MARKS OF RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP (PART 2)

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

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

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

MARKS OF RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP (PART 2)

CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND CIVIL AUTHORITY

MAIN TEXT:

“You are the light of the world”. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light up a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone”… (Matthew 5:14-15)

                                  

INTRODUCTION:

The church is said to be the conscience of society. But, nowadays, it appears there is a complete departure from what God intends the church to be. This is because the leadership of the church, which is supposed to be a guide to the people and government has failed to play its role in line with scriptural standards. To this end, one notices political inclinations in most ministers of God, instead of passion for souls, as the drive for money and unholy friendship with those in civil authority have forced many of them into praise-singing for political leaders against godly rebuke for apparent bad governance in society. This is where the Revered Father Mbaka of the Catholic Adoration Centre, Enugu has demonstrated much courage in trying to sanitize the system. In fact, his forth-rightness in rebuking erring political leaders in Enugu State and beyond is outstanding and worthy of emulation.

In Imo State, however, the Most Revered Anthony Obinna of the Catholic Archdiocese of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, who had been a strong crusader for good governance seems to be fading away or dropping the idea for the reason best known to God and himself. For, if he had maintained his out-spoken-ness against bad governance as he did during the regimes of Col. Tanko Zubairo and Chief Achike Udenwa, some of the wrong steps taken by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State in governance wouldn’t have seen the light of day. For instance, the writer had expected a pastoral rebuke from our hallowed archbishop when the governor made his ungodly moves to relocate the Imo State University to his country home, but none came. The same expectation was in focus when the state security operatives, by the directive of Imo State Government, on August 5, 2011 invaded the palace of the former chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya for allegedly being in possession of some government vehicles, yet to no avail. Similarly, the unwarranted policy of the government that cancelled the 10,000 jobs of ex-Governor Ikedi Ohakim, of the state as well as that which was designed to have privatized the Imo State General Hospital System at the expense of the health need of the poor masses, which the writer thought would have attracted comments from the most reverend clergy of the said archdiocese, still did not win his attention. Having stressed the above, please ascertain further that;    

CHURCH LEADERSHIP SHOULD ENFORCE RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP 

The apparent ministerial compromise of church leadership of today, no doubt, is one of the basic reasons why the modern society is presently recording a very low moral profile, and this is also seriously affecting every aspect of the human government. In keeping with the Holy Scripture, Church Leadership is a means of bringing people to be subject to civil authority (Romans 13), as well as an instrument designed by God to check the excesses of those who govern the people (2 Samuel 23:3), and don’t forget that those in authority are as well part of God’s flock that should be rebuked whenever they decide to go against His clearly stated will in the Bible. So, there is no “sacred cow” when the leadership of the church is what it should be, since the God who ordained if, is no respecter of persons, (Acts 10:31).

If the foregoing is confirmed to be biblically true, why is it that the leadership of the church in Nigeria did not condemn the wicked action of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo when he ordered the massacre of the people of Odi Community in Bayelsa State when he was in power? And, why is it that the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has not cautioned Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for taking a hard stand against the Pentecostal Churches in the state, which is a bloc in the association? This is where the commendation of the writer goes to some of the gospel ministers of the pentecostal extraction, who marched down to the Imo State Government House recently to protest the incessant demolition of the Pentecostal Churches by the Imo State Government of Rochas Okorocha, but advises that they do not become beggarly in handling the matter, since the governor is subject to divine sanctions, if he fails to retrace his steps against the pentecostal arm of the Church of God in the State.

But, why must it always be Pentecostal Churches that are targeted or err-marked for destruction in Imo State? Early this year, it is on record that twenty-three Pentecostal Churches were reportedly pulled down by Imo State Government along Dee Sam Mbakwe Road, Owerri, and now another conspiracy to destroy more is allegedly being plotted. If one may ask, is the Imo State Government not doing this in partnership with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)? It should be recalled that prior to the demolition of the said twenty-three Pentecostal Churches at Dee Sam Mbakwe Road, Owerri, this year, CAN after its regional meeting at Enugu, under the chairmanship of its regional president, Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma of the Anglican Church was reported to have passed a resolution to clamp down on churches that are supposedly those of the Pentecostal Christianity, which the association referred to as “den of thieves and kidnappers”, as well as threatened to use the state security operatives for the job. If the information from the grapevine is anything to go by, is the alleged attempt to demolish more Pentecostal Groups in Imo State not the second phase of CAN-security operatives’ plot against the house of God? Therefore, if CAN says it has no hands in the alleged plot to demolish more Pentecostal Churches in Imo State or elsewhere in the region, it should stand out in condemnation of the previous and the alleged present intention of the Imo State Government to once again clamp down on Pentecostal denomination in solidarity with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), which is a major unit of the association, as well as advise the government against such a blasphemous decision, as this is a way the leadership of the Church could help the civil authority to toe the path of Righteous Leadership in society.         

CHURCH LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE EXAMPLE OF RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP

                Although, there are certain similarities between Church Administration and Civil Government, the major difference is that Church Polity, no matter the form, (Episcopal, Congregational, Presbyterian, Pastoral, etc.), carries a spiritual undertone, as well as adheres strictly to scriptural guidelines in its modes of operation, and this is the original plan of God for every other type of administration, secular or sacred. However, the Gentle nations, from the beginning, have not been law-abiding. In line with this, Jesus says, “You know that rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. It should not be so with you, instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant”. (Matthew 20:25-20). In fact, this is the administrative light which the leadership of the church is designed to shed in the world, (Matthew 5:14-15). But, the reality on ground proves otherwise, as the pomp and pageantry, as well as the lordship and un-necessary self-importance of the secular world have become the order of the day in the administrative set up of most churches, especially those of the pentecostal movement.

                And, the reader knows that it is not possible for the leadership of the church to influence the civil government, for good, where its players are of the same disposition. The obvious truth is that most of the things that are described as the wrong behaviour of our political leaders are noticeable in the lives of most of our present day church leaders, and how can one with evil tendency correct one who is culpable? In other words, how can a church leader who manipulates figures during church accounts effectively preach against the evils of siphoning and embezzlement of public funds? Or, how can such a shameless ecclesiastical misfit call for the probe of political leaders with traces of corruption, whereas he knows, he stand to be guilty if the same measure is taken against him? The point here is that no church leader can influence those in civil authority onto Righteous Leadership if he, himself is not an epitome of the same stuff. By way of application, therefore, the writer’s call on Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to restore the beneficiaries of the 10,000 jobs of ex-Governor Ohakim becomes his personal probe to ascertain if he, himself had, at any time caused anyone similar pains as a church leader. His reaction as to whether the governor’s removal of Professor B.E.B. Nwoko as the Imo State University Acting Vice Chancellor was maliciously done becomes a point for self-examination, to find out if he had un-righteously been dealing with people as a gospel minister.         

CHURCH LEADERSHIP SHOULD INSPIRE RIGHTEOUS LEADERSHIP

                Church leadership is a divine source of inspiration for Righteous Leadership in society. According to the BBC English Dictionary, “if someone or something inspires you, they make you want to do something by giving you new ideas and enthusiasm. Therefore, from the leadership of the church, people should be motivated into the concept of leadership that is based on the principles of righteousness, as well as receive insight into its relevance and values. One of the missing links in our generation is that church leaders who should have been teaching Christian values for good governance are devoting precious time drumming up support for godless politicians in anticipation of unrighteous wages, and this has been the bane of society. Another problem is that most of the people who held ecclesiastical portfolios, at present, have no real knowledge of the Bible or skills for proper exegesis of the word, and you know, the lack of knowledge is the lack of power, for knowledge is power.

                But, God’s word reveals that, “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Timothy 3:16), and this, contextually, implies that church leaders through their teachings should always inspire political leaders on the ideals of Righteous Leadership, as well as be courageous enough to hand out godly rebukes and corrections when the need arises. Yet, a few years ago, the Nigeria’s ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo was unrighteously aroused into a controversial and unconstitutional third term bid, and was supported by a good number of church leaders who supposed to have rebuked him for his inordinate ambition. Presently, too, President Goodluck Jonathan is allegedly said to be nursing the ambition to stay in office beyond 2015, having said he would relinquish power after a tenure, and no church leader has been courageous to tell him to be a man of his word in the interest of peace and stability in the country. This shows that Nigeria is in dare need of Church Leaders with the power that an inspire people unto Righteous Leadership.       

In conclusion, please note that if the society must toe the right path in governance, the church, through its leadership must play the role of guidance and spiritual empowerment that is devoid of party politics. To this end, church leaders must be alive to their God-given responsibility of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, with focus on Righteous Leadership, as this is God’s plan for good governance in society. GET IT RIGHT TODAY.