A professor of Theatre, Film and Communication Arts, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr Effiong Johnson has urged the Church and Christians not to be passive in politics and governance as active involvement was the only way to effect change in government.
He added that Christians especially, pastors should sensitize and mobilize their members for the 2023 elections.
Speaking during the Convocation lecture for the 6th Matriculation and 5th Convocation of Uma Ukpai School of Theology, Johnson urged some pastors to stop demonizing politics stressing that such has led to poor participation of Christians in politics.
Speaking on the theme: “Christian In Politics – The Way Forward: The Christian and The Church Responsibilities”, the University Don said the Church has a stake in governance and called on it to support Christian politicians.
He cited biblical examples of persons like Joseph who became the second-in-command to Pharaoh in Egypt, Daniel and Joseph of Arimathea, saying they played key political roles in the government of their time and didn’t delve into evil.
He said notable persons like Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King became popular through the rallies they organised to promote the Christian course and did not waver in their faith.
Part of his text read: “The church must rise to the challenge of political relevance via political participation. Sensitization campaigns, conscientization of the membership and the electorate, respectively, mobilization pundits, pulpit.
“Christian sloganeering and public engineering, must become entrenched in the church programme (like crusades), to rally the public into the Christian perspective of political orientation as a target towards desirable change for the better.
“The Christian posture as individuals and the church position as a corporate body must align against brazen acts of corruption. A holy fight against this destructive monster is long overdue.
