Pastors in Politics
NaijaRock
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Posted by Felix Okoli on March 27, 2011 at 08:59:49:
I don't know if he should still be referred to as a Pastor but Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly is one of the famous Nigerian pastors now running a political campaign to becomes Nigeria's next Vice President on the platform of the CPC.
The CPC's presidential candidate is Buhari and with Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate, Muhammadu Buhari, a muslim, is seeking to win more votes by showing his tolerance and willingness to work with a Christian Vice president.
The last time I heard about a pastor going into politics was by Rev. Chris Okotie who was in the past a celebrity musician and then pastor and later a presidential candidate for the Fresh Democratic Party.
In reality it can be hard or almost impossible for a pastor or cleric to handle political matters in public office and at the same time be the pastor of his church. I think one would have to suffer for the other and unless he is willing to leave the pulpit if he wins for the sake of public office.
You hardly hear of Imams or Priests leaving their traditional role of teaching and pastoring their flock in order to take a role in govt. In the biblical times, you hardly hear of Levites leaving their traditional role of working in the temple to work as kings or lords. Even in the US, you hardly hear or preachers going into politics because for them, they probably have much greater satisfaction serving in the Lord's house than working for the government.
Of course it has been normal for businessmen, investors, philanthropists and professionals going into politics in Nigeria but for Pastors to go into politics, it seems that pastoring for them may have been a lesser good.
Is it ok for a pastor to go into politics?
Well, one question I have for any of these pastors leaving the pulpit for politics is this - Compared to the church of God, is political office a higher calling?
Comments:
I don't know if he should still be referred to as a Pastor but Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly is one of the famous Nigerian pastors now running a political campaign to becomes Nigeria's next Vice President on the platform of the CPC.
The CPC's presidential candidate is Buhari and with Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate, Muhammadu Buhari, a muslim, is seeking to win more votes by showing his tolerance and willingness to work with a Christian Vice president.
The last time I heard about a pastor going into politics was by Rev. Chris Okotie who was in the past a celebrity musician and then pastor and later a presidential candidate for the Fresh Democratic Party.
In reality it can be hard or almost impossible for a pastor or cleric to handle political matters in public office and at the same time be the pastor of his church. I think one would have to suffer for the other and unless he is willing to leave the pulpit if he wins for the sake of public office.
You hardly hear of Imams or Priests leaving their traditional role of teaching and pastoring their flock in order to take a role in govt. In the biblical times, you hardly hear of Levites leaving their traditional role of working in the temple to work as kings or lords. Even in the US, you hardly hear or preachers going into politics because for them, they probably have much greater satisfaction serving in the Lord's house than working for the government.
Of course it has been normal for businessmen, investors, philanthropists and professionals going into politics in Nigeria but for Pastors to go into politics, it seems that pastoring for them may have been a lesser good.
Is it ok for a pastor to go into politics?
Well, one question I have for any of these pastors leaving the pulpit for politics is this - Compared to the church of God, is political office a higher calling?
Comments:
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Re: Pastors in Politics
Posted by shina abolade
on March 27, 2011 at 16:53:04:
As far as I concern, there is no harm if pastor or Imam want to be a politician. As long they put fearness of God to their actions
Re: Pastors in Politics Posted by patto ben on April 06, 2011 at 09:14:27: what will happon to the congragation?and the work of God that he has promise GOD that he will do?how can he go to those that need the word of GOD and tell tham.be ready to work for God or work for the world.
Re: Pastors in Politics Posted by Joseph Dyaji on April 06, 2011 at 11:53:49: Any pastor joining politics is a misplacement of priority. It is the pastors responsibility to educate and disciple his members to be good stewards of God in the state affairs.If pastors failed to train their members to handle the affairs of state in a godly way and he feels he can do it better than his members by abandoning his calling. remember that not all pastors are called, some called themselves and some their god is their stomachs.