Many believe absolute right is as elusive as absolute wrong. What we call “right” often depends on what benefits the majority, while “wrong” is measured by the harm it inflicts on them. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, the High Priest Caiaphas unwittingly voiced this very logic, arguing that it was better for one man to die for the people (John 18:14).
Taking a life is never truly right. Yet Jesus’ sacrifice is seen as the ultimate act—one man’s death bringing salvation to all. Without it, humanity remained condemned; through His death, hope was extended to everyone. It is hard to imagine where we would be had Jesus not chosen to die for humanity. This was precisely what Peter failed to grasp when he resisted Jesus’ words about being betrayed, handed over, and sentenced to death.
From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:21–24 NIV)
When Simon Peter stood up for his Master, he naturally drew popular sympathy—his protest reflected a widely shared pursuit of justice. Even today, many see nothing wrong with his actions, despite Jesus associating them with Satan. What truly alienated many of the people was Jesus’ refusal to take a bold, radical stand for their political cause. Peter’s passionate objection to Jesus’ execution resonated deeply with the crowd, while Jesus’ apparent reluctance to assert himself in self-defense left His followers disheartened.
The brutality of evil—and what may be called a satanic perspective—often stems from the desire to be absolutely right against those deemed absolutely wrong. What makes evil so difficult to detect is its disguise beneath a veneer of goodness. The real issue facing humanity is not pure right or pure wrong, but the subtle blending of righteousness with wrongdoing. Sheer evil rarely deceives sensible people—unless it is mixed with elements of good.
The world is filled with diverse personalities, each convinced of their own version of what is right over against what they consider wrong. These clashing viewpoints fuel conflict and entangle human relationships, even among those created in God’s image. Blame and counter-blame can both carry weight, depending on the background of the one passing judgment.
It is common for people to latch onto a fixed belief, leading them to think of themselves as superior to others. This mindset poses real dangers to society, eroding the essence of life itself. The stubborn refusal to consider other perspectives can be as toxic as COVID-19 was once feared to be. You may be right in your own perspective, but how does it affect others? That is why it is best to create only those situations that others can bear.
Dogmatism can be even more dangerous than COVID-19, which at least could be managed with masks and social distancing. A group is just as wrong when it endorses violence against radicals like Boko Haram as opponents are when they try to wipe them out through violence. In attempting to make the world safer, such opponents may actually fuel terrorism. True dignity comes from tolerance and communication, not from self-appointed peacemakers who mask their own sense of righteousness.
Wisdom is not about bluntly speaking unfiltered truth. Faced with a figure like Kim Jong-Un, genuine peacemakers seek effective, diplomatic approaches. Modern societies value diplomacy, and it is a mistake to always confront corruption with raw, public truth. Hope lies in using diplomacy with those who behave unacceptably.
A common reason people avoid listening is the fear that the other person’s perspective might actually change their mind. This often springs from a failure to be fully honest about their own beliefs in the first place. Skilled negotiators listen more than they assert their “rightness,” prioritizing understanding over blunt honesty—a principle James promoted, yet one many Christians appear to misunderstand:
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19–21 NIV)
Dealing with a charlatan can be exasperating, but diplomacy often means setting aside personal opinions. Charlatans typically push their own agendas rather than listen, yet a principled person remains committed to hearing them out. What is right naturally stands out like a beacon of light, without need for embellishment. People often cling to the notion that they are right and others are wrong, but real change begins when you allow others to feel heard and affirmed first.
This approach can help even the most self-assured people see their own flaws gently exposed. Most people are inherently good; bad behavior frequently stems from not having someone willing to listen. By nature, humans follow the rule of treating others as they themselves would like to be treated, and can only do so when listened to first. Only small minorities suffering from severe mental illness, which may require institutional care, fall outside this pattern—and even they can usually be managed in an otherwise stable society.
The strongest and most lasting solutions to questions of human survival come from listening rather than from insisting on being right. This does not mean outspoken individuals cannot be heroic for taking a firm stand. My preference for leaders like Nelson Chamisa over Julius Malema or Job Sikala flows from this conviction. True leaders act with dignity, guided by what is right, rather than engaging in emotional battles for their positions.
Attention-seekers may attract a following, but it is like a fire fed by old newspapers or dry leaves—it flames and fades quickly. Being right is not about loudly claiming it; it is about living it through one’s conduct. Marketers who chase the spotlight may never grasp this, and the notion of being right without seeking applause remains as unpopular as Jesus once was.
Character is truly tested by the willingness to listen rather than the urge to be heard. Oddly, listening is often perceived as a weakness when in reality it is a profound sign of strength. In the scramble for popular support, radical ideas may seize attention, but it is composure that ultimately prevails. For those genuinely focused on uncovering the truth, there is no greater virtue than being a good listener before pronouncing what is truthful.
As appealing as asserting one’s own position may be, it goes without saying that all human failures stem from the stubborn insistence on one’s own rightness. This world needs listeners far more than it needs those clamoring to assert their own positions of rightness. This is the legacy championed by Jesus and held out for true Christians to embrace:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:38–45 NIV).
To be truly right, one must first accept the possibility of being wrong. Genuine understanding comes to those willing to release rigid beliefs before they can embrace real rightness. While Jesus’ teachings can be easy to grasp, the real challenge lies in religiosity. There is no need to worship Jesus, but living by His principles can bring true freedom for all.
These ideas seem forgotten in a world that believes violence is the key to peace. The liberation war of the 1970s in Zimbabwe was wrongly celebrated as a path to harmony, with many upholding that view over the teachings of Jesus. But who can honestly argue that we are better off now than we were then? History has shown that violence never truly delivers peace.
The uprising in the 1890s had many heroes, but none greater than Lotshe Hlabangana, who was killed for encouraging people to hear different perspectives. Hlabangana was branded a sellout and executed by friends, yet his truthful utterance is eternally engraved in our history books. His killers may have been celebrated and supported, while he was called a traitor—but in reality, they were the true traitors. This is why Heroes Acre struggles to persuade honest people that most of those buried there are genuine heroes.
True heroes may remain unknown for now, but they will eventually be paraded at the end, as biblical references attest. With the country reduced to a laughingstock, which true war hero would willingly desire to be linked to the liberation struggle? The law of cause and effect shows that Zimbabwe languishes in this disgraceful state because truth was traded for falsehoods. Worse still, it cannot be denied that more black people were killed by fellow black people, rather than by white settlers.
Today, under a corrupt system led by those behind the Gukurahundi tragedy, there is little sign of hope. The very people for whose liberation was sought now face greater danger—not from former colonialists but from the same black perpetrators posing as liberators. The urge to kill is now easily planted in the minds of innocent youths.
Many are misled into believing that hating the architects of Gukurahundi is the path to a better future. Left unchecked, this hatred threatens to consume everything remaining. Hatred grows from ignorance, especially when revenge is mistaken for justice in addressing past wrongs.
The sad truth about ignorance is that it stirs up violence far more swiftly than wisdom can inspire peace. The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:38–45 are ignored or passively dismissed, just as they were resisted in the first century. Yet nothing can match their effectiveness, even now, and they remain eternally true.
Standing for what is right does not mean aggressively pushing one’s own stance when seeking to restore fragile justice. Truth does not need defending—it simply is. A true hero, dedicated to doing what is right, does not always seek a crowd of supporters. This was the simple truth Peter missed when he tried to defend Jesus at Calvary.
What Zimbabwe needs most right now is not more legal experts, but empathetic listeners willing to set aside their own comfortable sense of being right. Doing what is right often means risking victimization, and it is rarely easy—it does not mean surrendering to evil, but rather being willing to be executed for rightness. Still, it is the only real path to creating the conditions needed to undo what is wrong.
Ordinary people have endured more than enough, yet still feel trapped with no clear way out. Hope hangs on promises in a nation scarred by deep corruption. Many blame political polarization, but the real shift could come from something simpler—learning to genuinely listen before projecting reason. Listening opens the door to true freedom. Believers have long embraced faith in Jesus, though their faith is often clouded by misunderstandings of Scripture.
Jesus did not look for pity or blind loyalty; He offered a way of life that could change the world for the better, grounded in His own words: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). He lived in truth, which led to His lonely death at Calvary, surrounded by more enemies than friends. Yet He never faltered, holding fast to the power of goodness. His resurrection exposed every lie and showed that peace cannot be built on revenge disguised as justice, but only on love sustained by truth.
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
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