Why the Church Must Participate in Shaping Society Without Losing Its Prophetic Voice
By Odesola JF., PhD
“If Christians don’t get involved in politics, politics will erase their right to be Christians.”
— President Donald Trump
There is a statement that Christians may find uncomfortable, but which deserves serious reflection: If Christians withdraw completely from politics, they should not be surprised when political decisions eventually affect their freedom to practise their faith, raise their children, express their convictions and contribute to society.
I have always believed that Christians cannot afford to stay aloof when it comes to politics.
This does not mean that the Church should become a political party. It does not mean that pastors should turn their pulpits into campaign platforms. It does not mean that Christians should support every politician who claims to be a Christian or belongs to a particular political party.
Rather, it means that Christians must understand that politics affects almost every area of human life.
Politics determines who makes laws. Politics determines how public resources are allocated. Politics influences education, healthcare, security, taxation, religious freedom, economic opportunity, employment, infrastructure and social welfare.
Therefore, to say, “I am a Christian, so politics does not concern me,” may sound spiritual, but it can have serious consequences.
Politics Affects the Environment in Which We Practise Our Faith
The Bible teaches us to pray for those in authority.
Paul wrote:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority…”
— 1 Timothy 2:1–2
Why should Christians pray for government if government has nothing to do with our lives?
Government matters because leadership matters.
When government works, society benefits. When government fails, ordinary people suffer.
A bad government does not ask whether you are a Christian before poor economic policies affect you. Insecurity does not ask whether you attend church before attacking your community. Inflation does not ask whether you are a pastor before increasing the cost of food. Poor healthcare does not ask whether you are born again before affecting your family.
Politics is therefore not something happening somewhere far away.
Politics comes home with us.
It enters our schools, hospitals, businesses, churches, communities and homes.
That is why Christians must not abandon the public space.
The Danger of Leaving Politics to Others
Plato is often credited with the observation that one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that one ends up being governed by one’s inferiors.
Whether or not every popular attribution of these quotations is historically precise, the principle deserves consideration.
If responsible people refuse to participate, irresponsible people will not necessarily refuse.
If men and women of integrity say, “Politics is dirty; I don’t want to get involved,” people without integrity may gladly occupy the space they abandoned.
And when that happens, those who stayed away may eventually discover that political decisions are being made by people whose values are completely different from theirs.
The answer, however, is not for Christians to become corrupt because politics is corrupt.
The answer is for Christians to enter the political space and demonstrate that integrity is possible.
Joseph served in government without becoming an Egyptian idolater.
Daniel served under pagan kings without abandoning his faith.
Nehemiah served within the Persian political structure while remaining committed to the restoration of Jerusalem.
Esther occupied a position of influence in the palace and used that position to save her people.
These examples teach us something important:
Being involved in government does not necessarily mean compromising one’s faith.
The real challenge is whether we can enter the public space without allowing the public space to enter our hearts and corrupt our convictions.
Christians Must Understand the Difference Between Politics and Partisanship
This distinction is extremely important.
Politics, in its broadest sense, concerns how society is governed and how public decisions are made.
Partisanship is loyalty to a particular political party.
They are not the same thing.
A Christian can participate in politics without becoming a political extremist.
A Christian can vote without worshipping a politician.
A Christian can support a candidate on one issue and disagree with that same candidate on another.
A Christian can belong to a political party and still tell that party when it is wrong.
This is where the Church must be careful.
Our allegiance to Christ must always be greater than our allegiance to political parties.
When Christians begin defending everything their preferred politician does—even when it is clearly wrong—they have crossed a dangerous line.
The Christian should be able to say:
“My candidate is wrong.”
“My party is wrong.”
“My government is wrong.”
“My political leader has made a mistake.”
Because our ultimate standard is not the political party.
Our standard is the Word of God.
The Christian Vote Is a Moral Responsibility
Rev. Raphael Warnock reportedly described a vote as “a kind of prayer about the kind of world you want to live in.”
That is a powerful way of looking at elections.
Voting is not merely putting a thumbprint on a ballot paper.
It is making a choice about leadership.
When we vote, we are helping determine who will make decisions that affect millions of people.
Therefore, Christians should not vote merely because somebody belongs to their ethnic group.
We should not vote merely because somebody comes from our town.
We should not vote simply because somebody gives us money.
We should not vote because somebody attends our church.
We should ask:
What does this candidate stand for?
What is the person’s record?
What is the person’s character?
Does this person respect human life and dignity?
Does this person understand the economy?
Can this person protect citizens?
Can this person manage public resources responsibly?
Does this person have the capacity to unite rather than divide?
Can this person be trusted with power?
These questions are more important than political slogans.
We Must Stop Selling Our Votes
One of the greatest dangers facing democracy is the monetisation of the vote.
A politician gives somebody a small amount of money during an election, and the person sells away the power to determine who will govern millions of people for several years.
That is a terrible bargain.
If somebody gives you ₦10,000 for your vote but helps install a government that wastes billions of naira, increases insecurity or destroys economic opportunities, what exactly have you gained?
The vote is more valuable than the temporary gift.
A bag of rice can feed a family for a short period.
A good government can create an economy in which millions of families can afford food.
A small cash gift may solve today’s problem.
Good governance can address tomorrow’s problems.
Therefore, Christians must learn to look beyond election-day gifts.
Prayer Is Powerful—but Prayer Does Not Cancel Responsibility
There is another misunderstanding we must correct.
Some people say, “I don’t need to vote. I have prayed.”
Of course, pray.
Pray for Nigeria.
Pray for leaders.
Pray for peace.
Pray for wisdom.
Pray for justice.
Pray for righteousness.
But after praying, do your civic duty.
The Bible says:
“Faith without works is dead.”
— James 2:26
If you pray for good leadership but refuse to participate in choosing leaders, there is a contradiction that deserves examination.
Imagine someone praying for a harvest but refusing to plant.
Imagine someone praying for excellent students but refusing to build schools.
Imagine someone praying for healing but refusing to seek appropriate medical care.
Prayer and responsible action are not enemies.
Prayer should produce responsible action.
God can answer prayer through people.
God can answer prayer through voters.
God can answer prayer through leaders.
God can answer prayer through citizens who decide that their votes will no longer be for sale.
The Church Must Produce Nation Builders
The Church should not only produce people who can sing, preach and pray.
The Church should also produce men and women who can provide ethical leadership in every sector of society.
We need Christians in government.
We need Christians in the legislature.
We need Christians in local government.
We need Christians in civil service.
We need Christians in education.
We need Christians in business.
We need Christians in the judiciary.
We need Christians in technology.
We need Christians in policy development.
We need Christians who understand economics, law, international relations, security, agriculture, science and public administration.
Why?
Because Christianity is not merely about preparing people for heaven.
Christianity also teaches us how to live responsibly on earth.
Jesus said:
“Ye are the salt of the earth.”
— Matthew 5:13
Salt cannot influence anything if it remains inside the container.
Light cannot illuminate a room if it hides itself.
In the same way, Christians cannot influence society if they permanently withdraw from society.
But Christians Must Never Become Silent Prophets
There is another side to this discussion.
Participation must never become compromise.
A Christian politician should not say, “My party has spoken, therefore I cannot speak.”
A Christian pastor should not become so politically connected that he can no longer correct political leaders.
The Church must remain capable of speaking truth to power.
Nathan confronted David.
John the Baptist confronted Herod.
Elijah confronted Ahab.
The prophets repeatedly challenged kings when kings departed from righteousness.
Therefore, the Church must engage government without becoming an appendage of government.
We must cooperate where cooperation is necessary, commend what is good, challenge what is wrong and remain faithful to biblical truth.
Our Young People Must Be Encouraged to Participate
One of the greatest mistakes older generations can make is telling young Christians that politics is too dirty for them.
If we say that, who will clean it?
If honest people refuse to participate, dishonest people will not retire voluntarily.
We should encourage young Christians to study political science, law, economics, public administration and governance.
We should teach them that leadership is service.
Jesus said:
“Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister.”
— Matthew 20:26
That is the opposite of the culture of political entitlement.
Leadership is not an opportunity to become rich at the expense of the people.
Leadership is stewardship.
Political office is not ownership.
Public resources are not personal property.
The politician is a servant of the people, not their master.
We Must Also Hold Leaders Accountable
Participation does not end when we vote.
Democracy is not merely an election-day activity.
After voting, citizens must remain vigilant.
We must ask questions.
We must demand transparency.
We must monitor public projects.
We must reject corruption.
We must speak against injustice.
We must defend the vulnerable.
We must support good policies regardless of who introduced them.
And we must oppose bad policies regardless of who introduced them.
This is particularly important for Christians.
Our concern should not be, “Is my party benefiting?”
Our concern should be:
“Is Nigeria benefiting?”
The Consequences of Political Apathy
Injustice has a way of spreading.
A society may ignore corruption because it believes corruption affects only somebody else.
It may ignore insecurity because it has not yet reached its neighbourhood.
It may ignore discrimination because it benefits from the present arrangement.
But history teaches us that injustice rarely remains permanently confined.
Those who are protected today may become vulnerable tomorrow.
That is why Edmund Burke’s famous principle about the triumph of evil when good people remain inactive continues to resonate, even though the quotation is often reproduced in varying forms.
Silence can become permission.
Apathy can become complicity.
Indifference can become a form of surrender.
Nigeria Needs Christians Who Will Stand Up
Nigeria does not merely need more politicians.
Nigeria needs better leaders.
Nigeria needs men and women who understand that leadership is sacrifice.
We need people who will enter public service without losing their conscience.
We need Christians who will refuse to steal public money.
We need leaders who will not manipulate religion or ethnicity to divide citizens.
We need people who can say no to corruption even when everyone around them says yes.
We need citizens who will vote intelligently.
We need churches that will teach civic responsibility.
We need families that will teach their children integrity.
We need young people who will not allow themselves to be used as political thugs.
And we need a Christian community that understands that silence is not always neutrality. Sometimes silence simply allows somebody else to decide the future.
INEC Will Count Votes
There is a simple truth that every Nigerian should remember during elections:
INEC will not count how many times we prayed for good government.
INEC will count properly cast and valid votes.
We should pray—but we should also register.
We should pray—but we should collect our PVC.
We should pray—but we should study the candidates.
We should pray—but we should vote.
We should pray—but we should reject vote buying.
We should pray—but we should protect our democracy.
And we should pray—but after the election, we should continue to hold leaders accountable.
Our prayers matter.
Our votes matter.
Our voices matter.
Our civic responsibility matters.
Conclusion: Do Not Surrender the Public Space
I do not believe Christians should stay aloof from politics.
But neither do I believe that Christians should surrender their convictions to politics.
We must enter the public space as salt and light.
We must participate without compromising.
We must vote without worshipping politicians.
We must support leaders without becoming blind followers.
We must criticise without hatred.
We must disagree without violence.
We must engage without losing our Christian identity.
The ultimate objective is not to put Christians in every political office.
The objective is to put Christian values—truth, justice, righteousness, compassion, integrity, accountability and service—into the way Christians conduct themselves in public life.
The Church cannot afford to be absent from conversations that determine the future of society.
If Christians refuse to participate, others will participate on their behalf.
If people of integrity withdraw, people without integrity may fill the vacuum.
If responsible citizens refuse to vote, irresponsible citizens will still vote.
And when the results come, everyone—including those who stayed at home—will live under the government that others helped to choose.
Therefore, let us pray.
Let us prepare.
Let us register.
Let us obtain our PVCs.
Let us educate ourselves.
Let us encourage our dependent relatives to participate responsibly.
Let us vote according to conscience.
Let us reject violence.
Let us reject vote buying.
Let us reject ethnic and religious manipulation.
Let us demand accountability.
And above all, let us remember that political participation is not a substitute for Christian faith; it is one of the ways responsible citizens can express their concern for the society in which God has placed them.
The Church must not run away from the public square.
We must enter it with wisdom, integrity, courage and prayer.
Because if we refuse to participate in shaping the future, we should not be surprised when others shape it for us.
Pray. Participate. Vote. Speak. Serve. Hold leaders accountable.
Nigeria belongs to all of us—and we must not surrender its future through our silence.
