IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR CHRISTIANS TO HOLD KEY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ANY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE VALUES OF THOSE ORGANISATIONS. THE TRUTH: When debunking Lie No 4, by His grace, we trust that He established the truth that the fulfillment of the mandate of Christians to transform Nigeria does not require that we occupy key leadership positions in industry, commerce and government. While this is true, it is also true that when we have opportunity to serve in key leadership positions, our testimony in terms of character and competence should be outstanding. We should have transformational impact. God requires a lot from every Christian in position of authority whether in industry, commerce or government. Luke 12:48: Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater. Living Bible. To further establish this point, perhaps we can start with a gender switch to show that “there is neither male nor female”. God is looking for committed Nigerian ambassadors regardless of gender. When Esther occupied the influential position as Queen, God told her that she wasn’t just there to enjoy and take things easy. She was to speak up for the underprivileged and get rid of evil, even at great personal risk. Est 4:8-17 Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the kings decree dooming all Jews, and told him to show it to Esther and to tell her what was happening and that she should go to the king to plead for her people. 9 So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecais message. 10 Esther told Hathach to go back and say to Mordecai, 11 All the world knows that anyone, whether man or woman, who goes into the kings inner court without his summons is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter; and the king has not called for me to come to him in more than a month. 12 So Hathach gave Esthers message to Mordecai. 13 This was Mordecais reply to Esther: Do you think you will escape there in the palace when all other Jews are killed? 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, God will deliver the Jews from some other source, but you and your relatives will die; whats more, who can say but that God has brought you into the palace for just such a time as this? 15 Then Esther said to tell Mordecai: 16 Go and gather together all the Jews of Shushan and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day; and I and my maids will do the same; and then, though it is strictly forbidden, I will go in to see the king; and if I perish, I perish. 17 So Mordecai did as Esther told him to. Living Bible Mordecai didn’t seek special tithes and offerings from Esther. That was not his priority. When Christians occupy positions of authority, their greatest value to their Pastors and churches should not be their tithes and offerings. Their value to their Pastors and spiritual mentors shouldn’t be the influence they bring to their Pastor as “Baba Oba”, a Yoruba phrase meaning “The King’s Father”, with influence over the king in the dispensing of favours. Like Mordecai, the pastors should counsel and urge such Christian to be an example of righteousness and to champion Godly change, particularly to exterminate bribery and corruption, even at great personal risk. Tragically, this is not the case. In Nigeria, as several Pastors use the “big men” in church as a ladder to wealth and access to those in authority for personal gains. Esther led the extermination of evil personified by Haman. Such is the task of every Christian, whether you are in an influential position in industry, commerce, and government or not; whether you are Messenger or Managing Director; but more so if God has given you the opportunity to occupy such an influential position. Luke 12:48: Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater. Living Bible. Christians in authority should be held to the biblical standards of ethics and integrity by the pastors and church leaders, without any equivocation or prevarication. Pastors and all church leaders should rally intense prayer support for them as was mobilized by Mordecai for Esther. The object of such prayer should be for God to empower them to use their positions to wage a successful war against corruption, to establish examples of integrity, to demonstrate that simplicity, modesty, and contentment is virtuous, to champion the cause of the poor and the oppressed, to insist on good governance and upliftment of the masses, even at the risk of losing their positions. The Pastors and leaders should shun demands on such Christians beyond their officially known sources of income. Where the Christians offer such, the leaders should decline. Where pastors and church leaders make such requests, either expressly or impliedly, the Christians should politely but firmly refuse. That is godliness. Deacons and elders should not condone a situation where money derived from abuse of office is used to support the church. God is neither broke nor desperate that He needs filthy lucre. Glory to God, there are some worthy ambassadors, though few they may be. But there are a number of them in Nigeria; and we know of some. And the time will come when we will take testimonies of some from varying walks of life, in academia, government, business, industry and commerce. This is to encourage and challenge others that all things are possible with God, that impact and integrity is possible with God, even in Nigeria. Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. KJV Are you a Christian with a seat in the Council of Ministers, or the Management Committee of a corporate, or you are a dominant player in a trade, are you a commanding officer in the Police, Customs or Immigration, are you a Governor, or a Commissioner in a State, or a Director or Permanent Secretary in a Ministry Federal or State; are you a University don? Dear Christian, if you are in a position of authority, God commends to you the example of Esther. And if you are a Pastor or spiritual leader to any of these, God commends to you the example of Mordecai. At the minimum and as a start, ensure that bribery and corruption has no place in your life, your office and the organization you lead. SCRIPTURE: Luke 12:48 Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater. Living Bible Est 4:16 Go and gather together all the Jews of Shushan and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day; and I and my maids will do the same; and then, though it is strictly forbidden, I will go in to see the king; and if I perish, I perish. Living Bible Rom 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, NIV Rom 12:1-2 “TheseLiesMustStop Translation”: Therefore, I urge you dear Nigerian Christian granted the unique opportunity to be a President, Minister, Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Director, CEO, Senator, Legislator, Judge, Local Government Chairman etc. Rededicate your life to Christ. Your walk with Him should be intimate and personal, more than stating Christianity as your religion and attending church. Don’t be conformed to the pattern of bribery and corruption which is so rampant in Nigeria but lead the charge to stamp it out of your organization, even if it is at the risk of losing your position.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 07:46:04 +0000
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