it started with registration of a christian religious party called agano (kiswahili for testament), predominantly backed by the presybeterian church of east
the bug has now hit tele-evangelist bishop doctor margaret wanjiru of jesus is alive ministries going for the starehe seat. her former love life has come to embarrassingly haunt her. in the meantime her every move to correct perceptions have had her sinking deeper into the public humiliation sewer. her comrade in faith, telecaster pastor pius muiru has a larger vision of not only wrestling the kamukunji seat from the fiery government chief whip, norman nyaga, but has a higher vision of beating president kibaki at the game. some section of the sponsoring party (rap-k) leadership has denounced him and said that he is not a member of the party.
they will not be the first in this political road. the current and former parliaments had their own share of church leaders turned politicians. however this time, high profile pulpit enthusiasts has stirred the mood of the country regarding church ministers getting political.
reuben kigame, a christian apologetics preacher and musician insisted that bishops and pastors should keep off politics since even in the old testament, there was always an office of a king and that of a prophet. former anglican archbishop added that church ministry is a full time job and church ministers should not be actively involved in politics. he said that church ministers are supposed to spread the gospel and not serve tables as stated in acts chapter six.
there have been many counter arguments on this debate. should pastors, reverends and other men and women in church ministry run in active politics? what will happen to their followers and how will they juggle between the two worlds and be effective in both? how will they handle those that do not confess the same faith as them? will they compromise to accommodate them? why can’t they just identify an able leader in their congregation and sponsor them to run for elective political office? should they resign their church positions before running for political seats? are they sincere in their quest for political power or are they after self-actualisation?
having reached the church summit in terms of fame, spiritual power, wealth and having members holding them in awe and wonder, have they reached a flat and are in search of another high?
2 comments:
The keyword in politics is compromise and that is a word no staunch christian wants a part of his value set. That is one major reason christianity and politics dont and shouldnt mix at all.
I do think that Church leaders should limit themselves to a neutral peripheral zone where they advise and watch over leaders in the political arena.
hi acolyte,
i don't know which bug has hit our church leaders. unlike in the 1990's when they just fought for human rights, they now want power. there are others expected to follow suit. i can foresee a situation where the mainstream churches will be packed fuller than ever before.
the charismatic movement is taken another turn. church leaders should just have a watchful role to ensure justice and adherence to human rights. political power should be a no go zone for church leaders.