The Evasion of Responsibility and Divine Justice
Humanity’s moral decline is rooted in its refusal to accept accountability, preferring instead to shift blame onto others—a convenient but corrosive escape from truth. This evasion erodes not only personal integrity but also collective purpose. In Zimbabwe, the prevailing crises cannot be attributed solely to corrupt politicians; rather, the Christian community bears a profound responsibility. Many Christians cling to a complacent belief in their own righteousness, assuming God despises sinners. Yet Scripture reveals the opposite: God loves sinners—so much so that He sacrificed His Son to grant them time for repentance (Ezekiel 18:23, ESV).
God grieves when the wicked perish but rejoices in the death of the righteous (Psalm 116:15). This divine paradox confounds those who misunderstand God’s justice, reducing His infinite wisdom to human limitations. A critical misinterpretation arises in Ezekiel 18:24 (ESV):
“But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice… shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.”
How does a righteous man turn from righteousness? This demands understanding the significance of righteousness before taking steps to correct one’s mistakes. Jesus’ ministry emphasised love for sinners over the self-righteous (Matthew 9:13). Jesus is the only Man unmistaken for having lived a righteous life, in this world. This suggests divine favour toward repentant sinners rather than those secure in their moral superiority.
The Unpardonable Sin: Blasphemy Against the Spirit
The gravest warning in Scripture concerns the unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31). Unlike other transgressions, this sin carries eternal consequences. But the knowledge of what constitutes such blasphemy is of paramount importance, lest we remain entangled in sinful confusion.
The Pharisees, strict adherents to the Law, accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath when He healed another person on the Sabbath Day (Numbers 15:32-36). Though they believed themselves righteous, Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. They usurped God’s authority, condemning Him who came to fulfil the Law (Galatians 3:10, 13). By rejecting the Spirit’s work—attributing Christ’s miracles to evil—they could have crossed a fatal threshold, had they been grounded on the Spirit.
In their ignorance, they attacked Jesus, unaware that He embodied the Holy Spirit, whose blasphemy could result in condemnation. This underscores why Jesus often spoke in parables to those outside His followers. He sought to withhold the Holy Spirit from them until they acknowledged Him as their Saviour. For this reason alone, He allowed them to take His life.
The sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is grave and irreparable. Hebrews 10:26-27 echoes this warning, emphasising the peril of apostasy after receiving the truth. The Jews were not granted permission to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ sacrifice was final; there is no second atonement. Thus, those who knowingly reject the Spirit’s conviction risk irreversible judgment.
The Failure of Zimbabwe’s Christians: A Case Study in Accountability
Assuming that all those people claiming to be Christians possess the Holy Spirit, then this cannot be a casual challenge. If blasphemy against the Spirit involves denying divine truth while possessing it, then Zimbabwe’s Christians must examine their role in the nation’s collapse. Matthew 5:14 declares believers the “light of the world”—yet darkness persists. Why?
- Complicity or Cowardice?
Many Christians either tacitly endorse oppressive policies or avoid confrontation out of fear. Both stances betray hypocrisy. True faith acts, rather than inaction out of fear (James 2:17); silence in injustice exposes Christians to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. While fear appears justified to ordinary Christians, its reward is destruction (Revelation 21:8).
- Misplaced Blame
Politicians thrive where the church is passive. By scapegoating leaders, Christians evade their duty to illuminate truth among Godless people. Jesus judged sin but bore its penalty
. Similarly, believers must confront corruption while offering redemption. Hence, there is nothing nobler than dying for truth, as that occurrence automatically qualifies one to become the Lord’s brother, which is the sole aim of Christianity (Revelation 20:3-6).
- The Cost of Inaction
When light hides, darkness reigns. When the majority of Christians solely blame the government authorities for the prevailing chaos, this reflects the church’s failure to shed light. Christians represent a higher authority, which is above those politicians. Christian silence, or inaction, is abominable before God.
Fear of persecution contradicts Christ’s example (Matthew 10:28). Cowardice has no place in Christianity. Jesus warned His disciples that by trying to save their lives, they would lose them. Whereas, by losing their lives for Jesus’ name’s sake, they would save them (Matthew 10:39).
Conclusion: A Call to Repentance and Responsibility
The unpardonable sin is not merely theological—it manifests in spurning the Spirit’s call to righteousness, achieved by following Jesus’ steps, even when confronted with issues that threaten life. The alternative is not to identify with Christianity when not convinced of its workability. Otherwise, for Zimbabwe’s Christians, this means:
- Acknowledging complicity in national decay and doing something about its eradication. There is no other time of repentance, except during this time when one is alive. It is better to die in God’s safety rather than to die in the condition of cowardice, but still identifying oneself as a Christian.
- Rejecting passivity and confronting corruption with truth, when boldly speaking against it. Standing up against what is evil should not be mistaken for participating in politics. If politics represent what is evil, it requires confrontation.
- Embracing sacrificial courage, as Christ did. Some people have randomly been imprisoned for standing up against corruption, even though not Christians. Those people should be replaced by Christians in that role.
Judgment belongs to God alone, but accountability rests with His people. Living in communion with God grants the freedom that every devout Christian seeks to achieve. The unfavourable view of politics should not deter Christians from participating in its affairs, as the involvement of Christians in politics can contribute to promoting decency. Satan’s strategy is to deceive Christians by presenting a false narrative of virtue in abstaining from political engagement. If Zimbabwe remains in darkness, the question is not “Where are the politicians?” but “Where are the Christians?”
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the 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 relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99