THE ECCLESIASTICAL INFLUENCE The document of the Christian faith is a compendium of social experiments on three fronts, first a society under divine guidance with God as final authority in the administration of justice. Secondly , a society that was partially theistic and partly animist , then thirdly an atheistic society.
The laws of Moses where attended to institute social order , equity and justice . It consists of status, ordinances, commandments and ecclesiastical laws.
Ecclesiastical laws where subject to changes as society evolved against the backdrop of population increase, avalaibility of resources and perceived external threats.
It is the flexibility in the implementations of ecclesiastical laws that has open the church to abuse of authority. Especially in the hands of politicians who see the clergy as easy prey in the propagation of material aggrandizement and nepotism.
The misconception of what a blessing is contrary to biblical doctrines has made religious centres according to Jesus Christ a den of thieves. A blessing as defined by scripture is the state of well be spoken of or to experience goodwill. It is far from materialism as is being preached in many a congregation. Jesus Christ taught that he that wants to be the greatest should be the servant of all. This is the very opposite of a title crazy clergy where service is relegated to the background and work is seen as not of God but as purnishment from God or a curse . It is common place to hear preachers say that God wants you to work smarter and not harder.
These self acclaimed prophets are known to have multi-million dollar investments and yet discourage their subordinates from gainful employment . Abstinence from work is preached as righteous devotion before God. Our streets are inundatated with young overzealous seers each looking for a politician to prophecy to with the hope of receiving the "prophet's seed " (gratification). The politicians qualifications and antecedents are of no relevants, there have been reported cases of clergymen carting away ballot boxes on election day.
The apostle Paul in second Thessalonians 3.6-12 speaks of preachers being an example to society through hard work "[NLT] 2 Thessalonians 3:12 "We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. "The concept of full-time ministry is the bane behind the criminality among the clergy with overwhelming tales of woe from victims who have scammed in the name of the lord.
The greatest challenge against rational reasoning is the proliferation of the doctrine of faith premised on experientialism and subjectivity. Pronouncements by these so -called Prophets have taking the place of objective analysis of doctrines. A typical example is the case where 400 prophets led Zedekiah gave the king Ahab the go ahead to prosecute a war against the rational reasoning of prophet Micaiah 1kings22.6 "Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him? 8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
9 Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah. 10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them." 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth- gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand. 13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. 15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord? 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his ....
34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the Lord which he spake."
Four hundred megalomaniacs misled the king Ahab to his Waterloo. It is unethical for a preacher to leave his or primary assignment as these prophets did and pitch camp with a leader for material reasons.
The kingdom of God is not all about meats and drinks but righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost. Prophets are expected to be the voice of the human conscience. And a token of societal morality , an embodiment of divine justice, equity and love.
Against the backdrop of the multiplicity and incoherence in the prophesies concerning the forth coming elections by so-called men of God ,it behoves the laity to allow rational reasoning guide their decisions at the ballot box. God is not the author of confusion. Emphasis shouldn't be that a prophet rightly predicted who won an election. the winner may not be approved by God as in the case of king Saul. David was annointed king in line with God's approval. God is concerned about righteous leadership based on equity and justice .
A Christian ruler whose leadership isn't positively felt by the majority of the citizenry does not in anyway glorify God. If a congregation votes in a person into office based on the instructions or preference of the senior pastor and he or she eventually enters into office, the beneficiaries of his largesse will be the senior pastor and his cronies while the generality of the laity will be relegated to the background in abject poverty. God is not to blame. In acts 6. we were told to vote men of tested wisdom, integrity and the fear of God.
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