Jesus stood before Pilate and was executed, accused of meddling in politics. John the Baptist died in prison, a fate many also link to his political convictions. Yet today, many Christians shy away from political responsibility, despite Christ’s clear command that they be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). A true Christian does not aim to please people but stands for truth without compromise. There’s a fine line between cowardice and Christian decorum.
That said, seeking political power through questionable means is something Christians must avoid. A Christian should always be honest about matters of truth and committed to serving ordinary people. The fundamental difference between a Christian and a worldly politician is this: the Christian promotes what sustains God’s kingdom, while the politician promotes personal interests—even when both appear to champion a noble cause.
The African Political Landscape
In African politics, it is common for some politicians to exploit the uninformed majority for personal gain. In Zimbabwe, since independence in 1980, countless poor citizens have repeatedly gone to the polls to vote for so-called favorite politicians who excel at making empty promises. Every election season, these same leaders return with the same unfulfilled pledges.
When questioned about past failures, they quickly spin new lies to perpetuate the manipulation. One of the most persistent excuses in Zimbabwe has been blaming Western sanctions. Ironically, it was the same uneducated masses who participated in chaotic land redistribution—the very action politicians claim triggered these sanctions.
Politicians then twist this narrative, claiming, “The West is punishing us for taking land from their kin.” This story resonates with those who are misled. Without a solid foundation in true education, they can be convinced of just about anything.
In reality, the sanctions have little to do with land; poor farming practices and lack of expertise are the real culprits. The challenge with ignorance is that people often refuse to acknowledge it, making it difficult for anyone trying to help. This resistance to change comes more from sheer stubbornness than clear reasoning, stirring up unnecessary hostility that works against their own best interests.
The Demetrius Strategy
The seemingly shrewd but ultimately dubious politicians are well aware of their own manipulation. They understand that telling the truth to certain people would weaken their support. When addressing their constituents, they choose words that align with the ignorance of the uninformed. This kind of cunning behavior is even documented in Paul’s ministry:
“About that time, there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: ‘You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.’
When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ Soon, the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together” (Acts 19:23-30, NIV).
The crafty silversmith Demetrius wasn’t interested in following God or defending the goddess worshiped by the troubled Ephesians. His main goal was to profit from their ignorance. He knew exactly how to incite them and rally them against the apostle Paul—not to help the people, but to serve his own interests and those of like-minded businessmen.
This biblical account mirrors Zimbabwe’s current situation, where similar manipulation persists. One might think people today have access to better education than in Paul’s time, but that is far from true. Much of what passes for education is misleading, designed to keep people ignorant rather than informed.
Like the cunning Demetrius, our politicians have been permitted to drag our beautiful country into its present chaos. What is most troubling is how the manipulated masses actually revere such questionable figures, even defending them fiercely. Paul himself had to be warned by his fellow disciples not to confront that problem directly, as it could have cost him his life prematurely:
“Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater” (Acts 19:30-31, NIV).
The Christian’s Call
This demonstrates how the world remains trapped in foolishness born from ignorance. True Christians are called to step in, awaken people, and help them see the truth. There is no reason to give up, because Jesus’ crucifixion was meant to open people’s eyes and bring them genuine freedom. Even if Paul couldn’t solve that problem in his day, his words still speak to those who will listen. Before leaving this world, Paul wrote:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV).
When trying to educate the uninformed and expose foolishness—like Paul—Christians can be accused of meddling in politics. Afraid of that label, many choose to remain silent to protect themselves. This is the reality in Zimbabwe, where the country suffers despite the large number of people identifying as Christians. Many of those Christians are like clouds without rain, unable to address the struggles of everyday citizens.
To make matters worse, some Christian leaders enable those in power, twisting Scripture to keep followers loyal to questionable politicians. Whether they gain directly from this or simply cling to borrowed political influence is uncertain. It seems pretty common for the term Christianity to be misused.
In the end, such Christians help uphold an unjust system, as seen with ZANU-PF. They value a comfortable relationship with the government over confronting corruption. They might even mock John the Baptist for dying in prison for his principles, forgetting that he demonstrated the true cost of Christianity—standing up for the defenseless.
The Education People Need
People need genuine education—the kind Jesus brought to this world. The suffering in places like Zimbabwe is unnecessary. Many of those enduring hardship are devoted churchgoers—seen as God-fearing and committed to prayer—yet often too afraid to stand up for the truth. Some focus on pleasing people instead of God, forgetting that Christianity is about sacrifice, not personal gain. A true Christian stands for the truth without fear, even when it’s unpopular in a world full of sin.
True Christians cannot sit back while corrupt politicians harm the poor. The real change-makers are Christians—not by chasing political office, but by confronting what is wrong. The political environment will remain toxic unless Christians embrace their role as peacemakers. Prayer is important, but what good is it without action? Before leaving, Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV).
When carrying the authority of Jesus, why should Christians fear anything? Their mission is to share the gospel—but how can they do that if they don’t truly understand what the gospel is or why it matters? The four Gospels clearly show that the gospel is the good news of God’s Kingdom. When confronted by a high-ranking Roman official, Jesus replied:
“You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38 ESV)
Jesus openly stated that He was born to be a King, and Governor Pilate was not offended, recognizing the truth in His words. Instead of confronting Jesus about His claim of being born to be King, Governor Pilate stepped outside to address the Jews and declared:
“I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber” (John 18:38-40, ESV).
Jesus: The Political King
What sparked their anger toward Jesus was His claim of being born to be King. This clearly challenges the long-held notion that Jesus was not a political figure. He was, in fact, a politician—but of a different realm. Pilate found no fault in Him because Jesus spoke the truth, opposed only by those trapped in falsehood.
Pilate saw a truth in Jesus that His accusers missed. Clear-thinking people can’t oppose truth, and those who hold to it can be incredibly powerful—something modern Christians often overlook. If we truly stand for the truth of Jesus, as Christians, why are so many of us hesitant to speak it to today’s politicians? The fact is, fear of offending means you’re not really living as a Christian.
Following Christ means standing for truth without limits, confronting idolaters, rejecting the ways of a sinful world, and not cozying up to the privileged while ignoring the suffering of most people. Yet, many Christians today, out of self-righteousness, avoid directly challenging politicians, preferring private talks about politics instead.
A common shortcoming among those who identify with Christianity is the tendency to avoid taking responsibility. They claim to be waiting for Jesus to return and fix what they see as the work of evil people, not realizing that in calling others evil, they might be passing the same judgment on themselves (Matthew 7:1-4).
The Burden of Truth
Few things are worse than holding back a life-saving truth when others urgently need it. That kind of silence often comes from pride. Knowing something important before others brings real responsibility, and staying quiet while people struggle in ignorance isn’t an option for those who think clearly. In Christianity, nothing is meant to be kept just for oneself, as Jesus demonstrated by standing up to the authority of the Pharisees.
Avoiding that responsibility to help others makes one share in the guilt for innocent lives lost due to ignorance. Life is short, and what we do with it matters most. It’s better to stand alongside so-called evil politicians than hide behind the Christian label while doing nothing, which goes against the true purpose of the faith. If politics is a dirty game, as many say, it’s still not as heavy or as unclean a burden as carrying the cross.
Because politics is seen as dirty, Christianity may be well-suited to confront it and work to clean it up. When dealing with those caught up in such a messy game, a Christian shouldn’t be unsettled by also getting a bit tainted—it’s only natural when bearing the cross. Jesus came from heaven and took on the sins of humanity, and Christians are called to follow His example.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:4-8, NIV).
The True Calling
Being a Christian is a serious commitment, not something to do out of boredom or to pass the time. It’s a calling, and if someone isn’t fully invested, they should step aside so devoted believers can focus on their mission. When a Christian community is struggling, it’s a sign that change is needed. You can often spot insincere Christians by how they avoid politics yet act as if they’re above it.
Jesus was the greatest leader in history, and in a community dedicated to following Him, the term “politician” could apply to Christians more than anyone else. Avoiding political issues is just pretending, not living out genuine faith. In fact, much of the blame for the country’s problems might rest on Christians—maybe even more than on career politicians.
The choice for every believer is clear: Will we be like Demetrius, using ignorance for comfort, or like Paul, speaking truth no matter the cost? Will we be like Pilate, avoiding responsibility, or like Jesus, embracing a kingdom not of this world yet boldly declaring its reality before earthly powers? The answer shapes not only our integrity but the future of nations.
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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