Articles By Reuben Kigame

In recent times, the Church in Kenya has been bashed for the right and wrong reasons. I write as a member and defender of the Church and so please give me a chance to tell you something. Never forget that nothing will destroy the true Church of Christ and so none of us need fear the obliteration of the Church. Jesus said He would build His Church and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. Also, the world loves negative news, so you only get to hear the bad things; yet there are so many good things taking place in the church that you will never hear of, because it is the bad news that sells in this fallen world. You will only hear of pastors and bishops with scandals or shortcomings, because the world meticulously looks for them, so what you need to do is just take precaution, but generally learn to ignore media reports about the Church as, perhaps, about anything else, for whoever owns a media house owns the message the media will relay. In his book, “Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man” originally published in 1964 but released in 2003, Canadian Communication expert, Marshall McLuhan quipped that “the medium is the message.”  If you doubt it, then ask yourself why you don’t ever get depressed listening to Waumini Radio or Hope FM, compared to other media? Strangely though, I should add, it seems that Christians love the other  media than their own. We don’t invest in our media, so we empower all the filth out there. But also, if there was anything to learn from the mistakes committed by church leaders such as how they misled faithfuls in the last election, then I hope the lesson is clear that, if the Church wanted to put anyone in office, nothing can stop them. The question is who. But, please read on because below are the most important things.

I write to share three important pieces of advice with a sincere heart and humility as a fellow disciple and ambassador of Christ. First, there is the need to be vigilant and stay grounded in biblical faith in the midst of many social, political and economic storms. Secondly, the need to unite and support one another in line with the Early Church model of solidarity in the face of the above and, thirdly, the need to organize and speak as one voice through the changing political occurrences.

GROUNDING IN THE FAITH

Because this is the most important of what I want to share, I will spend a little more time on it than the other two things. Everything is changing quickly. There is an increase of information and knowledge streams, advancement in science and technology, new global initiatives as the world becomes one village. As a result, many ideas and philosophies will fight for your allegiance. There will be seemingly new religious ideas and philosophies, expanded media influence and persuasion, new consumer demands, new diseases and social pressures. You will be called upon to be more accommodating, tolerant and accepting of many new things. In the midst of this, you and I need to be reminded that our foundation as Christians remains Jesus Christ and nobody else can become our cornerstone. Paul would remind us in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Paul cautions in the verses that follow on the need to examine how we build, warning that if we build with perishable material, we will suffer loss. We need to remember what Paul advised in verse 18 of this same chapter, namely that,  if anyone of us thinks he/she is wise by the standards of this age (the then world as would be our world today), he/she should become a “fool” so that he/she may become wise. Why? Because (verse 19) the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight and (verse 20) because the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.

If you forget what I have just said above, then don’t forget this: just as you received Christ Jesus, as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition (I think Paul means culture and intellectual guiding) and the basic principles of this world (by which I think he means science, logic, mysticism and technology) rather than on Christ. Why Christ? In Him dwells all the fullness of Deity and again, Christ is head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:6-10). So, before doing or adopting anything, ask yourself, what would Jesus think, say or do? When Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He kept grounding His responses in the statement, “It is written.” This means that being grounded in the faith is not just about belonging to Christ and identifying with Him but also knowing the Word. What did Jesus say on a matter (as is to be found in the Gospels and the ramifications in the New Testament as a whole) and the Old Testament which Jesus referred to regularly. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 would remind us that all Scripture (not just a part) is God-breathed and profitable for our faith and daily living. I, therefore, encourage all of us to spend a lot of time in the Scriptures; perhaps break it down into reading a portion in the morning and another in the evening, although you could also include a reading at lunch time. When at the office or on the road, when faced with decisions to make etc., ask, not only what Jesus would think, say or do, but equally, what does the Bible say about this? Apply this as you watch the news, read a book or newspaper or hold a conversation with a friend on social media or face to face. There will be so many teachings and persuasions for you to conform to the pattern of the world, but you can always go back to “the old-time religion” or “ancient words.” It is time to go back to those “quiet times” when you set apart an exclusive moment to read the Word, pray or sing your favourite worship song. It is time to consider getting into your car and turning off the radio for a bit and pray or listen to the audio Bible or book. If you are gifted with a talent such as writing songs, books or blogs, this is the time to ask yourself if what you are passing to your audience is grounded in Scriptural truth or your own imaginations and emotions. It is time to be grounded.

CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY

Let me begin with stewardship. In these tough times, we need to reexamine how we use what God has entrusted to us so that we don’t indulge in wastage. We should also check how we utilize what we have so that we can maximize on production, income etc. For example, if you live in the city, struggling to make ends meet, and you have left a piece of land at home in the village, it is time to recalibrate and ask yourself why that land cannot feed and take care of you through farming. If you have a yard and you still buy Sukuma wiki and other vegetables, you need to ask yourself why. What prevents you from growing your own food, at least vegetables if nothing else? What prevents you from planting a small orchard of fruits on your estate? If you have been taking a shower for 20 minutes, check your water bill and ask if you cannot reduce it. If every night all the lights in your house are on and you have the computer, TV, radio and cooker on all the time, check your electricity bill and ask yourself some questions. If you have been driving where you can walk or take a matatu, ask yourself why and if you have enough for that. In case you have been living on borrowing, how about checking how you can live within your means?

These are hard economic times everywhere. Many people, including those of the household of faith, are hungry and starving, physically or mentally  sick, undergoing broken relationships, divorce or separation. There is a lot of loneliness and quiet withdrawal. The “prosperity gospel” has not prospered many. It has  actually prospered a few and left a majority wondering when their turn will come. With heavy taxation many businesses have closed. We have lost a lot of loved ones to cancer, COVID, depression, etc. Some people’s homes have been demolished. Some ministers have given up and closed churches. The government has even brought down some churches and there seems to be no end to pain and challenge.

With all this going on, Christians can lose faith or simply get swallowed up by sin and despair. Jesus put it very well in Matthew 24: Iniquity shall abound and the love of many grow cold. This should not be the case. Or better still, what can Christians do? My recommendation is that we go back to the Early Church model of Christian solidarity. Things may not change quickly soon. For that reason we need to practice charity that implies those who have should help those who don’t have. Acts 4:32 says that all the believers were one in heart and mind and shared what they had. The alternative to this is selfish hoarding and a don’t care attitude. Verse 34 has the shocking words “there were no needy persons among them.” Really? Is that possible? You bet. It worked then. It can work now.

The problem around the world is not lack of food and daily needs, but distribution. Some people have too much; more than they will ever need in a whole lifetime, and some have almost nothing. But why is it some have almost nothing? Because a few have taken for themselves more food, clothes, shoes, houses, land, etc. than they and their families will ever need in ten lifetimes. This kind of greed and exploitation is what prophets like Amos condemned. But the Kenyan Church believers can begin this solidarity with the household of faith, sharing the little we have of job opportunities, spaces, clothes we don’t need, and food. The more times become hard, the more we need to stick together. Hard capitalism that is uncaring is ungodly. This does not mean the Church should encourage laziness and the attitude of receiving and begging. No. Even Paul would remind us in Thessalonians that whoever does not work should not eat. It is about being sensitive to the needy among us. The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 should help us land this matter.

POLITICAL UNITY

If the recent political happenings in Kenya have not taught the Church anything then nothing will. If the Church does politics the way the secular world does it, the end result will be the loss of prophetic authority, disdain and hatred for the Church. In the 2022 general elections, the Church in Kenya decided to push the idea of what is known as a “theocracy” where you install a Christian leader to run a Christian government in a secular society. This was not just naïve politically but it cannot work today. Frederick Chiluba tried it in Zambia, but it did not work. Even attempts in India, Afghanistan and the Vatican have had challenging results. It is true that righteousness exalts a nation, but that is true whether you are dealing with King Cyrus, President Museveni or George Bush. I think there are some great righteous things taking place in Buddhist Singapore than is the case in Christian-declared Kenya. Communist/atheistic  China is doing well economically, reminding us one more time that God will give His sunshine and rain to all without partiality. That includes food, water, technology, and all the goodies of general revelation. Cuba has been sending doctors to Kenya despite being viewed as a bad country by the United States. God is good to Cuba and New Zealand as He is to Kenya, Namibia, Morocco or Kuwait. I think Rwanda is getting some things right and Kenya many things wrong. You shall know it all by fruit. So, what we need in Kenya is someone who will obey the constitution, speak and live truthfully, and above all, prioritize the people of Kenya in development and distribution of resources. We don’t get good leaders at election time. We get them now. Again, we tend to concentrate on the presidency so much that we get horrible leaders in other offices, then it is back to the drawing board every five years.

The Church needs to wake up to citizen responsibility and look for the following qualities in the next president, senator, governor, MP, Women Rep and MCA:

1. Spiritual and mental maturity that exhibits objectivity, humility and, like a parent,  the ability to accommodate everybody regardless of tribe, age, gender, disability, religion, economic status, etc.
2. Someone who is consistent in word and character.
3. Someone who has not stolen from the people, his family or government.
4. Someone who understands diversity enough to keep to his/her faith without estranging those who believe differently from them, e.g. someone who can listen to and serve all Kenyans, whether Catholic or Pentecostal, Christian, Hindu or Muslim, believer or atheist, etc.
5. Someone who understands Kenya’s history, social diversity, economy, politics, international relations and the changing knowledge and technology streams.
6. Someone whom all Kenyans can rally to and accept and not a local kingpin.
7. Someone ready to involve the church, Muslims and Hindus, and the various religious formations in the fulfilment of the social problems of the country e.g. community distribution of resources and services, rehabilitation of street children, health services, dealing with drug and alcohol addictions, contending with mental health issues, etc.
8. Someone who has a clear plan for youth, women and persons living with disability.
9. Someone who can deal with corruption and impunity firmly, quickly and decisively.
10. Someone who can handle Kenya’s debt crisis.
11. Someone who can reclaim our environment and make Kenya work for posterity.

Should we find leaders like this one, let us put resources behind them and get them into office. We have already proved that the Church can put whoever they want in power. Let us not gamble this time around.

By Reuben Kigame