Pst. Yohanna Y.D Buru,

General Overseer, Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Fellowship, Kaduna

My answer is absolutely no. My reasons for saying no is obvious from the Holy Bible, both from the New and Old Testaments. In the Old Testament, it was stated clearly that the office of a priest or prophet is a religious or spiritual one and not a political office. The religious leaders were given the opportunity to only guide the political leaders on spiritual and physical matters in order to lead God’s people aright through the teaching of God’s word and prophetic messages, to both the leaders and the led. Secondly, God made a clear demarcation between sacred and the secular, whereby the secular was headed by kings while the spiritual was headed by priests or prophets. Although Israel was governed by God through judges and the system of government was known as Theocracy. But after the people of Israel asked for a king, God made the demarcation between sacred and secular. This separation between the secular and sacred continued through to New Testament, in which God assured us that all authorities are God’s (Romans 8:1-7). To be called into pastoral ministry does not involve politics as it is stated in the holy book that religious leaders are called into ministry leadership and gift for the edification and unity of the body of Christ. Above all, this calling and gift for ministry leadership is meant to help in shaping the politicians and political system for the good of all. So, if religious leaders are involved in politics, who will guide the politicians to do right before men and God?