The study examined Christian Participation in Politics with a case study of United Evangelical Church in Uyo. Politics and religion are two deferent entities that help in the growth and development in human existence, despite the fact that, both have parallel practices, but they share some common goals which are beneficial to man.
Politics they say is a game of interest. Though it is believed that there is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy, but the only thing that is permanent is permanency of interest. These interests, will breed greed, selfishness, lack of honesty, distrust corruption, to mention but a few. The main objective of the study was to investigate the importance of Christian participation in politics.
The research method employed was a critical historical method with primary and secondary sources consulted. Conclusively, this researcher is not by any way advocating that the church should endorse candidates, but that members who are citizens should become involved in politics. Its Theoretical framework is to first look into understanding of Christian Participation in Politics.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER THREE: CHRISTIANS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
CHAPTER FOUR: CHRISTIANS' POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
PRIMARY SOURCES
References
Research Objectives and Themes
This study examines the relationship between Christianity and political participation, specifically focusing on the United Evangelical Church in Uyo, Nigeria, to challenge the prevailing apathy among Christians towards political engagement and to emphasize their moral duty to contribute to societal governance.
- The importance of Christian involvement in political processes.
- Evaluation of the role of Christians in electing political representatives.
- Moral implications of active Christian participation in politics.
- Assessment of the impact of Christian participation within the United Evangelical Church.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Christians' Political Participation in the United Evangelical Church
Having understood the term politics from various perspectives, it can safely be concluded that there are several ways in which Christians can be involved. For a clear understanding of this section, it is apt to discuss in brief the interplay between religion and politics. Religion is an all pervasive social phenomenon. It interacts with every social institution; politics being one of such. If both religion and politics are practiced by men, it will not be difficult to see the duo as interacting entities. Historically, one can trace the history of the interaction to the time the Israelites asked for a king to rule them like other nations, which suggested a rejection of theocratic governance. Lim in his work Many Clicks but Little Sticks adds that Saul, the first king, became the political head of Israel, while Samuel continued as the spiritual head. Following the rejection of Saul, and on God's instruction, Samuel anointed David as Saul’s successor. What could be described as real politicking preceded the emergence of Solomon as king (Lim 2013:43). Christians were persecuted in the early days of Christianity in the Roman Empire because it (Christianity) was seen as a religio illicifa - illegal religion. This continued until Emperor Constantine became a Christian and pronounced Christianity a legal religion. Since that time there has been an appreciable interaction between the Church and the state. In England, for instance, the office of the King or Queen is recognized by the Anglican Church and he/ she cannot be crowned without the input of the church.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the complex relationship between Christianity and politics, establishing the research problem regarding Christian apathy and defining the objectives of this study.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter reviews various definitions and typologies of political participation, including Teorell’s framework, and explores the historical and theoretical context of the interaction between religion and politics.
CHAPTER THREE: CHRISTIANS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: This chapter analyzes why Christians should be involved in political life, detailing their spiritual and social obligations, and evaluating biblical perspectives on governance and civil obedience.
CHAPTER FOUR: CHRISTIANS' POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH: This chapter examines the specific history of the United Evangelical Church and analyzes the practical experiences and challenges of its members in engaging with the Nigerian political environment.
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: This chapter summarizes the findings, concludes that Christian political participation is an inevitable responsibility for societal integrity, and provides recommendations for strengthening this engagement.
Keywords
Christianity, Politics, Political Participation, United Evangelical Church, Nigeria, Governance, Church and State, Political Ethics, Servant-Leadership, Integrity, Democracy, Religious Apathy, Qua Iboe Church, Social Responsibility, Citizenship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this study?
The work explores the historically complex and often controversial relationship between Christianity and politics, advocating for active, ethical engagement by Christians in the political sphere.
What are the primary fields of research covered here?
The study spans political science, Christian ethics, and sociology of religion, with a specific focus on the religious landscape and political participation trends in Nigeria.
What is the central research question?
The primary aim is to investigate the importance of Christian participation in politics and how this engagement can be conducted with integrity to improve societal leadership.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The researcher utilized oral interviews with various church members and stakeholders, combined with a critical historical method analysis using primary and secondary sources.
What does the main body of the work address?
The text analyzes theoretical definitions of political participation, the biblical perspective on political power, and a detailed case study of the United Evangelical Church in Uyo.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Christian citizenship, servant-leadership, political integrity, democracy, Nigeria, and religious obligation.
How does the author view the "dirty game" perception of politics?
The author argues that politics is not inherently evil, but becomes synonymous with corruption due to the actions of individuals who lack integrity and by the pervasive influence of "political godfathers."
What role does the United Evangelical Church crisis play in this study?
The internal schisms and administrative conflicts within the church serve as a case study for understanding how political, ethnic, and leadership struggles can affect the church's ability to influence society effectively.
- Quote paper
- MfonAbasi Okon (Author), 2022, Christian Participation in Politics. A Case Study of United Evangelical Church in Uyo Local Government Area, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1267324
