Never Keep Quiet
Jubilee Centre April 28th, 2009
The reason why democracy cannot work in Africa is cultural. As Africans we believe that those who rule over us have the right to possess anything they want. Our cultural system is set up to defend and to please those in leadership. Our people are wired up to sing praises to those in leadership. Our people are not wired up to question or to protest against leaders who take advantage of their authority or break the law.
The same reason can be said for Africa’s failure to fight corruption in high places. Take the case of Zambia. We have several people who are highly qualified who would be making significant contribution in the fight against HIV and AIDS, poverty and general backwardness. However, for the last four to six years these people have been spending most of their time in courts of law for corruption and theft charges. Sadly, the perception by those being accused is that the action being taken against them is because at one time they had become political enemies of the government. They find it difficult to accept that they did anything wrong because they operated from a culture that dictates that the ‘chief’ takes all.
African Christians find themselves in similar situation where on one side they have to contend with culture and on other they have to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Unlike politicians who can have both-the law of the land and culture depending on the circumstances, Christians can’t. If we do that we are separating private life and public confession. Christians cannot make political choices because of fear of personal rejection and persecution or because of covetousness for earthly blessing. Christians make choices because of their love for God. The Bible says that during Jesus time their were people who, “would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue, for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (John.12:42). They believed in Jesus, but would not take a stand for Jesus because they were afraid of rejection or ridicule or loss of livelihood.
In 1 Kings 21:1-19
we are confronted with what happens to ordinary people when corruption takes root in a nation and the ‘elders and nobles’ keep quiet. Naboth an ordinary citizen and his family were murdered. It took Elijah the prophet to confront the wicked king who thought he was above the law of Israel. Ahab saw Elijah as his enemy, not as a messenger from God. In Africa we have several people in government who are losing their jobs because like Naboth, they refuse to support decisions that would destroy the future security of our children. May we hear the word of God to go and confront such leaders who take away Naboth’s land because of greed and self-serving attitude? Pharisees wouldn’t admit to faith in Jesus because they feared to lose their livelihood and prestigious place in the community. As church leaders we must take the risk to speak loudly against corruption because of our burden about the salvation of our kings and because of our concern for justice.
Lawrence Temfwe
