By Elder Sydney Muyambi| At a time of crisis people look for leadership, comfort, assurance and vision and hope for the future.
If we are to look at biblical examples we see Joseph leading Egypt through a length period of famine.
Moses was able to keep the nation of Israel intact for forty years at a time when they were buffeted by a number of crisis situations.
If we come to our Zimbabwean situation we see heroes and heroines like Nehanda, Kaguvi, Mapondera, Lobengula and Mashayamombe of the first Chimurenga who not only led the people but also inspired them to rise against an oppressive administration.
We also see religion playing a central role in leading and guiding the people. The Mwari and Mhondoro all played a vital role during the revolution.
This also happened during the second Chimurenga period. In both examples (Biblical and Zimbabwean) we note that during crisis times the political and spiritual leadership worked in collaboration to cause the people to believe in the nation and move forward.
It is a time of Easter, a time when the Christian community commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
According to Christian tradition, the person of Jesus represents and embodies the hope of humanity in the wake of pressures of human subsistence. His death is said to be an assurance to humanity that there is life after death.
That despite problems we face as human beings natural death does not mean an end of life but a transition to a higher existence. His resurrection represented victory over death and the grave.
The clear message of Easter then becomes that whatever problems humanity faces does not mean we are doomed.
We may appear to be defeated in this life but there is the standing hope of an eternal kingdom of Christ.
This message resonates with the hope which Nehanda gave Zimbabwe in the face of an apparent defeat by the white settlers.
These are trying times for all of us. The secular world is faced with having to give assurance to humanity that there is life beyond the COVID – 19 crisis. Scientific and political leadership have been both exposed.
The voices that are still audible are only those of political leadership yet they sound hollow, muffled, heavy and desperate.
At this time the only voice that should rise and make sense is that of the spirit man; the man of God. In the wake of an apparent defeat by the coronavirus people are waiting to hear a message of hope from God.
While governments and scientists are busy trying to fashion a way out the people should be kept under restraint by an assuring message of the cross. A message of hope from those that commune with the creator of the universe.
Apparently we seem not to hear the voice of the man of God. The prophets are apparently silent. One wonders whether God has nothing to say about our current situation.
Are they silent because God is silent? Are they silent because they can no longer hear the voice of God?
Are they silent because they, like the rest of humanity are fear stricken in the wake of the coronavirus?
Are they silent because the politicians have usurped power even over the church or religion? Apparently the church stands exposed by this crisis.
The message from governments is clear. “Stay at home because your God has no solution to our problem.”
The entire leadership of LEAD stands with the church. LEAD would like to take this opportunity to challenge those in government to enlist the help of the man of God.
Whenever Jewish leaders, in biblical times, faced a challenge beyond political and scientific leadership they did not hesitate to consult the Seers.
Its time government swallows its pride and brings in the church to LEAD us during this crisis. When there is no vision people perish. They cast away restraint. They run wild.
We, in LEAD implore the church to rise up and take its position as torch bearers to show us the way out of this crisis.
Our message to the church is clear to the church and the man of God is clear.
If you keep quiet help will come for the people from somewhere else but the God of the universe will judge you. Who knows, God might have established you as the church for such a time like this.
Governments can and may lockdown the people and established institutions but they cannot lockdown God.
In one of His teachings Jesus said men should not fear him that can only kill the flesh but not the soul.
They instead should fear Him that can kill both the body and the soul. COVID – 19 kills. Yes it’s a scientific fact but there is a God in heaven.
Nothing happens to humanity without a God ordained cause. May the God of the universe inspire the man of God to provide us with both counsel and leadership?
We are waiting for the church say “thus says the Lord God Almighty.” And we will all yield and fall in line.
God bless us all.
(Muyambi is the Secretary General for LEAD)