Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has lent his voice to the current debate on the involvement of the church in politics noting that a sick church cannot build a great nation. He also advised Christians to perish the thought of a Christian agenda noting that God is only concerned about the agenda of his kingdom.
He made this observation at the Lagos Airport Hotel in May while speaking at a seminar organized by the Ikeja Province of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria on May 29.
Bakare said the church has experienced severe attack from the unbelievers noting that “disdain for the Church became particularly pronounced when a former Head of State, who the Church prayed into power against prophetic warnings, reportedly said that he looked around him thinking he was surrounded by men of God, only to realise that he was surrounded by contractors. Then the Church and its leaders, devoid of power and relying on extra-scriptural devices to attract a gullible audience, became fodder for comedy.”
He however noted that “to mobilise the Church towards any national agenda is to seek to provide leadership for the nation. But the incontrovertible truth is that a sick Church cannot bring healing to a dying nation, as it is very clear from Scriptures that the picture of the church is the picture of the city or nation.”
Quoting two scriptures from the Old Testament and another one from the testament, he said the starting point for the church to be successful in politics is for the church to first be restored to its place of respect and honour.
“If the Church must command obedience and respect in relation to the nation as apostolically mandated, the Church itself must carry command. We must return to that state where the Church merely sneezing will send shockwaves throughout the length and breadth of a nation due to the sheer force of its apostolic and prophetic authority.”
He then observed that asking people to get their PVCS is not a guarantee that the church will greatly influence the electioneering process. He reasoned that the only way to make impact in the political process is for the church to be involved in the primaries of each political party because that is where according to him the leaders are determined.
While commending young people who have stepped forward to participate in the political process, Bakare said “I am glad that these young people are taking responsibility for the destiny of this nation. I have also cautioned them not to waste their money and time, and to be pragmatic even in audacity, because presidential hopefuls may very well end up as presidential hopefools if certain decisive elements are not taken into consideration.”
He observed further that rather than take a proactive step in the direction of nation building, Christians have become extremely reactionary and poised to balance the equation rather than being nationalistic “If we complain against an Islamic agenda, is it then fair to call for a Christian agenda? I announce to you that in God’s plan for Nigeria, there is no Christian agenda, there is no Islamic agenda, and there is no ethnic agenda. There is only the Kingdom Agenda: namely, the emergence of the New Nigeria, a nation under God, where, though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood, we will stand; a nation righteousness will exalt though creeds and convictions may vary”
Referring to God’s divine order which placed Adam at the beginning as being in charge of God’s creations in the beginning he said “the Lord had instituted the process that would restore man to that lost glory.”
According to him the agenda of God is to create a process through which the chosen race will infiltrate the earth and influence it.
“The Bible describes this nation as “a holy nation”[i]. God’s intention is to recreate His order on the earth through this nation. Unlike other nations which have boundaries, the holy nation has no national boundaries. Instead, it is mandated to infiltrate the nations of the earth as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
He then called on Christians not only to get their PVC but also to participate in the politics of choosing their leaders from the grassroots to the number one citizen.
Earlier at the summit which also had several other speakers in attendance, the Chairman of the host PFN province, Pastor Tope Ilesanmi said in his speech that believers should not make the mistake of voting for rejects. He said, “Let’s not repeat the same mistake of voting for REJECTS! Let us align our hearts with God’s heart and fish out all the Davids that are languishing in all of our congregations & the society in general.”
He then prayed that God would raise and will commission them into political thrones in Nigeria.
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