Christians in Active Politics

Yokoniah Mvula

Description

Some Christians may be uncomfortable to think of Jesus as being political, since the word "politics" or "political" has evolved to have negative overtones and connotations in our world today, particularly in Africa, where this monograph from the Department of Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Malawi has originated. Christians often argue that their commission or job description does not include the political process, which is the way a society conducts its public affairs. However Jesus, beginning with his temptation as in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, showed the people who would follow him what it means to do God's will. The third temptation, conceived of in this study as a political temptation for power, is the rational behind the arguments made in this study, which begins by positing that the message of Jesus was not politically neutral and therefore Christianity, as a super culture must be active in all sectors affecting social concerns, if it is to truly be the change agent who Christ believes it to be. It goes on to define and describe what it means to say that the message of Jesus was political and lays out the biblical, theological, ethical, and experiential rationale for Christians' active participation in the secular political arena.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• State
• Politics
• Religion

Informations

• Publié par: Kachere Series
• Date de parution: 16 septembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789996025464
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

“This book challenges Christians to take up the affairs of the government seriously. It
demonstrates that governance for Christians is a divine calling for those who feel to be
in frontline politics. The book inspires a new way of doing politics for Christians as it
shows why Christians should take up political vocation and how they should participate
in secular political affairs of their nation”
- Rev. Prof. Augustine Chigwala Musopole, PhD, Author of
“Being Human in Africa: Towards an African Christian Anthropology”
Some Christians may be uncomfortable to think of Jesus as being political, since the word
“politics” or “political” has evolved to have negative overtones and connotations in our
world today, particularly in Africa, where this monograph from the Department of Theology
and Religious Studies of the University of Malawi has originated. Christians often argue
that their commission or job description does not include the political process, which is the
way a society conducts its public affairs. However Jesus, beginning with his temptation as in
the gospels of Matthew and Luke, showed the people who would follow him what it means
to do God’s will. The third temptation, conceived of in this study as a political temptation for
power, is the rational behind the arguments made in this study, which begins by positing
that the message of Jesus was not politically neutral and therefore Christianity, as a super
culture must be active in all sectors affecting social concerns, if it is to truly be the change
agent who Christ believes it to be. It goes on to defne and describe what it means to say
that the message of Jesus was political and lays out the biblical, theological, ethical, and
experiential rationale for Christians’ active participation in the secular political arena.
MZEE HERMANN YOKONIAH MVULA is Lecturer in Biblical Studies at Chancellor
College, University of Malawi.








CHRISTIANS IN ACTIVE POLITICS










i
Copyright 2022 by Mzee Dr Hermann Yokoniah Mvula
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers.
Published by
Kachere Series
P.O. Box 1037, Zomba
ISBN: 978-99960-25-30-3
eISBN: 978-99960-25-46-4
The Kachere Series is represented outside African by African Books
Collective, Oxford ([e-mail])
Layout & Cover Design: Josephine Kawejere
ii
CHRISTIANS IN ACTIVE POLITICS


The ‘Why and How’ of Christians’ Active Participation in
the Secular Political Affairs



MZEE HERMANN YOKONIAH MVULA






Kachere Books no. 79

Kachere Series
Zomba
2022




iii

Kachere Series
P.O. Box 1037, Zomba, Malawi

This book is part of the Kachere Series, a range of books on
religion, culture and society from Malawi. Some of the related
Kachere titles are:


Rhodian G. Munyenyembe, Christianity and Socio-Cultural Issues:
The Charismatic Movement and Contextualization in Malawi
Andrew C. Ross, Colonialism to Cabinet Crisis: A Political History of
Malawi
James Tengatenga, The UMCA in Malawi: A History of the Anglican
Church
Herman Y. Mvula; The Theory, Praxis and Pursuit of
Constitutionalsim in Democratic Malawi: An Old Testament
Ethical Perspective
Sheikh Imuran Shareef Mahomed, Majlis Al-Sh ŭrá Consultative
Assembly: Past and Present Application of the Principle of shûrâ
in Islamic Governance

The Kachere Series is the publication arm of the Department of
Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Malawi

International Consultants:
Prof. Bosman Hendrik,
Prof. Clement Majawa
Prof John. Kapya Kaoma
______________________________________________________
Series Editors: Rev. Dr. J. Thipa, Mzee Dr. H. Mvula, Dr. J.
Mawerenga, Sheikh Dr. I.S. Mohammad, Fr. Dr. Chaima, Dr. D.
Tembo, Mr R. Mdoka

iv

CONTENTS

PREFACE ....................................................................................................... vii
CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1
CHAPTER 2 ......................................................................................................... 13
THE FOUR DEFENSIBLE OPTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS’ POLITICAL
PARTIPATION .................................................................................................... 13
The Church-State Relationship through the Centuries: An Overview .............. 14
The Separationist Option .................................................................................. 51
Concurrence ..................................................................................................... 65
Government ...................................................................................................... 65
The Prophetic Option ....................................................................................... 68
The Radical Anabaptist Perspective ................................................................. 69 tion in Africa ........................................................................ 75
The Christian Realistic Option ....................................................................... 104
Critical Analysis and Evaluation of the Options ............................................ 111
The Separationist Option ................................................................................ 111
The Lutheran Option ...................................................................................... 116
The Prophetic Option ..................................................................................... 122
The Christian Realistic Option ....................................................................... 127
Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 132
CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................................... 133
A BIBLICAL VIEW OF POLITICS .................................................................. 133
The Biblical Portrayal of Politics: An Overview ............................................ 133
The Old Testament Portrayal of Politics ........................................................ 134
The New Testament Portrayal of Politics ....................................................... 142
The Kingdom of God...................................................................................... 147
The Question of Power and the Issue of Compromise ................................... 153
The Question of Power ................................................................................... 154
The Issue of Compromise ............................................................................... 162
The Four Options and their Service to the Kingdom of God .......................... 182
Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 189
CHAPTER 4 ....................................................................................................... 193
LEADERSHIP AND THE SOCIO-POLITICAL PROBLEMS IN AFRICA .... 193
Tribalism/Ethnocentrism ................................................................................ 196
Clanism ........................................................................................................... 202
Corruption206
Nepotism ........................................................................................................ 216
Injustices ......................................................................................................... 218
Intolerance222
Rigging of the Electoral Votes ....................................................................... 242
v

Corruption ...................................................................................................... 248
The Character of Leadership .......................................................................... 253
The Traits of Effective Leadership .................................................................. 263
Conclusion275
CHAPTER 5 ....................................................................................................... 279
IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS’ ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE
SECULAR POLITICAL ARENA...................................................................... 279
Why Christians Must Be Active in the Secular Political Arena ..................... 281
Because the Government was established by God .......................................... 281
The Executive ................................................................................................. 285
The Legislature ............................................................................................... 285
The Judiciary .................................................................................................. 285
Because of Human Dignity and Freedom ....................................................... 296
To Combat Systemic Evils .............................................................................. 301
Social Service ................................................................................................. 305
Social Action .................................................................................................. 305
Because Crucial Social Issues Often Require Political Solutions................... 308
How Christians Can Participate in the Secular Political Arena ...................... 312
Voting ..................................................................................