George Washington is often regarded as one of the best presidents in U.S. history, serving as a model of a “good” executive through his handling of the Whiskey Rebellion (1791–1794). As the nation’s first president, he faced violent protests from Pennsylvania farmers over an unpopular federal excise tax on whiskey and responded with decisive, responsible governance, though some still criticized his actions.
On the other hand, Hitler had devoted supporters who saw him as a hero, even though history remembers him as a poor leader. A “worst” executive might be charismatic and liked yet harmful, like Jim Jones of the People’s Temple. Initially respected for promoting social justice, he ultimately betrayed his followers, leading more than 900 to their deaths in Jonestown. Such scenarios highlight a troubling reality—that in this world, success in leadership doesn’t always require treating people with dignity.
This situation highlights the irony that sometimes a good person—like Jesus—faces rejection, while a wicked person is spared. Despite His kindness and good works, Jesus provoked public hostility, and the crowd chose to have Him executed, freeing the notorious criminal Barabbas instead. What could have been going through their minds?
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas!” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:21–24, NIV)
Could the manifestation of this phenomenon have ended with Jesus? The answer is no. History records that good people often perish while the wicked survive longer. The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the persistence of such injustices in human behavior. While nothing compares to the cruel treatment Jesus suffered in the first century, humanity’s wickedness has remained glaringly evident. The circumstances—His life exchanged for a notorious criminal—are mind‑boggling.
An evil society punishes the good while rewarding the wicked. In Zimbabwe, those who tirelessly work to make a difference in poverty‑stricken areas often face unjust treatment, while the corrupt and dishonest are celebrated as victors. Understandably, those who benefit from a corrupt system are hostile toward those who expose it. Yet it is often ordinary people who are used to harassing and imprisoning these do‑gooders.
The war of liberation is filled with unbelievable and traumatic stories, where many decent people were killed and unfairly labeled as sell-outs by those envious of their successes. Much about the war remains shrouded in mystery. While it’s often described as a fight against white minority rule, the untold truth is that the liberation fighters themselves took more innocent lives than the Rhodesian soldiers.
This might be another reason behind the persistence of a corrupt system of governance. Many individuals passively support an evil system, even though they gain nothing from it. What happens in Zimbabwe should not surprise those who are good and in the minority. The wickedness perpetrated by governing authorities can be deeply disturbing to decent individuals.
True Christians should not despair when evil seems to prevail and goodness appears to be diminishing. This situation is not new. Throughout recorded Jewish history, even the most wicked rulers managed to survive for long periods. King Manasseh, for example, was particularly abominable, yet his reign was one of the longest. It can be hard to understand why God allows such wicked people to endure so long.
Many struggle to comprehend God’s tolerance of blatant evil. Tragically, some have even chosen to end their lives in search of answers to these troubling conditions. However, suicide often reflects an inability to confront challenges—a response rooted in fear or cowardice. Despite this, there are encouraging stories from God’s servants that can inspire us:
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore, pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff and speak with malice; in their arrogance, they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore, their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?” This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long, I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! (Psalm 73:1–19, NIV)
This scripture is meant to strengthen the righteous—those whose reasoning cannot be swayed by wicked individuals. Such people stand apart from cowards, who find comfort in the falsehoods that serve their interests. Good people understand that it is better to die resisting evil than to succumb to it. The path forward for the righteous means confronting the bitterness before reaching salvation, as the cross symbolizes.
Good people are good because they remain aware of the glorious future that awaits the righteous. When comparing their destiny to the dismal fate of the wicked, it becomes clear that fear is humanity’s greatest enemy. Evil people use fear to maintain their oppressive authority. The truly righteous cannot be intimidated; only cowards are easily manipulated into doing the oppressors’ dirty work.
Throughout history, humans have faced seemingly insurmountable problems. Yet no problem is truly unsolvable. It is cowardice that keeps people in bondage. Cowards may even turn against those who seek freedom. This cowardice stems from a failure to recognize one’s true identity, often mistaking it for mere physical appearance.
The purpose of Jesus was to reveal humanity’s true identity, which has been obscured by a sense of powerlessness. The inability to address one’s problems often arises from this fear‑induced emasculation. Those tasked with sharing good news often falter when faced with adversity. Evil persists because wicked people appear attractive while flaunting their ill‑gotten gains.
In this universe, two extremes stand apart: goodness on one side and wickedness on the other. Between them exists a mix—like light blending with dark, creating a gray shade distinct from either extreme. This middle ground was vividly illustrated by Jesus in His message to the Church of Laodicea in the Book of Revelation:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:14–17, NIV)
Although this message appears aimed at a church organization, it applies to any situation involving human survival. Some individuals often refrain from taking sides to avoid responsibility, exploiting circumstances that benefit themselves. In today’s political climate, many people are hesitant to associate with those labeled as radicals, yet they also refrain from openly confronting a corrupt governing system.
These individuals often cringe when someone from their group suggests addressing political issues. Unfortunately, these Christians—perceived by corrupt governments as model citizens—are not much different from those who supported the crucifixion of Jesus. They often steer clear of political activities, claiming a negative view of politics, yet they hesitate to address what they find unacceptable about it.
These are the ones who promote messages supporting the current government, even when that government is blatantly corrupt. To ordinary people, they appear virtuous, but in God’s eyes, they are detestable. They resemble the members of the Church of Laodicea, whom Jesus said He would spit out. They are neither hot nor cold; Jesus would not spit out those who are cold or hot, but rather those who are lukewarm.
According to Jesus, the lukewarm are viewed as more abominable than the cold. Evil in the world is perpetuated by the lukewarm. These individuals are self‑centered yet are treated as good by the masses. They distance themselves from those who criticize corruption and the wicked governing system. Nothing beneficial can come from them, and they deserve to be spat out.
Sadly, they make up the majority of Christians, contributing to a failing democracy in Zimbabwe. They take pride in not participating in the voting process, claiming they are not part of the world. They accept anything from political leaders as correct without critical evaluation. Only cowardice leads them to idolize political leaders, perpetuating a belief system rooted in idolatry.
What angers me most in the conventional Christianity is the traditionally accepted Trinitarian doctrine. Most Christians believe in it simply because traditional orthodox leaders endorse it. Those who attempt to challenge these leaders often face ostracism. Jesus, whom they claim to follow, never blocked communication with anyone who confronted Him on any issue.
The Trinitarian doctrine seems to elevate Jesus while undermining much of what He taught. With a spirit of idolatry, many ordinary Christians are misled, relying entirely on pastors instead of thinking for themselves. Instead of valuing the teachings of Jesus, they concentrate on praising His persona and rely on theologians rather than Him.
In this view, the true enemies of Jesus are those who idolize Him—not necessarily the blatant nonbelievers. Blessed are those who can see through the façade and embrace His words without fear. Both the brave and the cowardly will receive their due rewards, and among all sinners, the cowardly are named first among those sharing in the fate reserved for God’s enemies:
“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:7–8, NIV)
False Christians are often thought of as wolves in sheep’s clothing, making them even more dangerous than those who openly admit to being nonbelievers. While nonbelievers are usually upfront about their questionable behavior, false Christians may look morally upright on the outside but actually take advantage of a corrupt system.
Their devoted followers often shower them with lavish treatment, despite this being at odds with the teachings of Christ. They draw strength and support from those who remain unaware of the consequences of their intense religiosity. The conduct of these church leaders is aptly captured in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:21–22, NIV)
The problems facing humanity often stem from those who misuse Jesus’ name. Their behavior influences the actions of ordinary people. Leadership has become a means of self‑protection—a practice that clearly contradicts the teachings of Jesus. As a result, whatever comes from leadership is often treated as unquestionable, even when it is false.
These so‑called Christians are willing to align themselves with corrupt leaders in government, and they often mock their fellow believers who choose to stand up for justice alongside the majority. In this way, false Christians can be compared to those who chose to have Jesus condemned instead of Barabbas at Mount Calvary.
The bottom line is that knowing God beyond one’s own identity is impossible. Since we are made in God’s image, what other God could we be searching for? Restoring what was created in God’s image is possible only by embracing Jesus’ teachings without alteration. This cannot happen when truth is mixed with falsehood.
A wise person sifts through the many Christian groups—some of which clearly live by falsehoods—and chooses only what is true. No group should be idolized; while some may be closer to the truth, truth itself is not tied to any denomination. Truth doesn’t need to compete; it stands on its own and is easily recognized by those aligned with it. Pride blinds some, others get caught up in idolatry, and the rest stay lost in complete ignorance.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99