Fellow 'Landers, I have followed discussions revolving around this topic actively for some time now, and noted the concerns of both the FORs and the AGAINSTs of how Christians should react to political leadership, whether good or bad.

Below are excerpt from a Corporate Bible Study we had in Church not too long ago on this topic. I invite everyone who's interested to study the following issues dispassionately under God and come to his/her own conclusion.

However, be it known that am proud to belong to such a vibrant online forum like Nairaland, where tough issues are debated headon and superior argument is allowed to prevail.
THE CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TO POLITICAL LEADERSHIP

Text: Ps. 62:11

Questions/Points For Consideration

1. How should we see political leaders?

2. Does God Approve of Every Political Office Holder?
Dan. 2:21; Rom. 13: 1-8. What of election riggers?

3. How should Christians respond to poor leadership?
1TIM. 2:1-4

4. Is it proper to Challenge Bad Leadership in our Society or Simply Obey?
Rom. 13:1; Dan 3: 15-18; Acts 4

5. Is it Right to "abuse" Politicians/Leaders? Lk 13:32; Matt. 3:7

6. Is Democracy of God? His Perfect Will?
Ezk 34: 1-end;  1Sam 8:7;  Is. 33:22

Let's have done with abuses for once and have a robust discussion on this matter, Should Pst Bakare be better off counting the tithes and offerings in his church, and teaching his congregation to bless the political leaders? Or do we in fact need more of his type in Nigeria today?

My Goodness. Some of us are not even aware that our LORD Jesus actually called King Herod of His day, a "fox".
Hm. Wonder what he would call some of our ruling political class today.

My point: He reserved some of his harshest sermons for the compromised religious and political leaders of His time. He hit them hard and repeatedly, filling many of such sermons with "woe unto you"...

Now, that's something to think about...

Should Pst Bakare be better off counting the tithes and offerings in his church, and teaching his congregation to bless the political leaders? Or do we in fact need more of his type in Nigeria today?[/quote]

PTB was first a Nigerian before he became a pastor. He has every right AS A NIGERIAN to speak out if the country is steered in the wrong direction. Religiously though, it behoves his flock to leave his assembly if they are not comfortable with his preachings.

People in religious authority have the duty AS NIGERIANS to speak against ANY government that raises its head against the good of its citizens. My two cents!

Kobo will not fall for this today . . . . @Kobojunkie is trying to focus

Ah, Kobo. No way, Dear, no way. It's too late to de-rail this powerful discussion with the usual abuses and name-calling. We're having a discussion, remember? I haben't even claimed to be a prophet, so no basis for your lumping me among the "false prophets on Nairaland"

Anyway, to answer your challenge, I don't necessarily support calling political leaders names, but Jesus did it when the occasion arose. As to whether he did it because Herod was a politician, certainly not. He did it cos of Herod's sly character. And that's why I wondered what He would call some of our political leaders today.

And btw, John the Baptist was not left out. He called the religious leaders who trooped to hear his hard revivalist messages a "brood of vipers". Snakes! If you like. This is all in the scriptures. Truth in our time is indeed generally seen but hardly ever heard.