Christians must not shy away from active politics

A young Christian missionary from Sweden, Tjebbo Van Den Eljkhof has encouraged Christians not to shy away from active politics but rather get involved in order to bring their expertise and experience to the benefit of their people.

Van Den Eljkhof of the Youth World Association of Ministries, an association of Christian missionaries says politics all over the world has seemingly become dirty just because Christians have completely refused to have an interest in the way their counties are governed.

“We have created an image for ourselves that politics is evil and we should not get close to it, but that is wrong,” he told the dailyEXPRESS.

According to him instead of complaining and always accusing politicians of being corrupt, Christians should put themselves up to be elected into political offices in order to bring the needed change that the population is looking forward to.

Van Den Eljkhof said the politics of acrimony as pertains in Africa is no different from that of Europe but the situation can be better if “we make a commitment to ourselves that we are going to go there with a sense of purpose and direction to change the system, and not to join the few who are enriching themselves at the expense of the larger majority of their people.”

He said a Christian with godly principle would be a huge asset to the political system, bringing the desire changes needed to make governance more of a service than a fertile field for wealth acquisition.

“It should be possible for the Christian to go into politics, media be an expert in education and take part in social activities in communities. But we must go there with a mind of God and be ready to be a shining light to the rest of the world,” he said.

On the proliferation of churches and reported cases of a seemingly decline in spirituality Van Den Eljkhof said, the situation is becoming a global phenomenon.

He said what ought to be done is rather for the churches to be focus more on the spiritual growth of their congregation instead of the continuous sermons of property as has become the mantra in majority of the churches.

He was unhappy with the rising cases of despondency among most Christian youths whom he said have not been properly taken care of by their congregation in the area of support.

Mr. Eljkhof said churches will see a more productive youth if they invest in their youth in the area of skill development that will make them self sufficient and more relevant in the house of God.

He also told the dailyEXPRESS that his major aim is to bring all the Christian leaders in Tema together to team up as a body where they could look for alternative ways of enhancing the spiritual growth of the port city of Tema, and equally contributing to the existing social services in areas such as hospitals, schools and care homes.

The vision for Tema concept is expected to take off next year.