Christian men, politics and the pulpit of the nation: Must an Adventist man discuss politics?
There is a strange and troubling argument trending on social media among our own brothers, Zimbabwean Adventist men in the United Kingdom who are members of a group known as ZUSDAF. Some have concluded that a true Christian, and worse, a true Adventist, must not discuss politics. That to be holy, you must be politically mute, politically blind and politically absent. This is very myopic reasoning, unreasonable and unhelpful.
I followed the debate closely, and what I discovered was more dangerous than politics itself. Some men are living in the shadow of self-actualisation. They believe that they are holy and must not discuss politics. They have confused holiness with cowardice. They believe God marks your spirituality by how far you stay from the affairs of Caesar.
They never stopped to ask: What would the world look like without a Christian politician? How dark would it be if there were no ray of light in the world's darkness?
The answer is simple: it would look like the devil's courtroom.
1. IS IT BIBLICAL FOR A CHRISTIAN TO DISCUSS POLITICS?
Yes. Emphatically, yes.
The Bible is the most political book ever written. It is a book of kings, judges, governors, laws, parliaments and nations.
Joseph was a politician, Prime Minister of Egypt, managing food security and the national treasury. Without his politics, Israel would have died of hunger (Genesis 41).
Moses was a politician. He stood before Pharaoh, the superpower of his day, and demanded legislative reform: "Let my people go."
David was a politician, a king who wrote Psalms between cabinet meetings.
Daniel was a politician, a Seventh-day Sabbath keeper serving as President of the Princes in Babylon and Persia. He discussed politics daily in a pagan palace and never compromised his faith (Daniel 6:1-3).
Nehemiah was a politician, a governor who combined prayer with politics to rebuild a nation.
John the Baptist discussed politics. He publicly rebuked Herod for his immoral marriage and for bad governance. He lost his head for political preaching (Mark 6:18).
Even our Lord Jesus Christ discussed politics. When asked about paying tax to Caesar, He did not say, "Do not discuss politics." He said, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:21). That is the most profound political theology ever spoken. He affirmed civic responsibility.
To say a Christian man must not discuss politics is to say Joseph, Daniel and Nehemiah were sinners. It is unbiblical.
2. MUST CHRISTIANS BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS?
The question is not must we, but what happens if we don't?
Edmund Burke, a Christian statesman, said: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
A government without Christians does not become neutral. It becomes hostile. If the righteous vacate Parliament, the wicked will occupy it. If Adventist men keep quiet, laws will be made that will close our churches on Sabbath, legalise what God calls abomination, and steal from the poor.
Zimbabwe is not a secular accident. It is a Christian nation, built on Christian values. Christians are called to tame wild governments. Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
We need rejoicing. Therefore, we need righteous people in authority.
The idea that God looks at your holiness by your absence from politics is a lie. God looks at your faithfulness in your sphere of influence, including politics.
3. CHRISTIAN MEN WHO DID WELL IN POLITICS
History vindicates the Christian politician.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe. Whatever his later political controversies, he was a staunch, mass-attending Roman Catholic who never hid his faith. His education and discipline were forged in Catholic mission schools.
Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia. A staunch, tithe-paying Seventh-day Adventist. He goes to church on Sabbath even as President. He has shown that an Adventist can lead a nation without compromising the Sabbath.
Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi. An ordained pastor and former President of the Malawi Assemblies of God. Malawi was literally ruled by a pastor.
Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister. A devout Christian who later became Roman Catholic and openly spoke about his faith guiding his decisions.
Jimmy Carter, President of the USA. A Sunday School teacher who taught Bible classes while in the White House.
If these men had listened to the "do not discuss politics" gospel, their nations would have lost moral leadership.
4. THE ZIMBABWEAN ADVENTIST IN POLITICS: WE HAVE ALWAYS LED
This is where the debate among UK-based Adventist men becomes ignorant of our own history. Zimbabwean Adventism has never been absent from politics. We have shaped it.
Cyril Ndebele. A committed Adventist and Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe. He led the legislature with Adventist integrity.
Nelson Chamisa. Raised and baptised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he was a former youth leader. His eloquence is the eloquence of Adventist youth preaching.
Hon. Justice Luke Malaba, the former Chief Justice of Zimbabwe. A devout Adventist. The head of our Judiciary was a Sabbath keeper. If politics and governance were evil, would God allow His child to head the justice system?
Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. A faithful Adventist. The man who drafts our laws is an Adventist.
Senator Morgan Changamire Masimirembwa. An Adventist businessman, senator and Harare ZANU PF provincial chairman.
Hon. Tino Machakaire, Minister of Youth. A young Adventist in Cabinet.
Senator Kuda Tagwirei. An elder in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and a major player in our economy.
And the voice of reason in the Central Committee.
Look at that list. The Chief Justice is Adventist. The Justice Minister is Adventist. The Youth Minister is Adventist. Are we to tell these men that they are sinning by discussing and doing politics? As for Christians, the President is a Christian and so are ninety percent of ministers.
If all Adventists withdrew from politics, who would protect Sabbath freedom? Who would argue against beer halls being built next to our churches? Who would ensure our Dorcas work is not taxed into oblivion?
THE PULPIT AND PARLIAMENT NEED EACH OTHER
To my brothers in the United Kingdom: Do not confuse British reserve with biblical righteousness.
An Adventist man who does not discuss politics is not more holy. He is more useless to his nation. Daniel did not become a great prophet despite being in politics. He became a great prophet through being faithful in politics.
Let us discuss politics, but as Christians.
Discuss it not with insults, tribalism and party slogans, but with Bible principles, respect and solutions.
Discuss it not to fight for ZANU or CCC, but to fight for justice, for the poor, for religious liberty and for good governance.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:7, "Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you... Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
You cannot seek the prosperity of Zimbabwe or the UK without discussing politics. You cannot pray for the city without understanding the city council.
A government without Christians resembles the devil's courtroom. It is time for Christian men, and especially Adventist men, to rise and take their seats, not leave them empty.
Do not be silent. Silence is not holiness. Faithfulness in the public square is holiness.
