(Caesar & God: Politics and Religion)
Recently, I watched a rather disturbing video clip about the role of some Christian actors and enablers in the recent 2020 US Presidential elections. I felt so sad and troubled that I thought I should sound this present word of caution to my fellow Christians—especially African Christians who are prone to believe or uncritically mimic practices from the USA as hallmarks of authentic Christianity.
1. Christians, beware of the corrupting influence of politicians, political parties, and political systems. Political entities are not the savior of the world.
2. Beware of the “prophets” whose “dreams,” “visions,” and utterances seduce or enable the politicians.
3. Beware of replacing the objective Word of God with the subjective feelings and esoteric revelations from man.
4. Beware of substituting the power of the Gospel with the gospel of POWER.
5. Beware of exchanging faith established on Biblical facts for sensationalism and wild fancy.
6. Beware of mindless and gullible Christians who willfully and happily consume lies dished out to them by their political and religious leaders.
7. Beware of those who have an elastic relationship with the truth or who believe in alternate facts. (Remember: Facts do not cease to exist because we choose to believe lies or are ignorant of the truth.)
8. Beware of those who equate ignorance with spirituality or Christian duty. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”
9. Beware of abandoning a healthy separation of church and state with a Christian usurpation of government power to impose our beliefs and values upon others as superior. Let’s carefully distinguish what is Caesar’s and what is God’s (Mark 12:17):
“We Christians are Christians first and everything else after that. … We must not identify the gospel with any political system or make Christianity to be synonymous with any form of government, however noble. Christ stands alone, above and outside of every ideology devised by man. He does not join any of our parties or take sides with any of our great men except as they may come over on His side and try to follow Him in righteousness and true holiness. Then He is for them, but only as individuals, never as leaders of some political faction.” (A.W. Tozer, 1897-1963.)
10. Let us beware, because Christians who today eagerly marry themselves to the political systems and parties of our times would become tomorrow’s political divorcees, widows, or orphans.
PS: Here’s the unflattering video clip that has compelled me to caution my fellow Christians—especially African Christians who blindly mimic religious practices from the USA as hallmarks of authentic Christianity—to BEWARE: https://tinyurl.com/y2ubvuvh. (After watching the video clip, read: Deuteronomy 18:22; Jeremiah 23:25; 1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim
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SAMUEL KORANTENG-PIPIM,PH.D. , is a US-based Ghanaian author, inspirational speaker, leadership trainer, and an advocate for youth empowerment. He was trained in engineering and systematic theology, and has authored more than twenty books. They include his bestselling works Hope Through the Dark, Six More Chances, Healed Wounds but Ugly Scars, and Patience in the Midst of Trials and Afflictions. Dr. Pipim currently directs two Centers for Leadership Development known as EAGLES (Empowerment & Advisory Group for Leadership, Excellence, & Service) and ANANSE (African Network & Advisory for Needed Services & Excellence). www.EAGLESonline.org. He also serves as a special consultant on Bible projects for Remnant Publications. 