Hate Giving Bribes as Much as Large-Scale Corruption

Many of us have been in challenging situations where a bribe, also known as “kitu kidogo”, “lunch”, or “chai”, has been asked of us, or else something uncomfortable would happen to us. All would attest to how frustrating this was. In this article, corruption will be referring to the large-scale misappropriation of public resources in the leadership domain. As citizens in our country, we all hope for a society where bribery and corruption will come to an end. However, many of us, in despair, have resorted to falling in line with the system: choosing the easier way. There is a general fear that the person in power could make our lives very difficult, either by throwing us in jail or withholding some critical rights. To avoid such inconveniences, many choose to oblige to the broken system and give bribes. 

Personally, I have been jailed three times for refusing to pay a bribe, my shoes have been removed, and numerous threats were sent my way. This was all in an effort to subdue me to the point of paying a bribe. We often pay bribes for the sake of comfort, the safety of a crucial document, peace of mind, and the certainty of getting back to everyday life. However, should believers also bow to such societal expectations? What do the scriptures teach us about paying bribes?  

Bribery in Scripture

Twenty-five verses in Scripture specifically mention the word “bribe” or “bribes”. There is a general tone in Scripture affirming that those who take a bribe are blinded to justice and bring down the worthy cause of those in the right (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Samuel 12:3). In other words, bribes pervert justice and cause those in power to show partiality, leading to compromise on so many levels of decision making (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19). Bribes prevent those in power from heeding the plight of the suffering and shuts their eyes from seeing evil (Isaiah 33:15). 

During the difficult moments of leading the Israelites in the desert, Moses’ father-in-law advised him to raise leaders from amongst them to share his responsibilities. He directed him to choose men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate bribes (Exodus 18:21). This text shows us that people who fear God and are trustworthy are those who would never accept bribes (2 Chronicles 19:7, Psalm 15:4-5). In giving bribes, you are actually affirming and encouraging bad leadership. We get mad at our leaders, decrying how corrupt they are for stealing public funds, yet we feed their corrupt ways by giving bribes. If we genuinely desire the end of this corrupt system, we must hate giving bribes as much as we hate corruption. 

Samuel, a godly man in the scriptures, called the Israelites to himself when they demanded a human king in exchange for the leadership of God. He said to them, “Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you (1 Samuel 12:3).” The Israelites could not name anything that Samuel had done to oppress or defraud them (1 Samuel 12:4). This passage of Scripture well exposes to us the characteristics of corrupt leadership, the central claim being that a person who takes bribes will steal, defraud, and oppress. Sadly, Israel mostly ended up with such leaders, and so have we. Giving bribes allows those in power to steal, swindle, cheat, rob, deceive, abuse, tyrannize, and persecute with utter disregard.

Impact of Corruption on Everyday Life

Evidences of corruption are present all around us. Our roads, apartment buildings, and other crucial infrastructure are poorly built, endangering our lives due to corruption. We receive bare minimum services in our government offices because of corruption. The innocent get arrested while the guilty walk free because of corruption. Public servants don’t get their salaries on time or retirement benefits with ease because of corruption. The list could go on endlessly, but the truth is that bribes sustain corruption. In many ways, our suffering is self-inflicted because of our choice to not stand up to evil. 

Scripture generally calls out the person in power taking a bribe, not the one giving it. This is shown by how the ones in power that take bribes are called corrupt in heart (Ecclesiastes 7:7), companions with thieves (Isaiah 1:23), oppressors (Isaiah 33:15), extortionists (Ezekiel 22:12), sinners (Psalm 26:9-10), bloodthirsty (Psalm 26:9-10), and cursed (Deuteronomy 27:25). The ones in power who take bribes don’t bring justice to widows and orphans (Isaiah 1:23). Taking bribes is a serious offence in the eyes of the Lord. True Christians must not be party to it. Scripture teaches that disaster comes upon those who take bribes (Micah 3:11). 

What Must We Do?

As Christians, we should always live in light of the kind of judgement upon the corrupt. Scripture teaches that leaders who take bribes are under the judgment of God. Instead of enabling their sin by giving them bribes, let us politely resist. If we collectively decide not to give bribes, there’s hope for the death of corruption. God hates all forms of sin (Psalm 5:4), so we should not entertain any form of corruption (Isaiah 33:15, Ezekiel 22:12, Isaiah 1:23, Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Samuel 12:3). 

In heeding to Scripture, let us fear the Lord, walk in his ways, love, serve, and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 10:12-15). Christians must ensure to do these things at all times because our Creator is the God of gods, great, mighty, impartial, executes justice for the fatherless and widows, and loves the sojourner (Deuteronomy 10:17-19). Above all these things, the scriptures also categorically mention that God takes no bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17). This declaration should awaken us to oppose all forms of corruption vehemently. In all circumstances, no matter how inconvenient, may we seek to live in obedience to God boldly. 

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