On social media, I see so many people attacking church leaders who express their opinions on election-related matters.
Essentially, these people express very wrong interpretations of the constitutional principle of the separation between Church and State. They think it means that the Church should not meddle in matters of politics. That’s actually wrong.
Separation between Church and State, in simple terms, is actually a prohibition imposed on the State so that it will not enact laws to benefit or prejudice certain religions and their practices.
It is not a prohibition on churches commenting and actively participating on political and governance matters.
This is my Christmas prayer for churches in the country: you don’t need to endorse certain political candidates (you are not prohibited from doing this), but you need to commit wholeheartedly and passionately to discussing the hallmarks of good leadership based on the teachings of your own faith.
Repeat that again and again in church prayers, in sermons, and testimonials, and in community activities.
We live in a country where many people, even the youth, now think that it’s okay for some people to die in the hands of the police, without due process of law.
We live in a country where people can easily claim, “Sila pud tanan mangawat, so mobotar ra mi sa kawatan nga naa pud ayuda para namo.” (They all steal from government anyway, so we might as well vote for the thief who gives us assistance.)
We live in a country where someone can assert that the daughters of a particular candidate should be raped, or that the candidate herself should be run over by a truck, while posting Bible quotes on their social media accounts.
The country’s values are under attack. We have forgotten the teachings of God.
Because of this, churches cannot afford to separate itself from matters of the state.
Many of us believe in a god that teaches compassion, kindness, and love. Many of us believe in a god of justice and human rights.
If only churches and their leaders can dig their courage and love to remind everyone again of these truths, we just might have good leaders again.
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