CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

 “When the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice but when a wicked man rules the people groan” - Proverbs 29:2. 

Thesis 

1.     “Bad leaders are elected by those who refuse to participate.”

2.  “To fix your country, you must first fix your country’s politics.” 

 

INTRODUCTION

Everything rises and falls on leadership. Because politics is the engine of governance, bad politics leads to bad governance and economy. Bad politics can turn a prosperous economy into a poor nation while good politics can turn a poor economy into a prosperous nation. Singapore under Lee Kwan Yew is a classic case of good politics turning a poor nation into a prosperous one while Nigeria is a classic case of bad politics turning a prosperous nation into a poor one.    

According to Harold Lasswell (1936), “Politics concerns who gets what, when and how?”  Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines “Politics” as the “Theory or practice of managing affairs of public policy….” Succinctly stated, Politics is “The Science and Art of Governance.” 

Like every other Social Sciences, Politics has a more direct bearing on the daily lives of citizens. It has to do with the day-to-day running of people of a particular geographical location. 

Politics is the sum totality of governance and government activities. While politicking is the hub, other arms of government are the wheels. For the machinery of a nation’s economy and other facets of her existence to run smoothly, there must be governance. However, there would be no good governance without good politics. There will be no good politics if conscientious Christians continue to shun politics because “Nigeria’s politics is dirty.” 

The question of Christians’ participation in politics – its acceptability and scripturalness have been a thorny one. To me and to most concerned Christians this is a grave one; a subject that demands deep consideration and study. 

POLITICS: ITS SCOPE

Man is basically a political animal. Therefore, all of us are politicians in one-way or another. Whether you believe this or not: you are a politician! Whatever we do in our families, with our friends and neighbours; in our various business concerns, at Church, at village council meetings, etcetera, politics is involved. 

There is a social, economic as well as religious or Church politics. According to Chief Chris Asoluka, a one time Commissioner for Finance in Imo State speaking on an Imo Broadcasting Corporation’s (I.B.C.) Current Affairs and Personality program, “Encounter” on May 1, 1996, when asked about Economics and Politics stated, “We have Politics of Economics as well as Economics of Politics.” This is true because when we apply the economic principle of “Scale of Preference” we discover that in making choices we employ the use of politics. 

Politics is what someone engages in, sometimes without realizing it. When one is postulating a particular idea, he/she is politicking. On a personal, family, community, Church, Local Government, State, national and international levels, the political instincts of man is brought to the fore. 

From the foregoing, we can see that politics is an intrinsic part of man and that to argue against Christians’ participation in it is to argue against the obvious, which holds no water. 

LOGIC OF CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

It was Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Our nation and world are in dire need of redemption. Our generation is crying out for good, visionary and godly leadership. We certainly do not want corrupt minds at the helm of affairs of our dear nation. Having such is in itself catastrophic both for our time and for posterity. 

We want men who have conscience, those who can accept defeat, those who can agree to disagree, yet graciously. We do not want self-appointed messiahs; self-opinionated, self-willed and self-centered leaders of our past and present political experimentations. We desire men and women of integrity in government; people who are God-conscious those who have hearts for God and for the people they are called upon to serve; men and women of proven integrity who have not mortgaged their consciences; those who can deliver; those who are accountable, not to themselves, but to God and to their people. 

Many dusts have been raised among Christians with regards to some Christians’ participation in politics. The bone of contention is not in the area of Christians exercising their franchise by going out to vote for political office aspirants, but in actually getting themselves involved in political activities such as vying for elective positions as Ward Councilors, Local Government Area Chairmen, State Governors, Legislators, Senators and even as Presidents. While some favour such participations, others blow their roofs.  If I may ask  -  is it not hypocritical that we can elect politicians and at the same time refuse to be involved in politics? Does this not violate the principle found in Romans 1:32? If politics is wrong, why should we vote and elect people into various political offices? The fact remains that if we can pray for Caesar, render unto Caesar what is Caesars’ and even elect Caesar, why should we not desire to be Caesar? 

ARGUMENTS AGAINST CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS

Among those who contend against Christians involvement in politics point to the fact that in John’s Gospel account of our Lord Jesus Christ (Chapter 6:14-15), our Lord refused to be made king by Jews. Ironically, He was called the “King of the Jews” (John 18:33-34). The Jewish Kingdom was too small for Him to be its sovereign. An offer was made to Him in eternity, which is recorded in Psalm 2:8: 

“Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth thy possession.” 

The world as a whole is His territory: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” He says in Matthew 28:18. Unarguably, Jesus remains the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15). Assuming that I am the leader of a large group of people and a small portion of that group wants to make me their exclusive leader, wisdom demands that I rebuff such an offer. 

Some people also argue that at John 18:36 our Lord said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” They philosophize and theologize that that since Jesus was not involved in the politics of His day, His followers should not involve themselves in the politics of their days. Fine argument. But, if we should follow such reasoning, we will remain on the ignorant and wrong side. To fully grasp the import of the words and actions of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is pertinent to first understand His mission to earth. Principally, He was here for the purpose of human redemption. He had a short time to live and do His work. He was only thirty-three years when He went to the Cross and accomplished His mission. He was barely qualified to vie for any elective post going by the Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission’s (INEC) qualification guidelines that pegged the age of governorship aspirants in Nigeria at 35 years of age. 

Furthermore, those who argue against Christians’ participation in politics opine that entrance into politics would corrupt them because according to them, “Politics is a dirty game.” Another faulty argument. Politics was and is never designed to be a dirty game as many have come to associate it today. Admittedly, the politics of today is somewhat dirty because of the caliber of people involved. However, if men and women of integrity continue to shun away from politics, they will continue to contribute in no small way to the enthronement of corruption. By shunning politics, they leave more rooms for corrupt minds to dominate the leadership of our dear country and then steer her to destruction. Remember: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” If Christians should shun politics because it is dirty, it will then be wrong for Christians to be admitted into various levels of our educational institutions, especially tertiary institutions because there are lots of corruptions in them. Christians should not enroll in the Nigerian Police because the police are corrupt, etcetera. 

Let us be reminded that in spite of the corruption inherent in Babylonian politics, Daniel, a great prophet and servant of the Lord accepted the position of a Minister of “Culture” of all ministries (Daniel 5:11). Yet he remained a strong person of integrity that even his political opponents and fellow ministers testified to his uniqueness and godliness (Daniel 6:5). When an occasion was sought for to accuse him, they honestly admitted, “We shall not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against his God” (Daniel 6:5). 

James Arnold Garfield, the Twentieth President of America was not just a Christian, but also a preacher in Church of Christ. When he was elected President, he used his position to spread the Gospel. In obedience to I Peter 3:15, he published an 11-point statement in a pamphlet titled, “What we stand for” to answer many frequent questions regarding his religious beliefs. In his short period as an American President, James A. Garfield led the American people well. In subsequent presidential administrations in America, many distinguished cabinet members have served and continue to serve as special advisers are Christians of the Restoration Heritage. 

In Nigeria today, not only do we have Christians who are serving in various political positions as Ward Councilors, Local Government Chairmen, but as Special Advisers to their Excellencies. Others have been appointed to very powerful political positions in powerful ministries and Federal parastatals. One day in the life of the people of this nation, a “Christian” was elected Governor of Abia State. Although, there are arguments for and against his performance in office, we can say with certainty that the Church in Nigeria and in Abia State benefited. I believe that one day a Christian will become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

At the tertiary level of our educational institutions Christian students have been actively involved in politics. Many have been elected Senate presidents, distinguished Senators and Legislators where they have served as Clerks of the House, excelled and impacted positively on the lives of students of the institutions where they were so elected. 

CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS: THE WHY

There are various reasons why Christians should be actively involved in politics: 

First, the Bible declares, “When the righteous is on the throne, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2). Why? Because, “The righteous is concerned with the rights of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such concerns” (Proverbs 29:7). 

Second, at Psalms 115:16 God’s Word declares: “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the children of men.” What does this mean? It certainly does not mean that heaven is meant for 144,000 persons as Jehovah Witnesses would want us to believe. It does mean that God is at the helm of celestial politics, but the terrestrials He has given over to the children of men. At Matthew 6:10 Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” Someone rightly observed that, “Active citizens of the heavenly kingdom must not be passive citizens of earth.” 

What makes one a true citizen of heaven is the same as what makes him a good earthly citizen. It behooves Christians to understand that the public business of our dear country should be the private concerns of very true child of God. No wonder the Spirit of the Lord exhorts us to “Pray for our leaders” (I Timothy 2:1-2). What makes one a true Christian should make him a true citizen, which includes payment of taxes and custom duties, not violating the laws of the land which do not in any way violate the express ordinances of the Lord (cf. Romans 13:1-7). 

An important question worth asking is, “What Christian would be so myopic not to be actively interested in his or her father’s family?” Again, “Is this world owned by the God of the Christian or by the devil of the unbeliever”? If answers to the above questions are in the affirmative, why then do Christians shun from politics and what moral or scriptural right has anybody to encourage Christians to stay away from it? 

Psalms 24:1 declares, “The earth and all its fullness thereof are the Lord’s.” The Lord is interested in how the world, including our localities, states and countries are run, because “He will destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelations 11:18). It is only when Christians get actively involved in politics and all the political offices are firmly held by them can the prophetic utterance at Revelations 11:15 be fulfilled: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord….” If God is interested in politics, why should His children not be? 

The truth of the matter is, if you want things to change for the better where you are: family, community, state and nation’s leadership, get involved in its politics. Don’t keep your hands akimbo and play the standoffish. In his book, Leadership, Roy Roper wrote: 

“If those who are supposed to be where they are supposed to be are not there, then those who are not supposed to be there would be there.” 

The more we run away from our responsibilities, the more the irresponsible spread their wings to cover our territories and the deeper their roots go down to take positions of our possessions. 

Third, because the Lord cannot ally Himself to corrupt and oppressive governments. Christians should take charge and control. Psalms 94:20-21 declares: 

“Can a corrupt government allied itself with Thee, one that organizes oppression under the pretense of law? They join forces against the life of the righteous; they convict innocent people.” 

What do we suppose should be our lot and portion when terrorists take over the mantle of the leadership of this country in the guise as elected leaders? We are all witnesses of the oppressive, dehumanizing and dictatorial governments of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and late General Sani Abacha; the maladministration and tribalistic tendencies of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. We were here when Babangida and Abacha sought to make Nigeria a member of the Organization of Islamic Conference? Come to think of it, is Nigeria not a member of the O.I.C? If in doubt, why not take up a Naira note and look to see if you would not find some Arabic inscriptions there. If not for Divine intervention coupled with the efforts that were made by believers in the eighties, certainly today it would have become treasonable for anyone in Nigeria to be a Christian. Does this remind you of anything concerning the Sharia Legal Code and how thorny it has become to Nigeria’s legal systems since its introduction by core Northern State governors of Nigeria? Is this the kind of system you would love to have? You know, I suspect that many Christians are cowards and so to cover up their cowardice, they preach the “gospel of none participation in politics.”  In his book, Britain and the Beast, Peter Howard (1963:21) wrote: 

“The Red men are few. But they are red formidable in their Marxist Faith. They succeed because they are red hot where so many of us are lukewarm. Too many of us are yellow. We stand for nothing, so fall for anything. If we are Christians, we shrink from the charge of ‘Meddling in politics’…. We sit at home while others vote at the Trade Union Meetings. We denounce those who fight…. We do nothing ourselves and salve our conscience with criticism of methods of those who try to do something….”  

Fourth, Christians should participate in politics because God is interested in politics. Romans 13:1-2 affirms:

 “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, he who resists authority has opposed the ordinances of God, and those who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.” 

Daniel 4:32 makes it abundantly clear that “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men and He gives it to whomever He wishes.” What a grand revelation! The question then is, if unbelievers to whom leadership does not belong to are willing to receive leadership from God, why not Christians to whom leadership belong to not willing to receive it? 

To avoid God-dishonouring and retrogressive people-disoriented policies of evil men in Government, Christians should not only cast their votes to elect others, but should also endeavour to be elected themselves. 

How can we hope to eliminate corruption from our national life and in government knowing that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs14:34) if we remain adamant and inactive? Certainly, corrupt people cannot correct corruption. Proverbs 25:4-5 say, 

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes out a vessel for the smith; take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.” 

As long as corrupt people remain in government as leaders and advisers, the more bad things become. Changes for the better would only come when Christians come out en-mass to vote out those who are evil, vote in the good and are voted in. 

It has been long since unbelievers have taken that which belongs to us. Psalms 125:3 says: 

“It is not forever that the scepter of the wicked shall rest upon the lot of the righteous so that the righteous may not put forth their hands to do evil.”

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF CHRISTIANS CONTINUE TO SHUN POLITICS?

Many of us are quite familiar with the history of the Second World War, which was initiated and prosecuted by a mad man named Adolf Hitler, a German and how six million German Jews were slaughtered. 

In the pre-Second World War Germany, Jews who were great businessmen never took interest in Germany’s politics, but only in floating large corporations, forgetting that business and politics go hand-in-hand as one can affect the other positively or negatively. Their absence and apathy towards politics led to the rise of that diabolical monster who took over the mantle of leadership of Germany, destroyed millions of Jews and then plunged the world into an infamous Second World War. 

What happened in Germany also happened in Russia and Romania where believers felt unconcerned, shunned politics and even kicked at those who were willing to participate in politics. The result was mass killings, incarceration of citizens and other forms of oppressions meted out on them by the Communist and Socialist red heads until those oppressive regimes fell under the sledge hammer of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Today, they have learnt better and are now active participants in the political arena rather than remaining passive observers. 

In his book, The Turning Tide, Pat Robertson (Page 24) reported that the collapse of Communism began with the cry of an elderly Romanian woman calling Nicolai Ceausescu a liar. What a woman of courage! 

In his article, “Can Morality Be Legislated?” (Gospel Advocate, October 1995 page 17), Kerry Anderson, former Executive Vice President of Gospel Advocate Magazine noted: 

“By participating in government, Christians can help promote godly standards.” 

POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS IN BIBLICAL TIMES

Government and governance, politics and politicking: different strokes for different folks. Many people see these differently. Some see it as good, others see them as bad; some as friends, others as enemies; as instruments of God and change, others as tools of the devil, oppression and corruption. Those who see it positively are willing to join the wagon, but those who see it negatively oppose not only their own involvements, but also of other people’s participations. 

God’s people and Christians in the Bible times did not see “politics as dirty” and something to shun from, but something to be actively involved in. In Bible many godly men and women were career politicians, whether elected or selected: 

1.    Joseph was a Prime Minister of Egypt who served faithfully under the Pharaohs and whose reign witnessed economic prosperity, political stability and general tranquility.   

2.    David and his son, Solomon were kings in what today is known as presidents. Their eras are still being looked upon as an example of what a nation and its leadership should be. 

3.    Daniel, a prominent prophet of God in Old Testament times served as a Minister of Culture with various portfolios under different Babylonian presidents. 

4.    Under the New Testament, many prominent Christians were politicians and political office holders. Of such were Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the highest ruling council of his land; a key government cabinet member (Luke 23:50-51; Matt. 27:57).  

5.    Nicodemus, whom the Bible describes as “Ruler of the people” (John 3:1) was a follower of Jesus Christ (John 19:39). 

6.    Other disciples of the Lord had very powerful political connections which enabled them go in and out of the corridors of power hobnobbing with the powers that be and even influenced certain policies to the advantage of other followers of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 18:15-16). 

7.    Erastus, a Christian man was the “City Treasurer” which was a way of saying a Commissioner for Finance in the city of Macedonia (Romans 16:23; cf Acts 19:22). 

8.    The Ethiopian Eunuch who became a Christian was the “Treasurer of the Candace of Ethiopia” (Minister of Finance, Acts 8:27) and nowhere was he told after his conversion to resign from that political position. 

9.    Time would fail me to make references to those who were Security Operatives in various governments (cf. Acts 10:1-48). 

It is a Biblical fact that the right of citizenship bequeaths to us the right to vie for the highest political office in our lands. We must exercise our citizenship for good or else the Lord will hold us responsible (Acts 16:36-39; Acts 22:25-29; cf. James 4:17). 

I remember vividly what transpired in the late nineties when I was still ministering for Church of Christ, Ife-na-Owutu, Ezinihitte, Mbaise, Imo State when a preacher named Jude Igwe, who was serving at that time as preacher of the Lord’s Church in Amumara in the same Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State. He was schizophrenic (mentally ill). His mental illness, at that time was not fully known to us (the preachers in Imo state). In view of this, he had written a letter to late General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s Military Head of State, asking him to relinquish power to him (Jude Igwe) on June 12, 1997. 

Having received the letter that was written with the letter headed paper of the Church, General Abacha dispatched fierce-looking security men to Imo State with the authority to affect the arrest of Jude Igwe and all the preachers of the Church of Christ in Imo State. Having arrived Owerri, Imo State capital, the security men reported to the Military Administrator then, I suppose in the person of Colonel Tanko Zubairu who was personally known to Bishop Dr. Gideon Nwaeze, who at that time was serving his first term as Chairman of Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State as a preacher of the Lord’s Church and was promptly called to attention. In his prompt response, Bishop Dr. Nweze told the Administrator that the said Jude Igwe was suffering from mental problems. This made the Imo State Military Administrator to inform General Abacha that the author of the letter was actually mentally sick. As at the time of this event, we were ignorant of what was happening. While this was happening, all preachers in Imo State were summoned to an urgent meeting at the expense of Bishop Dr. Gideon Nwaeze who briefed us on what was going on and asked that all of us should disappear from our Congregations for the time being. Evangelist Jude Igwe was later picked up alone by Abacha’s men and taken to Owerri where he was later taken to a psychiatric hospital. Tell me, if not for Bishop Gideon who was in politics, would others and I not have been quests at Abacha’s gulag? Certainly. That is to demonstrate the power of political connection. 

Mordecai is a powerful example of the influence of a godly man in politics. Esther 10:3 says: 

“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to the king, Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and in favour with the multitude of his kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation.” 

CHRISTIANS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS: THE HOW

Christians’ participation in politics does not mean that the Body of Christ should overtly or covertly float a political party as some people in some quarters have expostulated. The Church should have no hand in the floating of any political party. The problem in Algeria, North Africa today is as a result of a particular Christian religious group floating a political party. The same is partly true in Northern Ireland. The Church as a Body has no business being in politics, but should encourage Her willing members to get involved, thus fostering good citizenship and patriotism in the land. 

Early leaders of the Restoration Movement such as Alexander and Thomas Campbell, Barton Stone, etcetera encouraged the Church to get involved in active politics. Leroy Garrett quoted by Jerry Adams in his article, Christianity and Government Do Mix, Gospel Advocate, October 1995 page 16 noted: 

“God’s children were using every tool at their disposal to save the lost and to rid the society of evil, and great spiritual and numeric growth resulted. Campbell and others involved themselves in politics so that they could influence influential people.” 

Brother Adams added, 

“Today we can do what our heroes of the Old and New Testaments and of the Restoration Movement did to save people and rid society of evil. God will bless us with the ability to be salt and light. He will empower us with the skills to use every available tool, including Government, to make our world a better place. We can and should use our democratic freedoms to preserve and enhance our religious freedoms…. With the power of the Gospel, we can change hearts. With the power of the people, we can change laws and lawmakers. Repent of apathy. Pray. Be active. Vote. Call your elected officials, and tell them what you think. Run for office.” 

THINGS EXPECTED OF CHRISTIANS TO DO IN THIS POLITICAL DISPENSATION

1.    “Office of the Citizen” is the most powerful political office in the land because sovereignty rests with the people. Through their votes, they can hire and fire. 

2.    We have reached a point in Nigeria’s political history that we do not have the luxury of sitting on the fence (I Kings 18:21). We must get into political parties and work to change things from within. 

3.    Do not be apolitical. Define your political position. If your parents were not able to influence how your life turned out today in Nigeria because of bad politics and governance, at least you should make the lives of your own children better in the future because of your active involvements in politics today which will lead to good governance of Nigeria tomorrow.   

4.    If you want a country that works, wake-up and become involved:

a.     Go, get your PVC.

b.   After voting for the person of your choice, ensure that your vote counts.

c.    Do not sell your vote because of a plate of porridge.

d.   Avoid engaging in any form of electoral malpractice.  

SUMMATION

Restoring the dignity of our nation is a collective responsibility. Let us climb down from our various theological and philosophical mountains, keep aside petty parochial, and sentimental postulations and join forces in making our generation better than we met it. 

As I draw this presentation to a close, I would want us to visit with our dear Brother, a great servant of God, Jeff Abrams, Minister of the Lord with Azalea City Church of Christ, Semmes, Alabama, USA whose article was featured in Gospel Advocate Magazine, October 1995, page 14 titled, America: A Spiritual Wasteland as he leaves for us some important piece of advise: 

“One of our greatest tools is the opportunity to be involved actively in government. God has blessed us with, in the words of Lincoln, ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people.’ Consider the magnitude of that principle. Consider the awesome opportunities it affords the children of God. In our society, we can pray for Caesar, render unto Caesar what is his, and even elect Caesar. If we desire, we also can run for office and be Caesar.”   

May God help us to make right decisions with dignity, to be part of history and to change history by getting involved in what can lead to the rewriting of the present negative history of Nigeria’s politics. 

Hilary Johnson Chukwuma Chukwurah (Evangelist)

CHURCH OF CHRIST

New Haven Secondary School, New Haven, Enugu,

Enugu State. Phone: 0803 959 6919 E-mail: hilaryjohnsonc@yahoo.com