How the Church Can Handle Politics Money and Corruption Bp. Dr. George Oduch

How the Church Can Handle Politics Money and Corruption

In light of the current debate about corruption in Uganda among political and church leaders, I feel I should share this article  again in order for the church to help  fix some of the underlying factors that exercibates this vice.

It is not in order for church leaders to “run” after money.

One day a Pastor asked me whether I will invite a top politician I know, should we hold a a fundraising program at our Church. Without thinking, I said “No!” I then told him that it was not necessary because God is able to mobilise resources for church projects. I added that when it is a God ordained project, you just share what God is doing with people he has given you as friends including the politicians. When that is done, God will touch hearts who will give for the project willingly. There is therefore no need to single out politicians as a special category of people in fundraising.

In one of the fellowship meetings we had a while ago, the then Bible House Executive Director was given an opportunity to share about the need they had and what God had done in their eight floor building that took only one year to build.

When he asked for those, who could give 1 million Shillings for the project   over 20 hands went up.

One day we needed money for something important in church. We shared the need. A lady who had sat in church for years without any signs that she had the kind of money she gave, came to me with a deposit slip for 25 Million Ug. Shs, which she had put into church account.

We need God more than people.

Now the other side of the coin is this:

The church in Uganda has not done well in disciplining her members to take up the SEVEN areas or mountains that influences society (religion, family, education, government, business, media, arts and entertainment).

Because of this, we have left a lot of vacuum, which non-believers have occupied.

Politics/ governance is one area, business is another one.

The people who are in the church have hidden gifts that can be brought out and used for service within or outside the church.

1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

It is upon the local church Pastor to spot them out and nature those to a point where the persons who possess them can use them profitably. This includes members who are professionals.

Many church leaders have complained that born-again Christians who enter parliament change and live contrary to Christian values. What we should do is to ask ourselves this: did we really disciple them to take politics or governance as a ministry they do for God the way a Pastor takes his ministry? The truth is that most of these Christian’s who go for politics go to try their luck. The church does not prepare them for the shock they will find in parliament and how to work with God to overcome the corruption they find there.

So they were not really changed, but they went there unchanged. The pressure on the ground brought out their real condition. We have to be deliberate about politics and encourage our members to join it.

In the last election, I encouraged two of our members to contest for member of parliament position. They did not go through but are ready to stand again come next election. I am confident they will make it next time.

Another area that the church has not disciple   her members to take is the business mountain of influence. This is because many Pastors think that wealth in the hands of a believer is evil. Others are not sure whether God wants them to prosper. Because of that kind of confusion and uncertainty, there is lack of diligence, so the church is unable to take that area and instead wallow in lack. It is a pathetic situation. One day after a time of fasting, the Lord spoke to me about our church congregation. He said: “I have people seated here like paupers yet they are billionaires. Raise them for me”. I believe that is what the Lord is telling every Pastor and teacher to do.

If we are to change that kind of apathy and take the mountain of business or economy, which is the main source of money, then we must have a clear answer to the following questions:

Is financial and material prosperity sin for the church? What does the bible say?

If we cannot answer these questions correctly then we will remain in confusion and we will confuse the people we lead.

My wife told me that when she went to Mulago hospital recently, she was very concerned about what was happening there around the public parking place.

Bordering the parking space, there is a Catholic church, Church of Uganda, and a Mosque. These are given to these three Faiths under Hospital chaplaincy. She said there is empty space all around the Catholic and the Anglican churches. However, when it came to the mosque, all around it, the spaces were filled with shops providing hot meals, and all kinds of merchandise and services the sick people and visitors to the hospital may want to buy or pay for. They provide services to people who need them and are blessed financially to meet their own needs.

Why is that so? When Christian religion came to Africa, it was brought with poverty. That is why many church people are poor. In America, the Pentecostals and evangelicals were sleeping as the wicked were taking over schools, businesses and leadership. By the time they woke up, things were in the hands of godless people wreaking havoc wherever they spread their influence. The same thing happened in UK. Britain is just a shell of its previous Christian heritage. If you watched clips of the queen’s funeral, you will understand what I mean.

It is therefore important for us to be clear about the question of political leadership and prosperity.

I believe the bible is not skewed towards poverty but is clear about God’s desire for his covenant people to prosper in every area including material and financial.

Otherwise, when we are not clear about this as leaders, then we will not be able to equip people we lead to handle life.

Not only that, as Church leaders, we shall come face to face with the stark reality of the need for money to carry out the vision God has laid in our hearts. Life will put us on a weighing scale in connection with money matters. Whether we want it or not we shall have to choose from these three options:

1. Take God’s way and prosper (Jos 1:8).
2. Stay in limbo mode and miss what God has for you (Jer 8:20).
3. Take the world’s Way and suffer the consequences (1 Tim 6:10).

When we fail to take God’s way on money matters, we will find ourselves stuck in whatever we want to do.

That is why some pastors are being sighted in corruption scandals and others are running after politicians, donors etc. as a substitute for a financial source. In the process, some enter the devils trap.

The architects of the FBO Bill that is being tailored to regulate the church in Uganda claim that they are bringing the bill to fight corruption and abuse in the church environment.

Of course this bill is unnecessary because the laws of Uganda takes care of anything criminal that may occur in our society including church settings.

What we need to know is that this bill can be manipulated by the enemy of the church to curb her ability to influence morality in our society.

My appeal and prayer is that let every true church leader bridge up the gap created by ignorance and neglect in financial and leadership matters in the church and we shall be able to do much more for our country and God’s kingdom.

Shalom.

Bp.  George Oduch

(Senior Pastor and Overseer VCCMI)