Mutating corruption

Throughout history, corrupt governance has had a profound economic, social and environmental impact on the people and this has taken a heavy toll on public policies and human rights in most states. Tackling the menace of growing corruption is a challenge posed on society. Corruption is increasingly recognized as a threat to good governance and sustainable development. In many countries all sectors of society are affected, including churches. It is therefore most welcome that this book collects painful and hopeful experiences, reminds core values and shows concrete solutions for churches. Transparency International (TI) defined corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. As a vital and highly influential organ, the church is called to provide a befitting answer against various problems afflicting society, particularly the menace of corruption. The ‘virus of corruption’ has penetrated into functioning systems of the various stakeholders both locally and globally. Various approaches have been used in trying to curb corruption at different levels from a secular perspective, but with little progress as the vice eminently still exists in the society. Most unfortunately, due to the lack of conviction of the church leaders in speaking the truth against corruption and every form of injustice , they responsible for the diluting the message of the gospel. This self inflicted problem has caused loss of moral authority of the church leaders as spiritual guardians. Over the decades, it is seen that when the moral authority of the church has come under attack, the followers, the institutions and organisations succumb either because of compromises or when those in positions both within and beyond the church become corrupt. Whether it is corruption at high echelons of the government, the middle or even lowest rung and also extortion and various crimes at the societal level, there is need to determine where to begin the process of preventing further spread of this cancer that is eating away the vitals of society. In other states, people still raise corruption as an issue but not so anymore in Nagaland because neither the church, nor NGOs nor civil societies nor even the opposition are any longer interested. The church has only lamented about it but not showing any intent in combating the evil by affirmative action through spreading awareness in educating the people about the destructive power of this evil. The love of money has driven everybody crazy. The desire had become so intense that today, the end justifies the means and no one actually cares about the good old values. As almost all or a majority of people tend to describe themselves as adherents of the gospel but ignore that living righteously forms a vital component of the faith. When corruption becomes all encompassing, it also ultimately destroys the conscience; which can make a lie to become the truth and vice versa. The problem can also lead to a syndrome that is responsible for making people being misled to mistake the wood for the trees. A case in point is the fixation on liquor consumption alone as the root of all evil and which has caused aberration from recognising other notable threats. The fight against rampant and widespread corruption rightly started with clean election campaign but here too, the sloganeering and meetings were limited to campaign period after which nothing has been heard of till, perhaps the next election.