During a recent Bible study session, the audience was encouraged to identify a few trustworthy Christian voices amidst the sea of online influencers. Many people are teaching and preaching, but if you don’t read the Bible for yourself, it’s easy to believe some of the unbiblical claims made by others. People often try to justify their behavior by twisting Scripture.
What’s particularly concerning are those in positions of power who claim to be followers of Christ and accept the Bible as God’s inerrant word, yet they support pastors and political candidates whose actions contradict their professed beliefs. While none of us are perfect, there should be a willingness to continually learn and grow in our faith.
The Bible commands us to care for the less fortunate:
- “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow,” Isaiah 1:17.
- “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing,” Deuteronomy 10:18.
- “You must not exploit a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze against you, and I will kill you with the sword,” Exodus 22:22-27.
Yet, we see policies and rhetoric that blame the poor instead of examining both collective and personal responsibility. Leaders entrusted to serve the people are selective in who they want to help, focused on meeting the needs of those similar to themselves rather than ensuring there is no need among us.
As Christ said: “The poor you will always have with you,” Matthew 26:11, John 12:8. But the root causes of poverty, greed and selfishness, persist from his time to now. The prophet Ezekiel’s warnings about corrupt leaders, false prophets, and the oppression of the poor resonate powerfully with our current reality:
“Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths so that I am profaned among them.
Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord say’s—when the Lord has not spoken.
“The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and need and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice,” Ezekiel 22: 26-29. As we approach the election, it’s crucial to be discerning about the voices we listen to, not blindly following entertainers or self-proclaimed prophets whose words do not align with Biblical principles.
We must diligently study God’s Word and allow it to guide our thinking and actions. “Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means,” 2 Timothy 2:15, TLB.
(Dr. Froswa’ Booker Drew is founder, of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation and president of Soulstice Consultancy. Visit <drfroswabooker.com> or email <info@drfroswa.com>.)
