It seems, traditional Christianity implies adjusting to the environment, rather than causing the environment to change for the better. The reason for Christian denominations to compete with one another is focussing on adjusting to the environment. Naturally, a degraded person seeks to protect self, instead of causing the environment to change. A readily available example of this reality can be observed in political activism.
It is common to hear the supposedly good Christians advising others to avoid dabbling in politics. This sounds innocent and noble, especially when used in reference to Jesus, assumed as not having dabbled in politics. But, the mission of Jesus was to introduce a Kingdom, which, itself, is, basically, political activism. The only difference is that Jesus was not partisan. Jesus merely focused on revealing goodness, as compared with evil. His mission was to transform the mindset of humanity.
The cause for wickedness in humanity is ignorance. Out of ignorance, humans focus on self-centeredness, assumed as necessary for survival. The principle of loving enemies, as taught by Jesus, is based on knowledge. While clearly easy to prove that corruption is bad, obviously, those benefitting from corruption cannot agree with that viewpoint. It is not surprising to observe that the ZANU PF defenders are involved in the corruptible activities.
In its simple definition, politics implies a methodology sustained in activities associated with running a government, organization, or a movement. It is basically involved with the administration of human survival activities. Looked at carefully, politics should not be left in the hands of wicked people. Christians cannot be associated with wicked people, but with what is good.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:13-15) (NIV).
The purpose of Christianity is to advance the mission of Jesus, in serving humanity. As long as there are Christians who use the name of Jesus to advance their own interests, evil remains dominant. This is why pagan nations, like China, appear as better than most of the African countries known to subscribe to Christianity. Wickedness multiplies, where Christianity is hijacked and used for evil intentions, by the corrupt ones.
To illustrate how the wickedness in adjusting to the environment applies, let us use marriage, as an example. The common recommendation among all Church denominations is for young people to marry within the Church, rather than outside. This is found to be the most virtuous thing to do, as solemnized in what is adorably christened as white weddings. To authenticate this, some Scriptures are incoherently plucked out of the Bible, like the following one:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) (NIV).
To start with, this Scripture is referring to doing the work of God, which is different from marriage, which is of this world. Doing the work of God is not of this world. However, the pastoral charlatans find the Scripture most workable, in manipulating others. It raises the ego of those marrying within their respective Churches, where white weddings are adorably used.
In other words, such conduct makes those marrying within the Church holier than those marrying outside the Church. Obviously, such behaviour is as unchristian as any other wicked behaviour. By seeking to marry a pliable person, one seeks to adjust to the environment, rather than changing the environment for the better. Changing the environment can be as was implied by Peter:
“Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2) (NIV).
This, in no way, should be interpreted as suggesting that Christians should marry outside the Church. But marrying outside the Church or within the Church has got nothing to do with one’s Christian calling. The challenge is in assuming an easy life-style in Christianity—which life-style has got nothing to do with Christianity. This is one of the reasons why the apostle Paul, who was not married, recommended celibacy, among his listeners:
“I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:7-9) (NIV).
Of course, the greatest disadvantage of marrying a nonbeliever can be likened to the law of dilution. If you take any strong concentrate and mix it with its opposite, the effect is the weakened condition. In other words, a good person can easily become corrupted by evil people in his surroundings. However, a Christian should not, necessarily, be regarded as good.
It can only be a Christian charlatan who goes about claiming to be better than other people. Even Jesus, the author of Christianity, refused to be called good: “And behold, one came and said unto Him, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” And He said unto him, “Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but One that is, God. But if thou wilt enter into Life, keep the commandments’” (Matthew 19:16-17) (KJV).
That which dwells in a Christian, not the person, cannot be diluted. It has the power to change the environment, but cannot be affected by the law of dilution. True Christianity has the power to change the environment, not the other way round. By refusing to change, in order to succumb to the environment, a Christian is willing to die. That was exactly the principle applied by Jesus and the first-century apostles. Although being of this sinful world, true Christians refuse to succumb.
Their persecution and possible death cause changes in the environment and not their succumbing to the environment. Claiming that goodness comes from avoiding dabbling in political activities, is from fake Christians. Such Christians advance the idea of simply waiting for the second coming of Jesus, without doing anything about it.
Of course, such preachers benefit immensely, from a corrupt government system. That is why their sermons are premised on exhorting their followers to pray for the governing authorities. This is designed to ensure that such corrupt governing authorities continue, while they benefit, also. This is why corruption is more in Christianity than outside Christianity.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:13-15) (NIV).
Here, Christ was talking to His true followers, who would not allow evil to dictate goodness in the environment. If called to be the light, where is Christianity, in a country as diabolical as Zimbabwe, in terms of the existence of stench corruption? Does the question lie in whether we have Christians in the surroundings or not? Why should there be darkness where there is light?
A true Christian cannot get diluted by the corrupt environment. That person is the cause-point of goodness. In Zimbabwe Talent Chiwengwa has become a controversial preacher. He may as well appear as the only preacher representing truth, despite so many so-called Christians labelling him as unacceptably controversial. Interestingly, this is as the corrupt ZANU PF government equally hates him. The majority of his fellow Christian leaders hate him, without even checking whether what he preaches is true or false.
They emphasize on the false datum that Christians should not dabble in politics. The bottom line is that politics is too important, to be left in the administration of nonbelievers, or the wicked people. This does not mean that Christians should be politicians. But that Christians should not tolerate what is evil. How Should Christians impact goodness among ordinary people, when not in politics? Being loved by corrupt people does not project goodness in a person.
The hatred of Talent Chiwenga by fellow Christians is not new. The Bible reveals that Elijah was also hated by the prophets of Baal, who subscribed to Ahab. Talent Chiwenga is not alone in decrying evilness in ZANU PF government. At one point Elijah thought he was alone, when God, actually knew of several thousand, decrying idolatry (1 King 19:18).
Christians bear the voice of God. What God does not like, can only be projected by true Christians, bearing His word. The existence of suffering, in Zimbabwe, is a result of cowardice displayed by dubious Christians, fascinated by miracle charlatans. Those charlatans tell their congregants to avoid dabbling in politics, so as to be safe. Their congregants seem comfortable with that teaching, as also seeking physical protection. But Jesus Declared:
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me” (John 12:24-26) (NIV).
A true Christian is not after comfort, as seeking to be a human pleaser. He seeks to project God’s word without fear or favour. There is no comfort in Christianity. Yet most people are into Christianity for purposes of attaining comfort. True Christians are happier when persecuted than being showered with praises from corrupt government authorities.
“Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12) (NIV).
The above Scripture is not designed for pretenders, but true Christians who take responsibility for what happens in the livelihood of ordinary people. Those people do not succumb to fear or intimidation. They stand for what is true, regardless of the apparent endangerment of their own lives. Obviously, not many can subscribe to that kind of determination.
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14) (NIV).
This calls for sincere Christians to stand up with Jesus, in times such as these. Good Christians know that Jesus stands with the poor majority, and not with the minority, existing to abuse them. There is God’s power in the decisive majority, standing up for the truth. The 31st July 2020 march should be taken as a deciding moment for the people of Zimbabwe.
There are only three reasons why there are Christians subscribing to the idea of maintaining the corrupt ZANU PF government. 1) Such people are benefitting from its nefarious activities. 2) They are being used by such wicked people, due to their lack of education. 3) They are psychiatrically challenged, as to need experts in handling insanity.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, 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 having witnessed the 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
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