I’ve heard so much about the ‘term dirty politics’ and I was wondering as to whether there is a counter argument against that. Sometimes given that we know it, but unable to counter it with another view or opinion, there is a tendency to remain one sided instead of giving a counter view on the argument.I’m talking about “political holiness” in politics.
The Solomon Islands National General Election is around the corner. In November or around that time before the year ends, voters will go to the polls to elect our political leaders in parliament for the next four years.
Christians who make up the biggest number of voters in this country they too will go to the poles to vote. But has anyone know why Christians must participate in the political life of this country?
Politic is often described as a dirty game. It is dirty because it involved a lot of unacceptable behaviors. However, the Christian community must be careful not to label dirty politics within the confines of the politicians because the church is a human community able to commit errors as well.
On the contrary, because of the gospel we preach is centered in the person of the perfect Christ for whom we must stand for him in the nonsense of this world, it is our Christian duty to make sense of the new life in Christ to touch other peoples’ lives.
To that end, it is the mission and the role of the Christian community to facilitate the preparation of public awareness before the National general election in the public domain.
Looking towards the upcoming national general election, it is time the general public come to terms with not just dirty politics, but the need to stage ‘political holiness’ agendas in the public arena. Everyone is concerned about dirty politics. It is time we speak about political holiness.
To do that, let’s first vote wisely by voting those who can see, read, think, reason, articulate, write and speak on issues that matter to everyone’s welfare. Anyone would have thought most of the outgoing politicians would have come across the term political holiness. If they didn’t, for the cause of justice, let the public prepare to challenge the newly elected ones come 2015 if they blind to see the cause of political holiness.
I say that for obvious reasons. The issues of justice and integrity are issues matter for the citizens and non citizens of this country. At the core of it, is political holiness. Political holiness is a political agenda. It is not a Christian community agenda although when at times it can be taken as a supported responsibility by the church.
Political holiness as a political agenda can be seen in various regulatory procedures. For instance, political holiness doesn’t allow capital punishment in this country. Political holiness banned pornographic materials from this country. Political holiness banned legalizing brothels in this country just to name a few. Could it be that “corruption” should fall within the confines of political holiness?
Political holiness is stability. Political holiness is meaningful and purposeful living. Political holiness is living in multiracial and ethnic co-existence. Political holiness is respect to law and respect to stability. Political holiness is fairness. Political holiness is respect to neighbor.
The extent political holiness has on everyone’s wellbeing is the reason for holiness shouldn’t be an agenda for the churches alone. Holiness ultimately, is a political responsibility of the government for its people. As little children would have understood, political holinessis of the people, by the people and for the people. No greater responsibility is at stake in democracy other than political holiness,and that is the very reason why politicians are voted into power. As people’s representatives they are there to protect the cause of political holiness. But does the exercise of political holiness is what is happening in the country today?
This is the question for all of us to answer with our voting power – so off you go. Vote for political holiness or vote to bury alive the monster – “corruption”.
By Rev. Philemon Akao
Naha 4 Road
