National Executive,
National Council,
Regional Committees,
Congregational Committees and
All beloved Christians in South Africa
Our country is entering a moment of leadership choice on 23 August 2023, and many of our members wonder what the Church believes about general elections.
As a church we refer to the infallible word of God to guide our beliefs and actions. We believe that God calls us to be responsible citizens, to pray for our leaders, and to seek the well-being of our nation. Therefore, it is important for us to participate in the upcoming harmonised general elections with a spirit of discernment and wisdom.
There are two things in voting: voting for principles and voting for persons. Christians are obliged to vote at constitutional referendums or Bills such as the Death Penalty, Universal Suffrage, Age of Consent etc. These are principles that must advance our humanity. On the second note, we are not obliged to vote for persons into political offices. When we vote for persons we must be prepared to own up what they do when they are in office. It calls for individual conscience and choice. For instance, if they fail when in office, we participate in their failure, and if they succeed, we participate in their success. In that way, no one should be forced to vote or not to vote for one candidate or the other, or in any way participate in the harmonised general elections as a monitor or observer – we have the freedom of conscience and participation.
As a church, it would be improper to endorse one political party or the other; one candidate or the other; but we encourage our members to carefully consider the character, values, and policies of those seeking leadership positions. Our actions must not be driven by hatred of individual candidates or parties, or scandalizing thoughts. Hatred of political parties or candidates does not make those parties evil or candidates bad people, but just a reflection and description of our own personalities – people full of self-hatred. Look for individuals who exhibit integrity, humility, and a genuine commitment to serving the people [As a Christian, I would also prefer a candidate who gives genuine liberty to religious freedom, so that as Christians we can pursue our own Christian interests in the voting process]. Those who succeed in voting, we urge you to evaluate the positions of the candidates you choose in relationship to attainment of social justice, equality, peace, and the protection of human rights.
We also remind our members that we should conduct ourselves as Christians – as a church we have principles – because if our Christian foundations are pathologically faulty, our Christian calling as a church becomes a betrayal to our covenant with God. The Bible calls us to walk perfectly with God, serve no other gods but Him only (Exodus 20:3). Your Christian foundation calls you to be godly in your conduct during the electoral process. We therefore urge you to reject all hateful thought and speech because God equates it to killing, and hence an electoral misconduct is equal to intimidation and violence. We urge all our members, and from any of our churches, and the generality of the Zimbabwean Christian population in South Africa, to strive, if you so choose to go home and vote; to be peaceful in approach to the elections, and to be a good Christian citizen.
Furthermore, we encourage our members [and all Christians in South Africa who want to go home and vote] to engage in constructive dialogue and discussions about the elections and the electoral process without exhibiting superiority of both knowledge and status. You may choose to share your views, but not to force others to follow your choices. Above all, listen to the views of others, and seek a common ground and understanding with those from the opposing sides. Let us remember that any political party and its candidates are members of our churches and part of the body of Christ, we have a relationship that transcend political differences. May we protect the bigger picture of the relationship?
While we participate in the electoral process, let us keep our focus on advancing the Kingdom of God and working towards a just and compassionate society. We must be reminded that our ultimate hope is not in any political party, leader or government, but our ultimate hope is in God alone. We also need to be reminded that it is only God who can choose the best leaders for the nation, and without God’s guidance all our choices are going to be futile. Elections require prayer and hope in God so that we can navigate these elections by the Will of God, and that the best leaders be chosen for the nation. Immediately, as leaders are chosen, whether they are those we preferred or did not, let us present them into the hand of God for guidance in order for them to provide us with a prosperous Zimbabwe.
In Christ’s love,
[Rev. Dr. Gift Masengwe]
President, Church of Christ South Africa
