Men of God ... and state? - Thought Leader

It would seem that political leadership, suddenly, is being engineered in such a way to reveal the supposedly gentle, caring, uncorrupted and revolutionary face of a modern-day Jesus Christ.

I don’t know what we should make of this development where men of God, mostly, who dress in the white collar are rushing to become the next Caesar. What I find strange is that almost all of them are willing not only to turn their back on doing God’s work but want to abandon the hands-on work of taking his word to the people.

They seem to be willing to give up serving the Great Master to pursue ambitions of being secular masters themselves in the form of a president, premier or in some other top-dog political position. There seems to be something deeply wrong that our Christian community is watching this spectre unfold with folded arms.

We have, suddenly, noticed the emergence of the likes of Reverends Mvume Dandala, Barney Pityana, Kenneth Meshoe, Allan Boesak and Chris Nissen, for instance, cited as serious political contenders for political power, status, control and state resources.

There is still some cloud about Desmond Tutu, Frank Chikane and Russel Botman, to name a few, who still have to make up their minds. Perhaps this is how a contemporary God wants his servants to administer to His suffering people. But the example of Jesus Christ himself does not say this is how men of God serve the Lord.

What I learnt from a Catholic upbringing, was that if you represent Christ, you go work among the lowly giving them food, shelter, clothes and, above all, love. You become the face of God’s compassion and unconditional love for his people. Yes, the white collar signified a deep commitment to transcendental love which gives hope and faith in a hopelessly hopeless world.

Of course, through it, the poor, homeless, thirsty and hungry could see that the Lord cares by simply judging the actions of those who claim to represent him. But what we see today are God’s representatives who are quick to swap the white collar for expensive black tailored suits and other rewards.

Of course, these suits not only cost an arm and a leg but symbolise personal success, material worship and, if you like, individual achievement. I remember a few years ago bumping into Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the mayor’s office in Mogale City, where he had come for a meeting about yet other plans to honour him.

After exchanging niceties, I asked him: “How is it possible for you to retire from doing God’s work in an unjust world?” I remember the Arch saying that he had to make way for the new person who was to take over from him. I was not impressed with the answer because it confirmed that today’s men of God are not different from politicians or any other secular self-seeker.

What they seem to be interested in is nothing else but careerism, money, status, power and, now, access to state resources. It is interesting to imagine what Trevor Huddleston or Rev Martin Luther would think of these developments. I reckon Jesus Christ is not impressed, at all. Well, if he is, I definitely am not.

I want men of God who go back to the people not only to establish an intuitive connection with the community but build a leadership that has a strong, mass-based following. I am not a cynic but you cannot tell me that men who arrive for meetings in posh sedans, expensive suits and impractical ideals have got the interests of the people at heart.

The Bible says you shall know a tree by its fruits. But I do understand that men of God are also human beings with foibles. It would seem there is little doubt that God’s representatives want His children to prepare for a better life in heaven while they enjoy the best that Earth has to offer during their lifetime.

I know that this may be a harsh and unfair judgement on our supposedly saintly priests, pastors and fathers. But if they cannot ensure that all God’s children enjoy what they have in their lifetime, they have no business to be in politics. There is a lack of authentic anger and impatience among church leaders with the economic injustice that is running rampant in our land and the whole world.

Instead, what stands out most strikingly is that men of God seem to be having a good time: money, expensive cars, good food, status and, of course, power. Something must definitely be wrong somewhere.

Men of God must stop trying to be Caesar and give unto God’s children what belongs to them: peace, justice and love.