DEAR EDITOR - I was surprised to learn recently that a pastor of a prominent Church in Honiara participated at the launching of the People Alliance Party (PAP).
Does that mean the Pastor's church therefore now officially endorses PAP? If no, then one wonders what the heck the good Pastor was doing fraternising with the PAP mob?
I am sure many of the PAP leaders and supporters belong to their own churches or religion too.
They do not even attend the Pastor's church.
Even Sir Allan Kemakeza who is a PAP stalwart used to be good friends with the Moonies.
So what was the good Pastor doing attending a political event that has no bearing to his church ministry or activities?
If the good Pastor thinks it is OK for him to attend such events then I suggest out of fairness and to be seen as being politically neutral he should also attend other parties' launching as well.
Maybe he should also attend and pray for the independent candidates as well.
In the US that has more experience with democracy and elections, churches and church leaders are not allowed to endorse parties or candidates.
Churches are not allowed to have candidates speak from their pulpits. Even Christians who are candidates in elections are not allowed to campaign in their local churches.
There are good reasons for these restrictions.
In Solomon Islands we mix so much Christianity with politics that it has become a volatile and foul mix over the years.
Often it is those politicians or parties who claim so much about God that end up screwing up this country.
Even Rev. Billy Graham, a famous US evangelist and often described as the Pastor to US Presidents, never endorse candidates or parties.
Although he was registered as a democrat, he never attended a Democratic Party Convention nor endorsed a Presidential contender.
He once claimed his mission was to preach the Gospel to everyone irrespective of party affiliation.
If political parties or candidates in Solomon Islands need prayer, why not ask SICA, a more neutral body to pray at their events?
If church leaders or churches start siding with parties or particular candidates, that will be the beginning of factionalism.
When communities split into factions there will be trouble.
Look at the experience in Ireland. Catholics and Protestants fought for decades for power.
Consider the factions in some Muslim countries. Just think Iraq. Shi'ite fighting Sunni to dominate and rule.
Church leaders ought to realise that they exist to help our people with spiritual matters, not influence on which political party or candidate they fraternise with.
I may not be a theologian but I have never come across a story in the Bible whereby a Prophet of God was sent to anoint an ungodly person or people to lead a nation.
If PAP and other parties are serious about God and Christianity then where have you been in the last 20 years?
When the church bells rang on Saturdays or Sundays, where were the politicians and their supporters?
Please don't just look for God or blessings when a General Election is around the corner.
As for the good Pastor, please focus on teaching your members on what qualities they should pray and look for in a good leader.
Surely the Bible has some things to say on this.
Leave the politics to the politicians. Jesus Christ never attended political rallies or made political endorsements.
He was more concerned about spreading the message of the coming Kingdom.
If Christians allow politics to influence them, then this country has no hope for a better future.
They ought to be the ones doing the influencing.
Christians ought to pray, study the Scriptures then vote according to their faith not according to the amount of RCDF they benefitted from.
Church leaders, please take note. In God we trust.
Leif Avram
Honiara
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