Should religious leaders directly address contemporary political issues? In every aspect, yes. And one of the vocal Christian leaders, Apostle Johnson Suleman, is strengthening the truth of this belief with credible and relevant proof.
Apostle Suleman spoke to the order issued by the Niger State governor, Umaru Bago, to pastors to secure official permits before preaching in the state. Suleman’s lecture two weeks ago indicates that such an order only reflects the politician’s fear of being told the truth. Politicians are not interested in the truth, it suggests. They want to be told things that make them feel good and things that support their prejudices.
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“I heard about one governor; Niger State governor. The man said that anybody that wants to preach in his state must come and get a license. I do not support any preacher preaching against anybody. Preach peace. But don’t show any governor your notes. For a governor to see your notes, he must also show us how he spends the state money. Once he publishes how he spends the state money, we will also publish our message notes,” the leader of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide, declares, implying that religion offers a moral framework that is directly relevant to policy issues and thus religious leaders are qualified to speak to politics.
Warning that religion and politics should be kept separate and therefore pastors should preach the word rather than be partisan, Apostle Suleman cautioned that “issues of religion leave it, issues of tribe leave it. Religious and tribal wars can consume a state. I’ve always said that when it comes to security issues I will speak and when it comes to Christianity I will speak. I won’t keep quiet when you try to mutilate our faith and what we stand for. Be careful. The profit of governance is welfare; people can feed, people are happy.”
Suggesting that power changes hands, political power is transient; it comes and goes, Suleman implores political office holders to use power wisely. A legacy becomes beautiful, enduring, powerful when power is used to serve the interests of the people. “People desire things not knowing that life is transient. Anything God gives to you, value it. Don’t use that office and position to oppress people. It’s a matter of time. Whatever God gives you to you today, don’t abuse power. You were elected and you’ll be out of office one day. Don’t become a terrorist; everybody is shaken. It shouldn’t be so. Whatever you have today, you’ll leave it one day. Glorify God with it,” he lectures.
On account of the above, Apostle Suleman elucidates that once powerful men will one day move through the corridors of power only as statesmen, no longer as the ultimate decision makers.
