Leadership By Violence

GOVERNMENT BY COERCION

Bro. Enoch Immanuel A. Agbozo

The Bible says Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. Ghana as nation and people are a CHOSEN PEOPLE OF GOD. Unless therefore the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain that build it.

The mark of God chosen people or a godly nation is Peace, Righteousness and Justice, Truth, Honesty and Joy in the knowledge and worship of the True God. The knowledge of God makes people a people of humility and charity, peace, obedience and righteousness. Evil and wickedness are abhorred by godly people

Therefore, the Bible concludes in Isaiah Chapter 11 verse 9 saying:- “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

In this respect, the Bible further reveals that:- “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14: 34) “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan or mourn.” (Prov. 29:2) “The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge. Scoffers ensnare a city, but wise men turn away wrath.” (Prov. 29: 7-8)

Having regard to the above observations, there are three places or institutions in a nation from where the knowledge and obedience of God must flow. These are the Home, the Church and the Kings Palace and Court or Government House.

Unfortunately, in the current modern secular state where there is both rejection of God and the knowledge of Him, leadership, governance and rule are on the whole by violence and coercion through manipulation and lies, exploitation and oppression of the weak mass of people. There is no more reference to conscience with the current mindset of situational ethics and conduct. Nor is there any genuine respect and observance of law. Law makers tend to act with impunity as if above the law and law enforcement is often made subject to political expediency and interests in society. Therefore the oath for public office and for that matter for the professions is reduced to mere ritual. Accordingly, the state obligation and public interest in the protection of the poor, weak and needy and respect for the dignity of the human soul are on the whole unknown quantities. Thus, the blood and lives of citizens are of little account and consequence when the wicked rule.

In the home, the materialist drive and rat race in the distorted and fractured market place of ideas, goods and services, has caused parental care to be transferred to the humanist, materialist-oriented God-despising school system, police and welfare services set in place by the secular state. Meanwhile, the state system is itself run on lies, media-spun manipulation and exploitation of the poor, weak and needy, the malleable “masses” of citizens.

Thus, inspite of pious loud claims, state machinery and governance have become one of fear, oppression and coercion in the name of security and social advancement.

In the Church and religious gatherings, people are manipulated into mass behaviour patterns in the name of religion, doctrine and spiritual benefits. Emphasis has turned to gain and success, the power of numbers, blessing and glory as pertains to wisdom, understanding and vanity in the world. Religious leaders have lost faith and trust in the word and counsel, knowledge and fear of God. To many, gain is godliness.

The truth here is that the world dominated by thoughts of money and power, possession and position, success, wealth and fame, materialism in short. Worldly gain and vanity are garbed in religious verbiage to deceive, exploit and rob. The victims are mainly the weak, poor, needy and uninformed. However, the rich and powerfully placed are not spared either. After all, they share in the glare of mammon worship.

That is to say in this modern world, whether secular or even “theocratic”, leadership is mostly by violence through falsehood and manipulation, exploitation, oppression and coercion. Religious dogma mixed with worldly wisdom has been crafted and exalted by the scornful, wicked and anti-God to deceive and exploit, rendering humility, honesty and truthfulness unknown, and if known unpopular. Unrighteousness and wickedness have been so exalted the righteous and wise go into hiding.

For example, in the church, the faithful remnant with the Spirit, Truth, Light and Knowledge of God on the narrow way are deemed unsuccessful. Very few people would take the narrow way in these times. The deceived, deprived and exploited people and many of the redeemed flock and seekers alike crave for the broadway of ease and comfort, pleasure and populism.

Similarly, it has become fashionable, “upright” and popular to dominate the world, manipulate, exploit and coerce the poor, weak and needy citizens and nations by flexing economic and military muscles, and state power. To-day, economic power is hailed all over. The economically powerful are deemed the “wise” of the age. Military might is treated as the right cord for “sound” governance and conduct in a world dominated by violence and terrorism, wars and rumours of wars. Weapons of wars are the pride and glory of the modern state.

It should not be surprising therefore that whilst the G-20 are struggling to find answers to stem the tide of failing economies and fallen glory, President Atta-Mills is presiding over leadership of violence and governance through fear and threats of intimidation and state coercion.

It seems that the President, convinced about his success with the platform of violence, fear and threats in governance has gone forth to persuade the poor, needy and weak people of Ghana to agree with him about his successful management of the rule of violence. For example, the 100DAYS PRESIDENTIAL PRESS DO was reported as having been organised in such a way as to exclude and indeed eliminate the voices of dissent and the voices of victims of violence and state coercion. That can be applauded by the unrighteous and wicked as political smartness and sound state craft.

It is apparent that the President had no thought of and enough space for all the people of Ghana. For, considering the fact that the nation is squarely divided into two seemingly opposing halves the controlled press do cannot but be an act of violence, oppression and state coercion. Or is it because our dear President is suffering from fears and insecurity about open discussion of the delivery of his government?

We have been compelled to tread this far because President Atta-Mills makes all believe that he is a child of God, that he is a man of deep conviction, knowledgeable and practioner of true worship of Jesus Christ and the peace of God. That he is a man put in office and “enthroned” by God. If so, why the fear, why the violence of discrimination and the open assertion of state and government power? Why is government rule being enforced with highway brigandry tactics such as with the “legitimate” bid to retrieve state property from erstwhile and/or current fellow public servants from the seat of government? Yet the seat of government is under the control of openly confessing Christians and reputable gentlemen.

It is because of our standing as apostle-prophet of Jesus Christ and the Father and also of our personal conviction that we began this article with a quotation from the Bible. We end again by quoting Holy writ: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler’s favour, but justice for man comes from the LORD. An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.” (Prov. 29: 25-27) “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom 12: 17-18, 21)

Ghana, the chosen people of God, Ghana the land of the Hand and Peace of God, Ghana the nation with motto, Freedom and Justice should not and must not fall prey to the unrighteous and wicked ways of the anti-God, anti-love and anti-civility.

April 17, 2009 enochimmanuel09@yahoo.com/immanuelenoch@yahoo.com