In the recent past, a few churches in Kenya took a bold stand against the political class, returning donations from the president and other high-profile individuals. In a similar move, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) banned politics in its member churches, stating that if a politician donated money to a church, it should not be announced; instead, it should be treated like any other offering. These were hailed as radical moves, especially given that politicians have historically given large sums to churches, especially towards building initiatives.
Don’t Receive Corrupt Money
Were the above moves warranted? If we’re honest, many politicians–not all–gain wealth unjustly, through corruption or taking bribes. Scripture condemns bribery because it perverts justice, encourages partiality, and compromises sound decision-making (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 10:17, 1 Samuel 12:3, Deuteronomy 16:19). Taking bribes also blinds politicians to societal evils and to the plight of the suffering (Isaiah 33:15).
Moreover, corruption is aligned with greed, cruelty, oppression, living falsely, and fueling God’s anger (Proverbs 1:19, 15:27, 28:16, Isaiah 57:17, Jeremiah 6:13, 8:10). It’s plain evil before the Lord. It leads to God hiding his face (Isaiah 57:17). Ill-gotten wealth leads to trouble with families, death, backsliding, and having a numb heart (Isaiah 57:17, Proverbs 15:27).
Why would a church want to receive money that has come from corrupt sources? Taking money from politicians and lauding them as generous only encourages them to continue gaining wealth through unjust means. It is an affirmation of their perversion of justice, greed, cruelty, and false living, and hence of their continual angering of God, provided we get our building built or the money to fund our ministry. Celebrating as good that which God calls evil (Isaiah 5:20) betrays a lack of compassion for the politicians’ souls. As a church, we displease God greatly whenever we accommodate political loot. We are essentially putting millstones around our necks by misleading politicians (Matthew 18:6).
When we applaud greed dressed as generosity, we tell the unsaved world that we don’t care about holiness as much as we care about money. So we lose any moral standing on which we can hold corrupt politicians to account, for, indeed, how could we ever tell an individual whose loot we are enjoying to be humble, fear God, and worship him with all his heart? Thanks to our complacency, the gospel’s message would have lost its luster, rendering it unable to draw any corrupt person to Jesus.
Let Us Be Holy
Remember that we as Christians are the church and we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” (1 Peter 2:9). These titles mean that we are to be people who worship the Lord, are holy before him, and represent him. The church is to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). The word “proclaim” has the idea of not just worshipping the Lord quietly, but also to be public witnesses of the Lord. An effective witness of Jesus that proclaims he is the one who called us out of darkness and into his marvelous light requires holiness. Peter goes on to say in 1 Peter 2:10-11 that we ought to “abstain from the passions of the flesh,” and to “keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable” as good witnesses in the world. It is the greatest irony for the church to claim that salvation is found in Jesus alone and to proceed to take money gained through evil.
Jesus warned that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Do we live that out? Do our actions as a church show that Jesus is our God above even money? Money can easily become a god to us because it fulfills many of the same roles as God. Money helps you heal whenever you’re sick. Money provides you with a holiday whenever you need to rest. Money enables you to achieve your goals whenever you’re struggling. But money does not save you, give you steadfast love, or dwell with you no matter what. Money is a defective god that we as Christians must reject. Yet in receiving money from politicians and cheering them on like a conquering king, we are indeed making money our god.
Be the Church Politicians Need
As I noted at the start, not all politicians are corrupt. Some do fear the Lord. They want to honor God and be faithful Christians. For such, let them give to their churches where they are members under a pastor and elders. Alternatively, if they wish to support other kingdom-minded organizations they are passionate about, they should do so, but privately. Otherwise, they sacrifice their heavenly reward for a perishable earthly one; namely, the praise of mortal men (Matthew 6:3-6).
Politicians are flesh and blood like all of us. They are sinners (Romans 3:23) needing the forgiveness that only Jesus provides through his death on the cross (Acts 4:12, Ephesians 1:7). Much like everyone else, they need the teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness that the word of God can provide so that they may be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This teaching must come through pastors who rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and shepherd the flock of God, not for shameful gain, but by being a good example to the flock (1 Peter 5:1-4). They need the fellowship of believers who regularly come together under the authority of the Scriptures, the leadership of pastors and/or elders to worship God, to be a visible representation of people living out gospel truths to the glory of God (John 3:1-8, 13:34-35, Acts 2:41, 14:23, Ephesians 3:10, Colossians 3:16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 10:24-25). In other words, they need a church body to be a part of. A church body that restores them in the spirit of gentleness whenever they are caught in any transgression (Galatians 6:1).
The church is called to purity and fidelity, and every single assembly of saints must ask themselves if they are a church that politicians need or if, dreadfully, they have become the church that instead needs politicians. If the latter, turn to the fear of God and reject the god of money.