In Africa, notably Nigeria, the political party machinery is controlled by the moneybags, who field their puppet candidates (when they choose not to be candidates themselves.)
The outcome of this practice is bad governance as the political entrepreneurs engineer their winning candidates for the returns on their election investment.
How Come in Pastors?
Most pastors are politically uninformed. Especially, they forbid the church members from party politics (even when a Christian is convinced of divine touch.) Because, politics is seen as a worldly affair and a dirty game, failing to realise that kingly position in the Bible is political.
Nevertheless, the same pastors would stand in the pulpit urging members to register, collect voter’s cards and prepare to vote. And a big question is, “Who is to vote for — the ungodly, self-seeking, political traders? What a confusing lack of understanding!
By this attitude, the church has allowed the country to degenerate this bad. For, the church has sieved away potentials for good governance from the affairs and management of the nation.
A Shaky Stance of Many Pastors
Many pastors are of the erroneous belief that God can use anyone around to build a nation; forgetting (among others) that:
Righteousness with justice makes a nation great. Proverbs 14:34a (For righteousness to prevail in any society, the leadership must have the spirit of uprightness; more so, the head makes the body.)
God has never denied anyone the freedom of choice, even after the Fall. Deuteronomy 30:19; Micah 6:8 (God never makes a robot of any person. We, therefore, are accountable for our actions and inaction.)
What About Cyrus, the Persian King?
“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem in the land of Judah. All of you who are his people may return to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Those who live in any place where Jewish survivors are found should contribute toward their expenses by supplying them with silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a freewill offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.” Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. (Ezra 1:2-5)
Some preachers couldn’t get the clear picture of the king’s declaration. Undoubtedly, God’s mandate on him is to let willing Jews return to Jerusalem, and to facilitate provision for the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Obviously, Cyrus has no business in the art and science of the reconstructions; those are the responsibilities of the people of God (verse 5).
Observation
Though everyone is an instrument in the hand of God, some for rebuke while others for blessing (Proverbs 16:4).
Nevertheless, to work with God for human blessing calls for having the Spirit and knowledge of God. Otherwise, the work wouldn’t be to His standard in quality and effectiveness.
