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Be the one to stop spread of corruption

Opinion & Analysis
The media is always awash with reports of incidents of corruption. I don’t know whether corruption is increasing or it is the publicity that is increasing.

The media is always awash with reports of incidents of corruption. I don’t know whether corruption is increasing or it is the publicity that is increasing.

Devotion with Erasmus Makarimayi

Whatever the case is, the rate is alarming. Some culprits are brought to book while others seem to be protected. From public sector to private sector, from church to civil society, from uniformed forces to the civilians, the rot has not spared anyone.

Because of its prevalence, it now seems a light issue to the point where normal and upright business appears wrong and archaic. It should be frightening that you have to pay a bribe to get a death certificate of your loved ones, or to get a grave at the municipal cemetery.

Many studies have been done to find solutions for eradication of corruption but the scourge has continued unabated. Greed and selfishness sustain corruption but the major cause is oppression which drives those under the weight to quickly get rich when an opportunity offers itself. This explains why corruption is rampant in Africa.

Governments that were born out of oppression occasioned by colonialism looted in response to the load of oppression caused by colonial masters.

In some instances, the oppressed majority crafted their ways to enrich themselves and corruption filled the whole society. Time and space will not allow me to exhaust this theory, so I will presently return to biblical domain.

What is mind-boggling is that almost everyone says they are a Christian or belongs to a religion that forbids corruption.

The best way to deal with the cancer of corruption according to my understanding of kingdom philosophy is when practising Christians make a stand not to be part and parcel of the spread of corruption. There are many people that confess and profess to be Christians but practice otherwise. When practicing Christians enforce the culture of the Kingdom of God in their respective positions, the spread of corruption will be constricted.

My call is for every morally upright person to be a stumbling block for the spread of corruption. I am writing from the perspective of the Kingdom of God where I am a member but those of the religious world whose teachings are against corruption should also be part of the solution. Have a desire to be the one who stops the flow of this rot.

Because of my standing in society, I always get people whose conduct I don’t know who ask me to write recommendations to their prospective employers. Others ask me to attest to the good behaviour of their children for admission at schools and colleges. No matter how it hurts, my standard and principle is that I cannot do that.

At your respective corner, cut the supply pipe of corruption. You may think that you are ineffective but you are the solution and you can change the world. It begins with you. You are small but powerful.

Jesus puts it thus in Matthew 13:33, “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

This is how it works. The leaven would be so small and the system may not notice it and won’t be scared of its threat. The good thing about the leaven is that it is not intimidated by the size of its assignment but silently executes its mandate. The Kingdom of God has power and influence inherent in it. Jesus began with a small group of committed disciples but by the end of the first century AD the Kingdom of God which they proclaimed in the power of the Holy Spirit had spread far and wide with mighty transforming influence and great consequences.

Wherever you are, manifest the silent yet powerful influence of the culture of the Kingdom of God. I know you like your church but manifest the Kingdom. Your church is lower than the Kingdom. John the Baptist preached the Kingdom according to Matthew 3:2 which reads, “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus preached the Kingdom according to Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The power is in the Kingdom. Let us see your influence. If they fire you for refusing to tow the line, the other Christian who seats on the disciplinary panel will refuse to sign your dismissal or demotion papers.

If no one stands for you, the fourth man, Jesus who rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, will come forth for you. Daniel 3:25 records, “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Let us rid our nation of vultures. You have the capacity. Be a faithful ambassador of the Kingdom of God. You are going somewhere.

All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible lFeedback: [email protected] Follow Pastor Makarimayi on Facebook and on www.twitter.com/PEMAKARIMAYI