By Arthur Owiti | May 17, 2009
One wonders why politicians who are not entrusted with any religious duties cleave on religious leaders. Politicians know very well that religious leaders have what they earnestly want---the numbers/masses which means they get influence and approval.
This is because most people trust religious leaders more than political leaders because the people ENTRUST RELIGIOUS LEADERS WITH THEIR SPIRITUAL DESTINY WHICH TO THEM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DESTINY.
Moreover people trust religious leaders because they claim to speak I n the name of God and not man. Because of this they get more respect and honor and their word is next to truth. Thus they are God’s servants first and not the servants of the people as politicians.
They are his “mouthpiece” which unconsciously invokes fear and awe on the followers.
This being so, politicians do all they can to be seen with a Christian leader so as to get straight forward unquestioned endorsement from the masses. Thus it is a form of justification of men. The religious leaders act as justifiers, sanctifiers of the politicians in the presence of the religious crowd. Thus faith becomes a public matter instead of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Politicians get to perform their “good works” to sanctify their motive of getting the people. Here in Africa you can find a politician building church buildings, or contributing large amounts of money to church projects, or being baptized by a famous preacher or attending church services either in one place or various places. Despite the well meaning nature of these activities the motives of the politicians defiles them all. The works are a justification of a politician’s integrity making him ‘holy’ in all that he does whether good or bad.
What Politicians Get/Desire from Religious leaders
• People—this amounts to approval, votes and support
• Man –Covering/Advocacy--- the religious leaders cover for the wrongs/mistakes and decisions the politicians are to make in the course of their present and future actions.
• Justification---- by being near a man of God makes the politician holy by association
• Praise--- this makes the politician gain exaltation and popularity which he tries to get by all means even if it means to pay the preacher handsomely.
• Influence----hoping the control the religious leader has on the flock is passed on to through association
• Guidance--- on how to deal with the people, the flock of the religious leaders.
Religious leaders gain from this service they give to politicians. In fact many of them started out as ‘nobodies’ according to the standards of success in the world, which mean as they genuinely preached the gospel none paid attention to them but when their ministries gained influence and numbers they attracted the eyes of the politician and businessman which in turn polluted their preaching making them to fall away from sincere faith and truth.
There is one remnant preacher in Kenya whose ministry of repentance has a very huge following. The ministry has radio outreach and other publications whose followers have seen apostasy and spiritual rot in the church. When the numbers grew, what followed on was serious security detail for him during his crusades making him more and more exalted—instead of one decreasing and the Lord increasing. Next thing politicians are now seeking his justification and endorsement because of his influence among many believers .When he started out none of the politicians wanted to be close to a dooms day man until he gained the right numbers which were worthy of political association.
So, religious leaders yearn to be close to the famous politicians mainly to secure their authority over the people and position of being mediators between God and the politicians and the nation. It is Replacement theology at work where the restoration of the king, priest/prophet offices/connection is justified through this alliance yet Jesus Christ is the great High priest who is also the King of Kings. Thus such theology has turned some democracies into theocracies thus those who are spiritual heads are one with the political heads.
What Religious Leaders Get /Desire from Politicians
Positional Authority/Power ---it is this that forms part of the anointing of the ‘touch not my anointed’ group since the politicians submission to them validates their authority and closeness to God
Protection —this could be through security detail body guards, or being protected from the legal process if on the wrong since politics and the law are one in this unjust wicked world
Popularity and Fame —because of blessing a public figure one’s publicity soars and thus their influence and kingdom ministry grows
Pride --- one exalts himself or boasts because politicians call him at night to inquire of him
Submission --- this is where the politicians become beggars before religious leaders when they attend church services to solicit support
Privileges/Wealth--- one gets houses, money, cars, property, land and mammon as thank you gifts or ‘prophet’s reward,’ which are mere bribes that influence the message of the preacher and soften his stance towards the politician/or gain praise for the politician.
This relationship is only valid where the people are religious or where the influence of the religious leaders is great. Where the influence subsides, the love the politicians had turns cold and can even turn to hate. Remember the order by Nebuchadnezzar to kill all the prognosticators if they failed to interpret the dream. Failure to deliver the numbers will lead to rejection of the religious class.
This is happening to the evangelical church which is more money-based than asset based at least here in Africa. Many of them are rushing to get land and buildings which old religious institutions have. In the current economic crisis money is less and politicians are desperate to use guns to gain authority instead of the hearts of the people through the evangelical church. It is only the ecumenical movement which is asset based and not money based, that will be the new love of politicians.
It is interesting to note that the false prophet points the people to the Antichrist. Thus false religion will lead to false worship drawing one away from Jesus Christ the Prince of peace whose shoulders shall bear the government and his kingdom will overtake the kingdom of this world, the kingdom of politicians.
Maranatha!
Arthur Owiti
