it is said: you cannot drive a car that is in neutral!
Certainly, the Church must not be politicised under any circumstance. This is not the will of God for the Church. Where men or women of God get emotional and begin to take sides without control in support or against individual politicians or rulers/political parties, flesh or carnality is manifesting and it becomes a dangerous situation that will not please God - Romans 8:6-8.
In conclusion, late Andrew Bonar (1810-1892) said: “I looked for the Church, I found it in the world; then I looked for the world and alas, I found it in the Church.” What do we say then of the Church today? JESUS has to come sooner than soon.
Source: The Guardian
For instance, politicians go to religious bodies to seek prayers and political support. In turn, religious men offer their opinions on how the state should be governed. Sometimes, it gets messy, as it is today.
What should be the relationship between the Church and the State; should men of God who are supposed to be neutral take sides in political matters without restraints; where should the romance between the church and politics stop?
Some clerics believe that though it is good to tell politicians the truth, men of God should not get too involved because of the dangers it portends, as put together by CHRIS IREKAMBA.
‘This Time Around Church Should Pray More Rather Than Taking Sides’
(Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu and Bishop of Enugu, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion)
THE church should not go into serious partisan politics. This time around, the church should pray more rather than taking sides. Men of God should pray more for the will of God to be done, rather than the will of man. What Rev. Fr. Mbaka said is very much unfortunate and as I have said before, he is contradicting the Spirit of God, Who had made him to say earlier, when Mrs. Patience Jonathan visited him that Jonathan is one of the best presidents and he can go ahead and all that. For him to turn back now, one wonders what type of spirit is leading him.
Men of God should be consistent and constant in their prophecies. They should confess and prophesy positivity for Nigeria and not negativity, because we have no other country than this. All we should be concerned about is good governance, sincerity in government and a government that will be for the people and by the people, whereby the mandate of the people is respected in election time.
The church is the conscience of the nation and so, we should be able to speak the truth, conscientise the minds of politicians to allow peace to reign and the truth to prevail. We should also make them know that power belongs to God and nobody can perpetuate himself in office without the people’s mandate through the will of God.
I believe it is not for us to take sides as men of God. If the Lord says that Jonathan is coming out, as it has been constitutionally proven that he is qualified and he wins the mandate of the people, then the voice of the people is the voice of God. But if He says it is time for Jonathan to go and somebody else takes over, then God will definitely direct us through the mandate of the people by voting.
I would not want anybody to say that somebody should step down for anybody. Let them go to the polls and let Nigerians decide who will rule Nigeria through their mandate and by exercising their franchise. No man of God should become a prayer contractor. And politicians who go to such people should desist and know that they have no spiritual powers to put anybody in power. It is God that determines. So, by going to prayer contractors, politicians are making them look relevant, when they are not.
It is unfortunate that some people are becoming more powerful than their Bishops. We have seen such people at Elele, but where is Elele today? Such people can also fizzle out because they are all business people.
When the money they make out of such ventures finishes, they will abandon spiritual work and that is what we are seeing. So, they should not use the church to make money and become prayer contractors. I don’t care what anybody says, as far as I’m concerned, I don’t spare politicians. We know that all is not well, but the thing is for the Lord to decide. God can bring out good from something bad. If in the next dispensation Jonathan comes out and God makes him to repent and he is thereby made to perform well and better, then we thank God for it. Not that President Jonathan has done too bad though, just that there are areas, where he needs to improve and we need to pray for him so that God will strengthen him. But for me as a Christian leader, I think my part is to pray for him that the good Lord makes him a successful leader wherever he has made a mistake till now, when he comes back again if the Lord approves. I think God will give him the will to be able to repent and repair that which people think is bad. But if God says it should be someone else because any one in a political party is capable, then it should be accepted. But let the will of God direct the mandate and the nature of people that are coming out and then we shall be satisfied. But the church should not be partisan in any way. We should be doing more of praying now than condemnation.
We should draw the line in making politicians to be disciplined, and that none of them should make any inflammatory statements that can cause disorder or feel that it is a must that they must come to power. Nobody can rule this country by force and if any body tries it, he/she will not last. Things should be done constitutionally and we should allow God to decide who comes by the will of the people and then INEC should be sincere to make sure that nobody hijacks or rigs the elections, because so much money has been committed to INEC and in that regard it should be sincere.
The Church should not be concerned about the political party, but the personality of the individuals; their integrity and performances in the past, and what we feel such people can still do.
‘We Do Not Engage In Telling People Who To Vote For Or Not’
(Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos)
THE relationship between the church and citizens on the one hand is considered very vital because what concerns citizens also concerns the church. Therefore, when it comes to election, the role of the church is to sensitise the citizens on the need to vote wisely and from the depth of their conscience, knowing fully well that the votes they cast have an impact on their lives at present and in the future, as well as the lives of their children. We encourage them to vote wisely.
We see politics as a tool for the welfare of people and, therefore, it is to that extent that those leaders of the church should sensitise people to vote wisely and encourage them to secure their votes as much as it is within their powers.
As a church, our duty is to lay out before people the principles that should guide them in making their choices. These are principles of good governance, of welfare of people and of the common good. All this we will have to teach our people and bring to their awareness. But the church, as it were, does not go into saying that this is the person to vote for or that is the person not to vote for.
Our duties include, in the first instance, asking politicians to tell people exactly what they want to do for them that is better than what had been done before. And then to also tell the people how they intend to achieve those things they are promising, because it is only when they do this that the people will be able to decide whether one has a better way of achieving it than the other.
So, as I said, we have a responsibility to tell politicians to do what is right in terms of informing people of what they have as agenda and the people on the other hand to examine critically what they are saying in order to make the right choices.
Our business, as church, is to ask people to vote wisely, looking at what politicians have said that they are going to do for them. And so, when a particular person such as Father Mbaka speaks, obviously he is speaking as an individual and cannot be said to be speaking on behalf of the church, because obviously, the church does not speak in the terms that he had spoken, but as a Nigerian citizen. And that is why he is speaking the way he does. But we in the church and as leaders will not speak in those terms.
‘The Church Is Conscience Of Society’
(Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, Church Growth Consultant, Ipaja, Lagos)
JESUS was apolitical and so should we His disciples, if truly we belong to Him. In His earthly ministry, there were lots of political storms by the Romans, Jews and religious leaders of His time, yet He never dabbled in it but maintained His focus on His mission of dying to save men from eternal perdition.
Throughout church history, whenever the church becomes one with the state, it only leads to corruption and disappearance of godliness in the church and nation. Of course, we are both citizens of our country and heaven and should be interested in what is going on, yet we must exercise great restraint.
I have noted many so-called preachers speaking from both sides of the mouth, for peculiar gains. Also, many preachers are too close to government that they cannot but be compromised.
The truth of the matter is that the church must not be the friend or enemy of government, but be the conscience of society. The church should speak truth to those in power and hold the government accountable to the people. That is the uniform testimony of the Bible.
If truly we are men and women of God, we are to pray for government and encourage them to rule in the fear of God. Pastors can allow their members that God called to go into politics, but they must maintain no favoritism to one political party or the other.
I’m afraid the way we are going, many church leaders will ruin their lives, ministries and name in the current political dispensation due to undue interference, hobnobbing and financial lucre. And the backlash on the church will be very severe.
‘Partisanship Will Divide The Church’
(Rev. (Dr.) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, National Vice President, Christian Association of Nigeria/President, Nigerian Baptist Convention)
ON the relationship between the Church and the State, I believe the church is located in the world but the church is not of the world. There is an extent to which the church must be separated from the State if the church is to be respected. The church must be apolitical, which means it must be the conscience of the State and speak to the ills of the State in order to check the excesses of political leaders, as well as pointing their attention to the expectations of God from them. It must do this with much transparency and objectivity as much as possible.
The church must be non-partisan. On many occasions, partisanship removes objectivity. The moment the church is taking political sides; it can no longer be the mouthpiece of God to the nation and national leaders. If the church is partisan, it will be divided because there are politicians from different political parties in the church.
Therefore, it is my submission that the church must not be patronising on political matters or give any candidate political advantage over others.
While the Catholic Priest Mbaka has the right to voice out areas, where political leaders have failed us, he has no right to influence the decision of others on the person or particular political party people should vote for. His personal political decision on the person to vote for should be a private one. Who tells him that his assessment of President Jonathan is sacrosanct or that of any other politician contesting for the same position?
In my own opinion, I think his comments, in terms of the person to vote for, is over the bar and embarrassing to the Church. It is my advice that people should allow God to guide them on the person to vote for. There is only one person in the mind of God out of all the people who want to be president of this nation. It is through prayer that God can reveal His mind to us and after He has done so, we should keep it to ourselves. Electorate must not vote on the basis of ethnicity, political inducement, but only on credibility.
‘True Men Of God Will Not Use Their Sacred Position To Heat Up The Polity’
(Pastor Ezekiel Joel, Full Salvation Believers’ Assembly Int’l, Nnewi, Anambra State)
ORDINARILY, it is an aberration for the Church of Christ and her true leaders, who are supposed to be the representatives of Christ, the Lifetime Head of the Church universal, to become enmeshed in the murky political waters of our nation. But, because our nation’s constitution guarantees freedom of speech and association, no one should be prevented from expressing his or her opinion on the political happenings in the land, be the person a Priest or not; so long the person does so without breaching the laws of the land.
Problems arise, however, when any one assumes the position of God’s mouth-piece and speak on behalf of the Church regarding political issues on which he has little or no knowledge, thus bringing the Church of Christ into public odium and shame. Truth is, there are clerics, who are known as such, only by men, but who have no record of being the servants of God in Heaven - Matthew 7:21-23).
Unfortunately, we have such charlatans, who masquerade as God’s servants, seeking relevance and attention all over the religious landscape today. I will not go out of my way to name or condemn any one, as that is beyond the jurisdiction of man, but those who are out to tarnish the image of the glorious Church of Christ surely know what they are up to and up in arms against, except they are living in delusion.
The calling of God for or upon the Church and Pastors or Bishops is to be the light of God to the world by living a Christ-like life in character and conduct, by preaching the gospel, and by interceding for the sinners to be saved as well as for the political leaders - Matthew 5:13-16; 28:18-20; John 15:5,8,16-20; 17:6-18;Acts 1:4-8;Romans 13:1-7; 1Timo.2: 1-4).
True servants of God in the New Testament do not go beyond this divine mandate, irrespective of their titles or religious appellations. The utterances of Rev. Fr. Mbaka of the Catholic Church is already being addressed by the Catholic Church authorities, as can be gleaned from on-line media reports. It is at a time like this that we know those that truly represent Christ and those, who for political relevance and pecuniary reasons wear the garb of religion to deceive the gullible populace.
True men of God will not use the sacred position they occupy to heat up the polity, give hair-raising prophecies or raise false alarm because of their illicit romance with political parties and their selfish leaders.
‘In Matter Of Partisan Politics, Men Of God Should Be Neutral’
(Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, General Overseer,
Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc./Senior Pastor, Church of the Anointing, Warri, Delta State)
IN the matter of partisan politics, men of God should be neutral. This means that they must not openly take a position in favour of any political party. Members of their congregations have different political leanings and everyone should feel at home in church and before their pastors/priests. The primary responsibility of a minister of the gospel is to lead men to Christ and mature them in Him. And God requires total and exclusive devotion from His servants; hence, the Levites were told clearly that the Lord is their portion and inheritance. During the ordination ceremonies for pastors/priests, specific Biblical vows are taken that forbid partisan politics and such things.
This, however, does not preclude the Biblical responsibility for men of God to speak the truth to leaders when they err, especially when corruption, oppression and idolatry are involved. During the military era, our country was blessed with such servants of God. But to openly canvas support for one political party or candidate in an election year is not just unethical, but sinful, ungodly and wicked.
The church excuses pastors/priests, who involve themselves in partisan politics, during the period of their political engagement. But for those who have a cult-like following of a huge crowd, denominational leaders are careful in sanctioning them when they go wrong for fear church could split and lead to loss of many members. Thus, you have such religious leaders openly going partisan and are only privately counseled.
Simple observations of such religious leaders across the country show that they react thus because they had been compromised financially. Sexual immorality, power and money are the three satanic killers of men of God. These leaders have fallen to the god of mammon. Political leaders who understand this reach out to vocal frontline gospel ministers with irresistible gifts and visits to prevent falling out of their good books. A politician in Nigeria today that fails to do this does so at his own peril. And the challenge is that such religious leaders are growing in number by the day.
‘When Men Of God Get Emotional It Becomes Dangerous’
(Apostle Alex Bamgbola, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos State Chapter)
A LOOK at the history of the Church will confirm that there has been a mutually essential relationship between her and the State (that is, political leaders or rulers of the State). This is so in both the old and New Testament dispensations. What then are the central roles of the Church under this relationship, as defined by God in the Scriptures?
One, we are to pray for the rulers or political leaders in the land, because God Himself allowed them to be in power, whether they are His choice or the people’s choice (1 Timothy 3:1-3 and Romans 13:1).
Two, we are the salt and light of the nation (Matthew 5: 13-16). Salt is for preservation of God’s quality as far as the nation is concerned and light is to absorb and consume the darkness in the nation.
How do we achieve this? It is by being of highest and most transparent moral standard upholding God’s integrity and speaking nothing but the truth at all times - 2 Corinth 13:8). This is where the issue of “neutrality” must be carefully examined because as it is said: you cannot drive a car that is in neutral!
Certainly, the Church must not be politicised under any circumstance. This is not the will of God for the Church. Where men or women of God get emotional and begin to take sides without control in support or against individual politicians or rulers/political parties, flesh or carnality is manifesting and it becomes a dangerous situation that will not please God - Romans 8:6-8.
In conclusion, late Andrew Bonar (1810-1892) said: “I looked for the Church, I found it in the world; then I looked for the world and alas, I found it in the Church.” What do we say then of the Church today? JESUS has to come sooner than soon.
Source: The Guardian