Zambia: Church's Participation in Government's Politics Controversial

10 June 2011

editorial

THE counsel given by the Global Training Network should help our vocal Church leaders track their habits and make them realise that their actions could morph into something far more sinister and self-destructive.

Some clerics have gushingly taken to attacking the Government at the slightest opportunity they have, under the guise of advocating what is supposed to represent their popular social reform agenda.

That has been part of the problem that has made many Christians in our country struggle with the Church's involvement in socio-political-economic issues.

We agree with what Apostle Barney Mulenga says in a story we are carrying on our front page today, that a point that requires no debate is that public leaders are there to work for the betterment of their communities just like Church leaders should.

But the apostle is convinced that the key role the Church should play in politics is through its prophetic ministry.

Some Biblical scholars have taken "prophetic" to mean speaking into policy, structure, or issues in the name of God and Christ, or on behalf of humanity in general or of a community in particular.

The prophetic role is seen in the application of relevant moral norms to the current political concerns of the day.

In our situation, it is the manner in which some clerics have mounted rooftops to savage everything the Government does that has given the impression that there is a rift between the Church and our national leaders.

Some Church leaders have openly aligned themselves with some opposition parties and have taken the role of gunslingers in as far as Government programmes are concerned.

As President Banda says, the Government is always open for dialogue and advice, and there is absolutely no need for such unnecessary antagonism.

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