Be not conformed to this world

INTRODUCTION

The mission of the Christ Redeemer’s Friends Universal (CRFU) is one I very much share and believe in-To witness Jesus Christ to people in the top echelon of society, people in government, commerce and industry; to destroy the darkness at that echelon of society; and to positively impact our world. The topic I have been asked to speak about very much fits with the CRFU vision, and is a theme I have personally spent time thinking and researching about –“Christian Ethics and Values: Challenges for Christians in Government and Politics”.

It is interesting that the CRFU President mentioned that the two persons considered to make this address were Mrs Oby Ezekwesili and myself-interesting because apart from Oby and I being both ministers in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), we were actually born again around the same time and were in the same workers group in Freedom Hall, a workers group that chose the name “Government” which has turned out to be somewhat prophetic as both of us ended up in government.

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

When I was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, it was an appointment I was not expecting. Indeed rather than vote in the election preceding my appointment, I had spent the day at the camp, and had never met the person who emerged as Lagos State Governor. After my appointment, I occasionally found myself in company I might otherwise not have chosen. One particular day after being immersed in, and forced to inhale cigarette and tobacco smoke by some attendees at a meeting I was present in, I asked myself what I was doing in such company. But then, the Holy Spirit ministered to me, “How can you be the salt of the earth, if you are not in the stew?” Since then I pondered more carefully over the question implied by the theme of this talk-“How can Christian values co-exist with the terrain of politics and government?”

However it is important to note that it is not enough for someone appointed to government to simply claim to be a Christian. There are many in governments all over the country who describe themselves as Christians, but are not fulfilling the commandment of God to be the salt and light of the world. Today there are all manners and shades of Churches just as there are many shades and colours of Christians. The more important consideration is if these individuals bring genuine Christian values into government and influence others rather than being influenced by unbelievers in government. I once had an interesting experience with a Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) delegation who while visiting the Lagos State Governor asserted that things would have been better in Lagos if Christians were the majority in the Lagos cabinet. Upon counting however it became apparent that there were far more Christians in the cabinet in Lagos than Muslims. Perhaps the real point may have been that the Christians were no different from the non-Christians in terms of impact on society.

LESSONS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

How come there are very successful non-Christian countries like Dubai, China and Japan and there are countries like ours which in spite of our large Christian population continue to suffer in poverty and corruption. Even churches are sometimes not run properly. It is because these countries have adopted Christian principles and transplanted them into their societies. They may not go to heaven because the bible says “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3), but if they order their societies after the principles of God, their societies may prosper. The principles of God are universal. The improvements in England and the rest of Europe were directly attributable to the protestant reformation and the examples of the puritans and Quakers who began to apply the principles of the gospel in business and politics. This laid the foundation for the Industrial Revolution. Some historians record that 75 percent of the people responsible for the industrial revolution were born again Christians. In short, the Bible is the most important book for development. Accounts of 17th Century London were no different from the picture of poverty, depravity, squalor and want as one may paint of Africa today. It was the so-called protestant work ethic (“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise”-Proverbs 6:6), a mind frame towards investment (the Parable of the Talents-Mathew 25), a culture of credit (“The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again”-Psalm 37:21) etc that transformed the Englishman and consequently transformed their nation. Behaviours regarding timeliness, a full day’s work for a full days pay, honesty, productivity etc all came from the Bible. The Emperor of Japan went to Europe to study why Europe was developing, took these principles and they have worked for them. Same for China, South Korea, Dubai, Singapore etc. Why not Nigeria?

WHY IS THE NIGERIAN CHURCH NOT TRANSFORMING NIGERIA?

Romans 12:2 enjoins the born-again Christian, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” The church must not conform to the world. How can we be the salt or the light of the world if we conform to the world, rather than influence the world such that eventually like in these societies, the world conforms to the will of Christ? How can Christians be the salt of the world when they accept aspects of our culture which contradict the gospel of Christ? How can we transform our world when we indulge in a culture of consumption rather than investing, sowing and reaping, as preached in the scriptures? How can we transform our society when we partake in a culture that spends massive resources on funerals but will not help someone trying to start a business? Can a Christian who himself pays or receives bribes transform unbelievers? How can we transform our society when many Christians believe the values and principles in the Bible are unrealistic and not sensible? How can Christians transform this society when we are not prepared to pay the price? Nigeria will not change except Christians take the lead and live according to the words and spirit of the gospel.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)

* Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice since 1999 is a Pastor in RCCG and a Christian Role Model. He delivered this address (as transcribed by the CRFU President, Mr Opeyemi Agbaje) at the First Quarterly Forum of CRFU Lekki Province 20 on May 13, 2007. The CRFU is a Ministry established by our General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye to evangelise decision-makers in our society.