NB. If the following article was true of Zimbabwe, led by Robert Mugabe in October 2016, it is still true today—concerning Zimbabwe led by Emerson Mnangagwa in March 2019.
Zimbabweans and Christians have answers to their problems; all entangled on one misunderstood scripture in the entire Bible (Matthew 6:33-34):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (ESV).
If Zimbabweans had understood the concept of this scripture, at the point of attaining independence in 1980, we would not be having over three million people in the Diaspora. Actually, we would have had the reverse, being immigrants into Zimbabwe—the majority being boarder-jumpers.
The quoted scripture is a concept, intended to guide those desiring to attain their actual dreams in life. Note that the scripture is not saying, “Seek ye first the kingdom of Zimbabwe.” What followed ululations and jubilations, characterizing the assumption that Zimbabwe had attained independence and self-dignity was, actually, an illusion.
How does one explain the reality in that today we have people risking their lives, boarder-jumping into neighboring countries? Thousands of them have had to change their identities to be citizens in foreign lands. Britain and America are the most favorable countries for seeking citizenship, according to most Zimbabweans.
My analysis is that most Zimbabweans have viewed their country’s independence through the eyes of their leader, since 1980. They project President Mugabe as representing Zimbabwe, so that Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe are synonymous, among most people. The common phrase among those ordinary people is that “Mugabe has failed us all in Zimbabwe.”
I disagree. Before chiding Mugabe, one should first ask him/herself the question; “What did I do or not do for Mugabe to have had the power to reduce the country to its current state?” Christ said whatever one needed would have been attainable, as long as one sought God’s Kingdom ahead of everything else.
Before showing what God’s Kingdom entails, let us also address the deception among the majority of Christians, even across the world. Matthew 6:33-34 is an enigma to most Christians. Have you ever tried to digest the following few questions?
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Why did Christ not say “Seek me first and all these things will be added unto you?”
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Why is it that, even the most respectable Christian church leaders ignore what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, thereby, projecting the name of Jesus, instead of what He said?
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Why do they feel comfortable ignoring the words of Jesus, and yet Jesus said doing so would be like building on sand? (Matthew 7:26-27).
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Why does it feel secure and comfortable for most Christians to go with the majority, yet Jesus said: “Narrow is the gate that leads to life and only a few find it?” (Matthew 7:14).
It is only recently that the significance of Matthew 23:13 made sense to me: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the Kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (ESV).
Today, the scribes and Pharisees are represented by the known religious Christian leaders. Under a religious system, it is extremely difficult to go against the tide and still call yourself a Christian. This is what Jesus meant, describing the scribes and Pharisees who; while not entering the Kingdom, would not allow those in their ranks to get in.
In Jesus time, even one of their respected leaders, Nicodemus, found it difficult to openly support Jesus. Nicodemus had to visit Jesus by night. Thank God, Jesus could still entertain night visits from those genuinely seeking knowledge, though struggling with the preservation of their dignity.
The New Civilization blog is at its infancy. But I wouldn’t be surprised that some religious leaders are, actually, counseling their followers against visiting the blog. Their people are sternly warned that the blog is dangerous. Yet they cannot give intelligent reason for that assumption, at all, except that the leaders should be regarded as Vicars of Christ. Perhaps, some of their followers choose to nicodemusly browse through what is in this blog, nevertheless?
Christ says these hypocrites would shut the Kingdom in people’s faces. They neither enter themselves, nor allow anyone else to enter. What amazes me is that most Christians condemn Moslems for disallowing Christian religion where Moslems are in control, yet Christians similarly behave, against their own people? Whoever taught them to be gate-keepers in God’s Kingdom?
Christ taught the principles of God’s Kingdom that, if discovered, all problems in the environment get handled. Religious leaders do not want any of it. In fact, the most dangerous enemy of God’s Kingdom is religion. Where did religion come from?
Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God. I suppose only Satan developed a religion called Christianity, which is centered on the person of Jesus, not on what He said? Is it any wonder why Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23)?
Christians are wrong, as long as they do not preach what Jesus instructed. The whole world needs God’s Kingdom. However, the whole world is subjected to other gospels, other than God’s Kingdom.
The Mistake of the Zimbabwean people lies in failure to differentiate between President Mugabe and the country called Zimbabwe. The distinction would, obviously, have solved all our problems. The Zimbabweans have failed to take the responsibility that goes with the attainment of independence. They have, instead, relegated that responsibility to one person, who happens to be the President.
While Zimbabweans exercised their voting powers to elect President Mugabe, they then took leave and forgot about the reason why they voted for him. The voting pattern is generally characterized with apathy, throughout Mugabe’s tenure. Like most irresponsible people, Zimbabweans take comfort in blaming Mugabe for all the existent evils in the country.
Likewise, most Christians fail to distinguish between Jesus and the gospel of God’s Kingdom, which instills responsibility, among the adherents. Christians are, however, comfortable in blaming everyone else, except themselves. They preach about the person of Jesus—how good He is, how He died on the cross, how He was resurrected, etc, except God’s Kingdom. But, just like the Zimbabweans, they cause Jesus to be blamed for the existent evils in the world.
Very few ordinary people know anything about the gospel of God’s kingdom, yet the entire New Testament is about the Kingdom of God. Even the second-coming of Jesus will be determined by the gospel of God’s Kingdom being preached into the whole world (Matthew 24:14). But, apparently, today’s Christians have no business with that Kingdom.
They focus on grace, miracles, prosperity and other niceties, without mentioning the significance of God’s Kingdom. They, actually, cheer their converts to avoid the narrow gate that Jesus talked about, encouraging them to go by the wide gate, instead (Matthew 13:13-14).
I hope to provide the significance of God’s Kingdom, in the next installments. Please stay tuned and let me know of what you think about what you are reading in these postings, whether agreeable or not. While the intention is to help, what individual readers decide to do with this, is entirely up to them. God will never impose anything on anyone against their will.
This is why Jesus encouraged His followers to ask, as if He did not know what they wanted (Matthew 7:7). To preserve His dignity, Jesus leaves it to individuals to take a move, without being proselytized. In this blog each individual is empowered to take a move, following the communication of the spirit. [See Characteristics of God’s Kingdom]
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing reliefs to those having witnessed strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
