By Ebi Niektien
THE Senior Pastor, Royal Priesthood Divine Assembly, Asaba, Pastor Sam Onitiri, has urged pastors not to be involved in partisan politics but instead, use their platforms to speak the truth and provide moral guidance to those in authority.
Pastor Onitiri made the call during an exclusive interview with The Pointer while speaking on the role of the church in politics. He stressed that although the church has a responsibility to shape society, clergy involvement in political parties undermines the church’s moral authority.
According to him, pastors were meant to serve as moral guides and fathers to politicians. He lamented that this role had been eroded, as some pastors now seek favour from politicians rather than holding them accountable.
“Pastors are not supposed to belong to political parties. They are meant to be fathers to politicians, not their supporters. A pastor is not expected to support any political party, because in the church, there will be different political groups.
“But it seems like there has been a shift. In the time of Samuel, when King Saul misbehaved, the prophet confronted him. Saul knelt and held Samuel’s cloth in remorse. Today, it is reversed. It is now pastors who kneel before politicians.
‘’When Jesus sent His disciples without purse or bag, they lacked nothing. God does not want His servants to lack so that they will not depend on politicians. Personally, I do not look for anything from the government. The way God has blessed me is enough. During our Operation Smile, I have bought motorcycles and taxis from people. That is my own life. That is why I can speak the truth without fear. If the government is good, I say it is good. If it is bad, I say so,” he said.
He, however, stressed that Christians, as citizens, must not shy away from political participation, warning that political apathy among believers has contributed to poor governance over the years.
‘’Christians as citizens should be politically involved. If you refuse to be involved, you have no right to complain when your money is embezzled. If you try and don’t win, it is fine. Someone else will. The Christian body has left it for them for quite a while, and it is wrong’’ he concluded.
