GOVERNMENT AND DIVINE SUPPORT (PART TWO)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

GOVERNMENT AND DIVINE

SUPPORT (PART TWO)

THE BIBLE AND DEMOCRACY

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you --- and you say, “let us set a King over us like all the nations around us”, be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord your God chooses” --- (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

INTRODUCTION:

            Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy, “government of the people, by the people and for the people” seems to remove God out of governance. But, Moses lays down God’s prescription for a good political leader, whose selection or election would be guided and endorsed by God. Thus, the man of God cites that a political leader must be one God chooses, possibly through the people, (Deuteronomy 17:15). Therefore, what grieved God in Israel’s  quest for a king was not the request, but the desire to kick Him out of governance, whereas, He wanted a system of government in which people’s representatives would serve under Him, (1 Samuel 8: 4-9). The clash of interest between God and man still persists today, as most political regimes are in constant struggle with the Holy Spirit in matters of principles and policies of government. For instance, some years back, in Nigeria, there were moves to legalize abortion in the country, whereas, God’s word says no to every form of human killing. Presently, the use of the Bible in Public Schools in the United States of America is outlawed, whereas, its precepts teach proper ways of training up the child. Truly, the deviant tendencies in human nature which often propel people in authority into making laws that are in most case, at variance with divine principles are some of the reasons why God is interested in who governs a nation at every point in time, as it is not His will that people’s government be played into the hands of bad leaders, though people often make wrong choices. Having said this, please notice that:

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE SHOULD

BE THAT ENDORSED BY GOD

            The plan for Israel’s democracy was put in place by God long before the country’s nationhood, (Deuteronomy 17). For Israel, God designed a democracy in which He would become an invisible key player. But, the people had their eyes on the type of democracy fashioned after the pattern of the irreligious nations around them, (1 Samuel 8). In other words, God wanted a theo-centric democracy, Israel whereas, the people wanted a democracy devoid of God. However, God’s plan for every nation is a democracy wherein representatives would always be chosen by the people through the Holy Spirit. At the instance of this, people become instruments in the hands of the Lord in electing those who govern them. But, people need to cooperate with God in order to achieve this, as those with the propensity of rigging or causing problems during elections may succeed in misleading the people, if not checked. This establishes the fact that not every government that comes on board is endorsed by God, though most people erroneously carry the notion that every government is of God. This idea is biblically untrue, for God does not bring a government to power through rigging or any other false means. For instance, if a thief succeeds in sealing what belongs to another, does it mean God is in support of that act? So, a politician who steals people’s mandate is never put in power by God. Nevertheless, God will always defend the government as an institution He has established for the people, pending when the political thief would be judged or disgraced out of office. At times, God may allow such political bandits to complete their stolen tenures, but, divine judgment will definitely catch up with them. Today, there are practical evidences of erstwhile governors and presidents suffering from the nemesis of stolen mandate. Biblical evidence also shows that Abimelech was a victim of the judgment of usurpation of power, (Judges 9).

            Furthermore, government of the people in a democracy is a government elected through the popular votes of the people, and in a religious community, such a government should be a composition of elected leaders put in the hearts of the people by God, which in turn are made manifest through ballot papers. But, this is not possible where people vote for money or for other selfish reasons, for God will not work in company of dupes, whose interest is to smuggle people of questionable character into government, even where they claim to be religious. Therefore, the people are duty bound to ensure that the government they plan to install at any point in time is that which God approves of, as well as work relentlessly to stop undesirable elements from capturing power in their state or nation.

GOVERNMENT ENDORSED BY GOD

IS ALWAYS A BLESSING TO THE PEOPLE

            Government, especially in a democracy is God’s instrument of blessing to the people, and ideally, its operations should be based on equity and fair play, which the Bible strongly emphasizes. This remark unequivocally condemns the idea of using one’s official position to unduly take advantage of what belongs to the people in an effort to benefit members of one’s family, zone or ethnic group. Today, in Nigeria, we hear of “kitchen cabinets”, where people in authority are in the habit of appointing members of their families, zones or clans into key government positions, as well as award contracts based on ethnic or religious affiliations. But, be sure that God is against nepotism, and does not support it in governance. On this note, the clergy and all those who are God’s vanguards of faith and society are called upon to intensify efforts in restoring the fear of God in political regimes, instead of resorting to mundane matters. For the assertion of Josef Imberg remains correct, as he notes that where the Christian church has worked over a long period of time, people have become convinced that a democratic system is the best”. He further remarks that, “with the exclusion of the short period of times of classical antiquity (some centuries BC) the democratic system has developed through the influence of Christian idea, on the basis of Christian doctrine, Christian ethics and Christian brotherhood, and emphasizes that only “under such influence will the idea of “civil right” and “human value “ “be properly understood”.

            Regrettably, at present, certain governments which claim they originated from God; deprive citizens of their rights, disregard the sanctity of human life, as well as make repressive laws that seek to suppress their subjects in states and nations which are said to be democratic, and governed by religious individuals; who are not mindful of the tenets of the faith they profess. If these folks are really the ambassadors of God in governments, why the siphoning of public fund to foreign countries, leaving the people in abject poverty? If they are aware that government is God’s instrument of blessing to the people, why the mindless burdens of multiple taxation on the citizens? And, if they are conscious of the fact that democracy is government of the people, why are the people ruled as slaves in their fatherland? In a plain language, most governments nowadays are in the wickedness of Saul, who massacred a good number of the priests of God (1 Samuel 22), while some are better described as “killer squads”, as they have taken after King Herod, who was in the ambition of criping out the under-aged to enable him remain in power, (Matthew 2). In view of this, therefore, the writer wish to bring to the notice of those in power that God designed government for the good of the people, and that any political leader who uses government machinery to bring hardship on the citizens will never go unpunished.

GOVERNMENT ENDORSED BY THE PEOPLE

IS NOT ALWAYS THE ONE ENDORSED BY GOD.

            No doubt, people can make the wrong choice of those who govern them. When this happens, God always withdraws the grace for good leadership, as that is His constant way of showing deviant communities their error(s). Saul, the first King of Israel remains a case in point. Do not forget in a hurry that the people’s choice of Saul was in rejection of a theocratic government of Samuel, for a secular democracy, but God opted for a theo-centric democracy which was His original plan, though this time on a permissive note, (Deu. 17; 1 Samuel 10). In fact, this is the undisclosed reason for Saul’s unethical leadership. For, when a nation rejects the leading of God in the choice of their leaders (s), He in turn withdraws His support, and so, evil reigns. So, do not see what happens in Nigeria and other parts of the world as different from that of Israel, for God is the only source of good governance. But, are human beings learning from these bitter experiences which often bring people and governments to the point of sorrow? If they do, why are nations of the world in the habit of not considering the stipulations of the scripture in the formulation of the principles and policies of the government they wish to adopt for their countries?

            Let it be said here that whether in monarchy, aristocracy or democracy, God is interested in what goes on in governments, as well as wants the political culture of every nation to be framed in line with the precepts of His word. This is one of the ways to produce government of God’s delight. In democracy, we talk of free, fair and credible elections, and all these are principles found in God’s word. But, how free have elections been in our world? And, how fair have we been in the game of politics, as a way of producing credible government? Yet, we parade governments that are said to have been endorsed by God. Now, think of elections in Nigeria. We all know the intrigues that brought certain local government chairman, governors and presidents to power in recent times. The question remains, can God associate Himself with the antics of lawless politicians or approve of the government produced through their lawless means? The answer is no. But, the bribed judiciary has often come up with false judicial legitimacy for such governments, whereby imposing them as government of the people. This confirms that writer’s affirmation that government of the people is always the one endorsed by God.

            In conclusion, please note that to get it right in governance; we must get it right with God. To give our democracy a meaning, we must mean to serve God. To get the right people in government, we must get the right attitude to govern. And to get God bless our government, we must get Him involves.  THINK ABOUT IT.