In the last few weeks, there's been lots of politically-fuelled tirades thrown at Pastors, GOs, and general Christians for their political choices or partisan stances. For instance, just very recently, a popular Pastor was the subject of insults on twitter for his nonpartisan posture.

Apparently, most peddlers of these attacks against pastors feel every pastor and Christian either voting for Moslem candidates or maintaining a nonpartisan stance is no good. The crux of their argument is that the Church in Nigeria is under attack, and the the way to deal with this is to vote a Christian candidate.

It is quite clear that they have a point. However, on a lighter note, it's ironic that many of these folks were never church goers and have been critique of pastors/churches before now. Their sudden passion for the church is a mystery.

Some have quoted from the scriptures to try to justify the attacks against pastors who aren't actively partisan for the Christian candidate. These ones seem to believe that pastors are obligated to support a Christian candidate in an election. Now, this is the subject of this article.

Are Pastors Obligated to be partisan with politics?

The answer to this is obviously NO. There's absolutely no Biblical instruction for pastors to influence the church politically.

First, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Chief Shepherd of the church, never left such precedence... His responses to politics in the days of his flesh were always non-participatory. Here are some of His words:

John 18:36
[36]Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

The Lord Himself says His kingdom isn't of this world. In other words, His kingdom isn't dependent on the political happenings of this world.

At His resurrection, His disciples (who still assumed Jesus would usurp the Roman dominion over the Jews) asked and got a similar response.

Acts 1:6-8
[6]When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7]And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8]But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Note Jesus'response. He switched the minds of His Apostles away from political thinking to what His (Jesus') kingdom would entail: which was preaching and bearing witness of His resurrection by the Holy Spirit.

His kingdom is not like the worldly kingdom. It is established in the hearts of men.

Luke 17:20-21
[20]And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[21]Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

So, Jesus never made any inference about Christians taking power. Neither did He command His Apostles and pastors to go into partisan politics. What was His simple instruction to His pastors:

Matthew 28:19-20
[19]Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20]Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


Luke 24:46-48
[46]And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
[47]And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
[48]And ye are witnesses of these things.


The Bible's singular instruction to pastors is to preach and teach the church. To equip the church properly for God's work and purpose on the earth.


Acts 20:28
[28]Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Ephesians 4:11-13
[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12]For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13]Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


Note He didn't give pastors and the likes to lead political revolutions. He has the specific jobs He has committed to them!

Jeremiah 3:15
[15]And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

A few highly revered pastors have repeatedly stated this: that God didn't call them to be partisan. But to teach and disciple all persons (irrespective of tribe and political affiliations) as Christ instructed.

But What About the Pastors Endorsing Candidates?

Well, they are doing so in their private capacities. Understand that, besides being pastors, they are citizens who also have political opinions. And these opinions have nothing to do with their calling as pastors.

What Should We do About Pastors that Are Non-partisan or Support Candidates We don't Like

As it's been made clear above, no knowledgeable, wise Christian would curse or ridicule any pastor for their political choices or inactivity. That's simply not their calling!

We should not allow democracy (a system of govt invented by man) cause us to despise people that God has called.

God wants us to honour what He has honoured. Political choices would not validate or invalidate any pastor. If you would be honest, both good and bad people are in every party or supporting every candidate. That's what politics is. It's not a standard!

God instructs us to honour His servants.


1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
[12]And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
[13]And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

1 Timothy 5:17
[17]Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

No true believer would despise God's Word! God's wants us to Honour His servants. We would not dishonour them for some vain system or just because it's popular on social media to do so.


1 Chronicles 16:20-22
[20]And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
[21]He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
[22]Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.


Conclusion

Democracy is not initiated by God. It's a system from the ancient Greeks. It's a system of government based on the most popular opinions.

One of its ideals is that everyone respects the political choices of others. Of course, you can engage in political or philosophical engagements to help them see reasons for your political choice or to see from theirs.

However, the practice of bullying and insulting other people with varying political opinions is undemocratic in itself.

More so, we (particularly believers) should not stoop to so low to such insane levels that we begin to insult the systems that God has put in place. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be used by ungodly forces to speak I'll of pastors, GOs, or the church as a whole.

Let's be sober and vigilant. Let's not be swayed by the wrong Spirits in the name of politics. Let's not flow with the mob.

1 Peter 5:8
[8]Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Righteousness2:
As long as you are still on earth, you must be interested on who your leader is. This is one of the reason JESUS lamented that the people of the world are wiser than those who claim Christian.

GOD ALMIGHTY personally ordained leaders in the days of old.
GOD personal made Joseph prime minister so his people could be preserved.

The likes Saul, David, Hazel of Syria and many others were presidents that GOD ALMIGHTY personally took interest in.

You are not yet in Heaven. You are still flesh on earth. So you must be interested and involved in who leads you else you will suffer the brunt on earth.

Pauldollars:

Pastors have a role to play to ensure that there is peace in the land by encouraging their members to pray and vote.

Pauldollars:
As much as it is wrong to crucify Pastor's who don't want to be involved in politics or take a stand for any candidate, Pastors have a role to play to ensure that there is peace in the land by encouraging their members to pray and vote..

Righteousness2:
As long as you are still on earth, you must be interested on who your leader is. This is one of the reason JESUS lamented that the people of the world are wiser than those who claim Christian.

GOD ALMIGHTY personally ordained leaders in the days of old.
GOD personal made Joseph prime minister so his people could be preserved.

The likes Saul, David, Hazel of Syria and many others were presidents that GOD ALMIGHTY personally took interest in.

You are not yet in Heaven. You are still flesh on earth. So you must be interested and involved in who leads you else you will suffer the brunt on earth.

LogicBomb8:
Even the bible say when the righteous rule the people rejoice, why wont the church encourage the people to support the righteous. Thats hepocrisy

KevMitnick:
This is the most stupid analogy I've ever read on this matter. Leadership affects the church, so why should a pastor not be interested in who leads the country he is serving in. Op just shut up your mouth.
Prophet Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Elisha where all very interested in who was in power and you're here typing nonsense.

damosky12:


The least you could do, Sir, is to address the post in it's context and point out what you think are the errors in it. This you've done here, Sir, is not right

Nothing in the post claims it's wrong to be interested in who your leader is. Right?

However, God never compels or forces His choice on a people. People choose their leaders.

God didn't ordain the kingship (or political) system of this world. Pharaoh was wise to choose Joseph. God didn't foist him on Egypt. The people of Israel, against God's plans, were the ones who chose to have kings "like other nations" (the heathen nations) It wasn't God's original plan for them.

1 Samuel 8:5-7
[5]And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
[6]But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
[7] And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Note God's response (in bold). God's original plan was to reign over them. Not some physical kings like the nation's of the world.

God did not ordain Democracy or the kingship systems of the world. Jesus did not! But, as patriotic citizens, it's good to vote and participate in politics. Not doing so could make us socially or politically disadvantaged.

But still, whoever we vote or not vote for is a choice. Whether we choose to vote or not vote all owes to individual choices. It's not God's priority on earth. So He doesn't give any ultimate directive in that regards.

God's primary plan for changing the earth isn't politics. But His word and His power.

Dtruthspeaker:


Whether they support or not a devil will always be the king, and remember Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, Elisha were all enemies of the evil king who sat on the throne, so you did not speak well.

Dtruthspeaker:


"When the righteous rule". But people seek to convert the righteous into the unrighteous and if he refuses they murder him.

Therefore the righteous are not ruling which also means that it is the evil who rules and evil can never have any support from me.

damosky12:

Democracy is not initiated by God. It's a system from the ancient Greeks. It's a system of government based on the most popular opinions.

One of its ideals is that everyone respects the political choices of others. Of course, you can engage in political or philosophical engagements to help them see reasons for your political choice or to see from theirs.

However, the practice of bullying and insulting other people with varying political opinions is undemocratic in itself.

More so, we (particularly believers) should not stoop to so low to such insane levels that we begin to insult the systems that God has put in place. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be used by ungodly forces to speak I'll of pastors, GOs, or the church as a whole.

Let's be sober and vigilant. Let's not be swayed by the wrong Spirits in the name of politics. Let's not flow with the mob

LogicBomb8:

You know it will do you good to outline your thoughts clearly the only major evil i see here is apc and i dont support evil in any form

Dtruthspeaker:


The major evil I see is man and man has beyond all reasonable doubt proven that he is very very evil, especially in these days, so whether APC or Peter Obi or PDP it still would not be well for Nigerians because God has ended this world.

Righteousness2:
Bro you are quoting scriptures out of context.

A true Christian is the salt if the earth. You give taste to the earth. You Have a duty to influence the earth as a Christian in every way possible.

Don't be a spiritual mugu. The devil will poo on your head. We are still on earth. And we need leadership that will allow us to practice our faith.
GOD will always give direction on who to vote if you ask. But he will never force you. [/i]

LogicBomb8:
you can just say labour party instead of peter obi...
It shall be well with me, my family and meaningful nigerians so speak for yourself

Dtruthspeaker:


Do we not see that people are doing in 'Obi we trust" and not in labour party?

Since you have already proven that your trust is in labour party, then I am sorry to say that saying "It shall be well with me, my family" is as empty as traveling in a car with no engine and tires.

This world is over and all the good in this world finished.

damosky12:


No need for strife bro. Make your point and let it lie.

Dtruthspeaker:


Do we not see that people are doing in 'Obi we trust" and not in labour party?

Since you have already proven that your trust is in labour party, then I am sorry to say that saying "It shall be well with me, my family" is as empty as traveling in a car with no engine and tires.

This world is over and all the good in this world finished.

LogicBomb8:

Just because i refuse to let you slander obi does not mean i have my trust in him, i mean he is human. Although he remains the BEST presidential candidate for this election. you talked about cars, since your world is over maybe you should just get into one and end it all