“Choose some wise, understanding and respected once (man and woman) from each of your tribes and I will set them over you.” Deut: 1:13.
The biblical criteria to choose the right candidate in order to form the right government (Deut.1:13). The context of the text portrays that Moses, “commissioned Judges to assist him” (Deut 1:15-15).John Hamli, argues the narrator emphasizes the responsibility of the people for choosing their own leaders as a preparation for their journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land.” For Daniel l. Christensen,Deuteronomy 1:13, “the emphasis is on the wisdom they are to be wise, understanding and known or experienced.” These judges are to administer justice with equity in any giving human society. The context of the chosen passage denotes that the people of Israel also faced a similar challenged compared to the challenges we are facing today. We see that Deuteronomy 1: 13, is an opened door to a new stage in the history of administration in Israel, particularly looking into the qualities for appointing the politicians for the people of Israelites. Not only whose persons were well known, but their characters and qualifications which enable them to be headship. Political-ship is not primarily seniority, and based on human power but with the inner qualities. The chosen or selection of the politicians is to be made by the people themselves that shows that people are giving privilege to be God’s faithful stewards even in the field of politics. Thethree qualities to be a good politician in the context of a crucial situation. They are:
1 Quality of being Wise
The first quality is hakhamim in Hebrew, which means wise ones, such as who had gained knowledge with the divine power and also self-dedication. The key word over here is that Leaders, especially politicians need to be wise to face all the challenges with a wise decision. It is not enough to be good or talented but wise is also necessary for leadership in any field as taking the right decision that will impact many peoples’ life. The text clearly indicates that a wise person is not just talking about intellectual, capacity, but it is associated to good moral life along with the talented skills. This quality comes through the knowledge of God’s word to minister the people as a good politician so as to other leadership in the different department. In today’s context, we need to have a good politician who is wise for good cause in order for the smooth functioning political administration. For the prudence in the management of affairs. Good governance connotes that leaders ought to be a man and a woman of wisdom and character, and good governance has a mandate to ensure the progress, development, and well-being of all the citizenry without discrimination. And also “Good governance should nurture the combination of good leadership guided by an ethical, moral compass as a prerequisite for progress and peace in society.”We need to select a wise person for the good government of the people as we live in a confusing world today. A person who is wise that has to be considered in the process of selecting the political leaders. We need to look for a person who is being true to the principles, keeping promises and competence which is associated with the skill, effectiveness, getting things done by focusing human dimension, able to understand everyday life issues.
According to Paul, government is ordained by God to promote good and restrain evil. To this effect, God authorizes the government to exercise for the administration of justice for the protecting life with God’s giving wisdom. A political leader who is having the gift of wise in the midst of all confusions while exercising the power they will be overcome over the foolish decision in a confused world. So Christian should be able to exercise the Christian stewardship to find out a person who is having the quality of having wise mind, wise thought, wise vision, and wise scope to lead the society and the nation today. Christians are entrusting their responsibility to officials who will govern on their behalf. As seen this wise quality from biblically perspective, it covers in all dimensions, chosen the right person, who is having the godly characters turned out to be a matter of good stewardship to exercise God’s given authority.Therefore, it is not enough for Christian ministers to inform about candidates and issues to the congregations, but to participate in the process of selecting the new upcoming leaders in the political arena. On the part of Christians, we should exhort fellow Christians to be involved in the political process and to find out the right candidates. Moreover, they should help, educate and equip their church members to think biblically about political issues, candidates, and party platforms. Much of this equipping and educating should be affected through the regular rhythms and liturgies of the church. Having the quality of wise leadership and Good Governance are two sides of the same coin. The two have many elements in common, without the quality of wise in leadership we may not envisage Good Governance in its totality. Good governance and having the quality of being wise is the essential requirements for an organization.
- Qualityof Understanding (discerning)
The second quality is nebonim in Hebrew, which means discerning or understanding ones, a person who is able to understand and distinguished thing even in a crucial situation. This nebonim is another important quality that the leader must possess. An understanding of the political system and experience in running a campaign gives a candidate a big edge over an inexperienced opponent. A proper understanding of state and local issues is a necessity for a candidate to move to greater heights. For having the quality of understanding in a leader’s life, it would contribute lots to the life of the community. This quality is considered to be one of the supreme among all the qualifications for the leaders. People who have the right skill of understanding they are wise in their decision for which people are respected, acknowledge their leadership and look up to them in all the aspects of life. Knowledge is power, so also and understanding. The more you learn, the better you will be able to understand and make decisions about the direction of your life and for the society at large.Christians have a biblical obligation to choose an understandable candidate in political endeavour.
The quality of understanding helps the leader to distinguish what is right and wrong. It also helps them to fear God and hate what is wrong and evil. As a result this will help the political leaders especially for the smooth functioning to their administrations for the wellbeing of the people in the state and the nation at large. As Christian, we must follow the true political theology of its logical approach by supporting the godly candidates and parties that support of clear biblical values. The principle of politics is to secure power so as to maintain law and order. The aspect perspective on politics holds that ‘politics’ is one of the aspects of human relations and interactions in all different domains of life. This perspective, therefore postulates that politics do not only exist in the domain of the state, the government and public administration, but also in sport, education, health care, business, personal relations, and so on. It also postulates that we can distinguish this aspect of behaviour and interactions from other aspects, such as the social, economic, and artistic. In other words, not everything is political, but politics is everywhere. This perspective can be used, it is necessary to specify what the specific nature of this political aspect is, and how it is to be discussed in the next section.
Nonetheless, identifying these common elements does help to develop a better sense of the nature of politics. Politics is a social phenomenon, it exists only in the relations and interactions between people, and it pertains therefore to groups, collectives or societies. The politics is the status and expression of power to the distribution of resources for the betterment of the citizens. The main purpose of politics is to enforce laws to govern citizenry for their betterment, growth and development of such natives. Thus, the government must show love, kindness and make an equal distribution of resources to the people. In secular politics, people normally mount platform to campaign for their parties to win power. In Church system, many Christians run representative system of government to select the leaders which is also a form of democratic politics.Good governance requires good government, i.e. an effective public service and effective public service institutions, which are more productive, more transparent and more responsive. - Quality of Respect
The third quality is, duim in Hebrew word, which means ones being respected and also knowledgeable. Man and woman of good repute in the community. Whose godliness and uprightness is known by the people. The Biblical requirement for the leaders is to select capable persons, who fears God, a man and a woman of truth, hating dishonest games. These people are to place them to be the leaders of the people. According to Exodus, 18:21-22, describes to choose who are capable and fit to control.People have lost their faith in the administrators and politicians because of the rampant practice of injustice, favouritism and unfair means in every aspect. Transformative leaders have great and significant roles to play in the public square; they could play a pivotal role in conscientizing the citizenry to ensure that rulers adhere to the triune principle namely “good governance, good lordship, and leadership guided by a moral compass.” They could enlighten the citizenry that in a democratic set up, good governance and leadership imply a bond of relationship between citizenry and leaders.The present generation demands a respected person to be the leader and guide for the state and the nation at large. Demanding a respected leader should be the voice of the Christian today.
The games of corruption has become a branded tag in the field of politics and also reaching to the churches in our generation. We have to uproot the inefficient government and inequality method prevailing in our state today.” There is a visibility that if a particular tribe becomes the head of any office, that particular tribe gets more opportunity than the other tribes. I assume that the spirit of nepotism, manipulation and bribery have become a common practice. This is a sign lack of God fearing politicians and Christians. Looking from this perspective until and unless we develop a guilty feeling and realize that the misuse of power is wrong and it is an unchristian way of handling the power, we cannot have a just and efficient government. The church so called Christians can play a great government that is accountable to the people can be achieved only through effective participation of the people.
Therefore, in order to promote peace and development in the state it is important to elect God fearing persons to form people centred government owned by the people role in imparting and influencing this moral attitude” of the people.
(To be continued…)
By: Husazulu Chuzho Khamo
DBC:Dimapur