Is it right for a Christian to be involved in politics?

By Peter Makotose

This article seeks to demystify the myth that the church must not be involved in issues of politics and that Christians meddling in politics are missing the point. This article tries to briefly answer two questions that is:

1. Is it right for a Christian to be involved in politics?
2. Does God have an interest in how a country or countries are governed?

The rhetoric that Christians especially Pastors must concentrate with shepherding people and if they want to be involved in politics then they must first take off their Priestly garments, needs to be analysed.

Well, let us not forget that God is the creator of mankind and therefore He has vested more interest in the way in which His creation is governed. In the Bible history it is clearly seen that God was actively involved in the selection of leaders for His people i.e. Moses, Joshua and all the Judges after Joshua (read the books of Exodus, Joshua, Judges and Samuel).

Even when people demanded that they wanted to be ruled by a king rather than a judge God went by the people’s decision and sent Prophet Samuel to anoint Saul (1Samuel 8:5-7).

On the other hand some can argue that the choice of leaders was a shadow of the true leader to come that is, Jesus Christ and therefore after Jesus Christians should concentrate on Christ and leave non-Christians to deal with politics.

While this argument seems to be more of a revelation rather than factual the problem associated with the argument is the insinuation that God has neglected all other people who are not Christians and yet the Bible teaches us that the whole wide world is in His hands. God loves all the people and is involved in their day-to-day choices.

It doesn’t mater that sometimes evil prevails over good but God’s law will prevail as there are consequences to be suffered as a result of disobeying God. The Bible makes it clear that you reap what you sow. The argument will hold if the politicians lived in their own land away from Christians and not demanding votes from Christians in order for them to be in power. As long as politicians want Christians to vote them into power then the two groups must continue to work together in setting up a proper political administration system.

In our country Zimbabwe we have had people like the late Bishop Abel Muzorewa and the late President Canaan Banana who have been heavily involved in politics. There have been derogatory comments to the effect that they should not have joined politics because of their religious positions and perhaps their religious beliefs to be precise.

Today the same comments are passed on to people like Pastor Evan Mawarire who is standing up for the flock that God entrusted under his care as a shepherd. There are also other unsung heroes of justice from the pulpit whose names are not in the public domain and are also suffering the same ridicule from within and outside the church. These Pastors are doing a great job and there is nothing wrong with what they are doing because they are not violating any scripture but working in line with scripture.

Some of the reasons why Christians must be actively involved in politics are;

1. Politics is about the day-to-day life of people regardless of whether they are Christians or not. The decisions made by politicians affect everyone in the country and therefore everyone must have a voice in how they are governed. It is their God given right, democratic and moral right to do so without fear or apology.
2. People are responsible for the outcome of their leadership choices regardless of the fact that it is the majority decision that prevails at the end of the day but every citizen of a nation must have a say in the governing process no matter whether their views carry the day or not. In a democracy politicians are answerable to the electorate and therefore they are elected to carry out the mandate of the people who have chosen them. If a citizen has not participated in this selection exercise I believe that he/she has lost the right to comment on how things are punning out and neither does their voice carry weight when interceeding for the country.
3. Voting is political or politics rather and everyone who is exercising their right to vote is participating in politics. If all people have to vote regardless of the fact that they are religious or not, then there must be no boundaries as to how far they go with their participation in politics. You cannot allow the Christians to vote others into office but deny them the same right to be voted into office as MPs, Mayors or Governors. That is not fair.
4. The main reason why politicians are chosen is to make sure that every citizen of the country is accorded a fair chance to participate in any event within the country be it political or social. Every citizen must participate without being segregated by his or her religion, sex, disability, tribe or colour.
5. Christians must not just talk the talk but must walk the talk. The most quoted verse by Christians is Deuteronomy 28:13 which says, “The Lord will make you the head and not the tail”. Christians must spearhead the disappearance of corruption in a country by their conduct and influence. They should not just preach about the evil of corruption but they must also occupy those positions of power in order to demonstrate that it is possible to lead without indulging in corruption. This scripture does not only mean that Christians shall be the heads in amassing wealth but rather refers to (also) promoting justice, peace and wellbeing of the people throughout the world.

At this juncture lets salute the Zimbabwean men of the cloth who have taken it upon themselves to challenge the politicians in some of the decisions and behaviours that cause massive suffering to the general populace. Pastors are shepherds of God’s flock.

I find it very strange when they stand and watch while the wolves are tormenting the sheep they have been entrusted by God. The Bible is full of verses indicating that God desires the shepherds to commit themselves to the welfare of the sheep. God anointed David even to confront the deadly lion and bear in order to save the flock.

The reason why David did not wait for an invitation to fight Goliath was because of the anointing that was upon him. David could not withstand the blasphemy to his God and torture of the Israelites by the giant Philistine.

Jesus said a good shepherd is one who gives his life for his flock. We have heard a few voices from the clergy in the country but the silence of some prominent shepherds is surprising. They are just quiet/numb/mwii/bazithulele bati zii about the whole situation in our country as if all is well with their flock. The Church must speak with one voice and condemn injustice and corruption in a country.

Zimbabweans have these sayings that;

1. Those who are quiet have bread in their mouths and they are afraid of dropping the bread if ever they try to talk.
2. Those with stashes have their hands guarding the pockets and will never raise their hands up fearing that they will be searched and loose their stash. I hope this is not the situation with some of our religious statesmen.

Some ordinary Christians find it difficult to participate in politics fearing that they will be labelled as the Demas (2 Timothy 4:10) of our time. It is not true that they are leaving the work of God by getting involved in politics but are as a matter of fact perpetuating it and taking the stance of a hearer and a doer at the same time (James 1:22).

Other Christians’ Church doctrine might not give them the freedom to participate in any political events and I would challenge the leaders of such Churches to revisit this area objectively. Christians must feel free to do what their conscience tells them to do. Maybe the world is just waiting for someone like them.

Finally the word of God says “For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns” (Isaiah 62:1).

God bless Zimbabwe.