By Mr Basil B. Peutalo, Manager of Caritas Rabaul Office.

Vunapope, June 2021

We will be sharing some important points for understanding of the National General Election, Provincial and Local Level Governments that are taking place next year 2022. National or provincial or even Local Level Government elections though are political matters, are our important Christian duties. All Christians, and for most of us Catholics, have the duty to voting into public office, Provincial Assembly or National Parliament responsible and upright women and men who can represent responsibly, truthfully and sincerely us the voters, the ordinary people who vote them in. 

Bible Readings And Teaching of the Church on Politics:   

Before we go into to the topic, let us listen to one or two Bible texts and the teachings of the Mama Church on politics to help us understand well what and how voting and participating in politics are our christian duties.

Politics are polarizing, that is, dividing our thoughts, focus and us in communities because the different opinions about the role of government, performance of our mandated representatives and application of laws run such a wide—and impassioned or with strong feelings — spectrum of beliefs and philosophy.

Thankfully, for Christians, the Bible isn’t silent on these issues. The Mama Church has clear and strong stance on politics also in line with the Bible. The Bible and the Church put up the Gospel Values as guiding principles for Christians to use as guidance for them while participating in social, economic, cultural and political developments for themselves and their country.

Here are some important points that the Bible wants us to understand about our roles in politics and governments.

The first truth is that the will of God permeates, that is present all over or throughout and supersedes, that is, above all and every aspect of life. It is God’s will that takes precedence, that is, first place or priority over everything and everyone (Matthew 6:33): “Set your heart first on the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you”. God’s plans and purposes are fixed, and His will is inviolable, that is unbreakable, or sacred. What He has purposed, He will bring to pass, and no government can frustrate or prevent His will (Daniel 4:34-35): “So now, I, Nebuchednazzer, praise, exalt and glorify the King of Heaven. For all His works are true, and His ways are all just; He knows how to humble those who walk in pride”. In fact, it is God who “sets up kings and deposes them” (Daniel 2:21) because “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:17). A clear understanding of this truth will help us to see that politics is merely a method God uses to accomplish His will. Even though evil men abuse their political power, meaning it for evil, God means it for good, working “all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Second, we must grasp the fact that our government cannot save us! Only God can. We never read in the New Testament of Jesus or any of the apostles expending any time or energy schooling believers on how to reform the pagan world of its idolatrous, immoral, and corrupt practices via the government. The apostles never called for believers to demonstrate civil disobedience to protest the Roman Empire’s unjust laws or brutal schemes. Instead, the apostles commanded the first-century Christians, as well as us today, to proclaim the gospel and live our lives that give clear evidence to the gospel’s transforming power.

There is no doubt that our responsibility to government is to obey the laws and be good citizens (Romans 13:1–2): “Let everyone be subject to the authorities governing us. For there is no authority that does not come from God, and the existing ones have been established by God. He who therefore resists authority goes against the order established by God, and those who resist deserve to be condemned”. God has established all authority, and He does so for our benefit, “to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13–15): “For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority: the king as chief authority; the governors as sent by God to punish evil-doers and encourage those who do good. And God wants you to do good so that you may silence those fools who ignorantly criticize you”. Paul tells us, as we have heard already in Romans 13:1–8 that it is the government’s responsibility to rule in authority over us—hopefully for our good—to collect taxes, and to keep the peace. Where we have a voice and can elect our leaders, we should exercise that right by voting for those who best represent us and best demonstrate Christian principles.

One of Satan’s grandest, that is, outstanding deceptions or lies is that we can rest our hope for cultural morality and godly living in politicians and governmental officials. A nation’s hope for change is not to be found in any country’s ruling class. The church has made a mistake if it thinks that it is the job of politicians to defend, to advance, and to guard biblical truths and Christian values. This means that the Church must keep preaching the Word of God, that is, the Gospel and its values against which government and public officers must align public policies and social, economic, cultural and political development goals. The Word of God must cut deeply through government systems to challenge for beneficial changes for Christian values in those systems and programs. Our Christian mandate is to spread the gospel of Christ and to preach against the sins of our time. Only as the hearts of individuals in a culture are changed by Christ will the culture begin to reflect that valuable change that is acceptable to God.

The church’s unique, God-given purpose does not lie in political activism that is engagement or involvement. Nowhere in Scripture do we have the directive to spend our energy, our time, or our money in governmental affairs. Our mission lies not in changing the nation through political reform, but in changing hearts through the Word of God and its values. When believers think the growth and influence of Christ can somehow be allied with government policy, they corrupt the mission of the church. Our Christian mandate is to spread the gospel of Christ and to preach against the sins of our time. Only as the hearts of individuals in a culture are changed by Christ will the culture begin to reflect that valuable change that is acceptable to God.

Believers throughout the ages have lived, and even flourished, under hostile, repressive, pagan governments. This was especially true of the first-century believers who, under merciless political regimes, sustained their faith under immense cultural stress. They understood that it was they, not their governments, who were the light of the world and the salt of the earth. They adhered to Paul’s teaching to obey their governing authorities, even to honor, respect, and pray for them, that is the governing authorities in the world (Romans 13:1-8). More importantly, they understood that, as believers, their hope resided that is, rested in the protection that only God supplies. The same holds true for us today. When we follow the teachings of the Scriptures, we become the light of the world as God has intended for us to be, whether in social, economic, cultural or political development as we read in (Matthew 5:16): “In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven”. Political entities are not the savior of the world. The salvation for all mankind has been manifested in Jesus Christ. God knew that our world needed saving long before any national government was ever founded. He demonstrated to the world that redemption could not be accomplished through the power of man, economic strength, military might, or political cleverness. Peace of mind, contentment, hope, and joy—and the salvation of mankind—are provided only through Jesus’ death and resurrection. This means that any and all human initiatives that are carried out for the good of all in social, economic, cultural and political areas must be truly aligned with the Gospel Values as preached and brought about by the saving power of Jesus Christ and fulfilled in His death and resurrection. Any other way, that is through mere human efforts and earthly design for the sake of only the social, economic, cultural and political reasons is not of God.

The Church teaches this fundamental lesson that all human systems, governments and initiatives must be enriched and challenged by the Gospel Values, that is, the love of God that is shown through the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This must be undertaken and promoted always as the values of Christians, baptized Christians who believe and follow Christ in their thoughts, words and actions here on earth. 

WHAT IS THE THINKING AND ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN POLITICS?

Following on from what the Gospel of Christ has required of us in public arena, the Church likewise instructs us to apply this type of mentality and approach to public office and political undertakings as individuals and collectively as voters.

Principled leaders, that is, leaders with integrity, honesty and transparency guide a nation into responsible action for equal benefits from public programs and project. And it is responsible action that honors principles, that is values, enabling others to understand and appreciate them. 

Thus, for example: the principle or value of economic security generates job creation. But if education and crime prevention are inadequate, economic security is impacted negatively or adversely or wrongly. 

Thus, for example: the principle or value of integrity fosters responsible and honest leadership for the common good. But if the governance and its systems are not respected and protected to run its correct courses, delivery of services to one and all in the country is distorted or misapplied and destroyed leaving lots of our people in the rural areas suffering.

Thus, for example: the principle or value of honest and transparent elections fosters caring and conscionable elected representatives and good governance. But if the electoral system is abused and corrupted, government and its systems are destroyed and corrupted as a result.

Hence a vicious circle is created with little or nothing done to produce meaningful life in the land. Many instances in PNG can be used to understand this reasoning and can be safely said that such inadequate education and crime prevention, corruption in electoral systems and governance and its systems are not respected undermine terribly any effort to develop a so called “Christian rich black nation of Papua New Guinea”.

And what is the role of the church in such situation? We have to speak and act, we have to engage government on moral terms, not on expediency or seeming interference. That is our calling as the body of Christ here on earth. That is our calling as the teachers of the values of the Gospel of Christ here on earth.

Christians in the political arena have to commit themselves to honesty and integrity in all areas of their lives including politics to show by example that following Jesus works for our betterment even on earth. The church, as institution, needs to have competent lobbyists, that is, baptized and committed Christians within government structures to inform and be informed about the issues of the day. This must be seen as an investment, not a costly luxury for the Kingdom of God here on earth. 

To conclude:

The Church’s role in politics is to be there visibly in the context of political policy formulation. That is, the Church as an institution and as represented by baptized and committed Christians must always keep alert in ensuring the government policies and regulations are inspired and based on the Gospel values for the good of everyone. The church has to be prophetic, speaking for God in today’s social, economic, cultural and political needs. The church has to herald the ethical values that enrich a nation through national social, economic, cultural and political development initiatives. The church has to be bold and forthright, constructive and innovative. The church has to be “salt and light” in what is so often a corrupt environment, to bring light and health to one and all here on earth, our common home.

Active participation of all citizens in their political development initiatives such as National General Elections, Provincial and Local Level Government elections is defined by the Church as “characteristic implication of subsidiarity….” That is, citizens either individually or in association with others whether directly engage in individual development initiatives or through representation on the floor of Parliament or Provincial Assembly Hall contribute to the cultural, economic, political and social life of the civil community to which s/he belongs. “Participation is a duty to be fulfilled consciously by all, with responsibility and with a view to the common good” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1913 – 1917). 

THINGS TO REMEMBER DURING TIME FOR VOTING

When voting, exercise your right and duty responsibly with determination. We must always observe some of the following key points during election times be it National General Election, Provincial and or Local Level Government elections. 

SOME KEY POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN VOTING

• All citizens of Papua New Guinea, both those who are natural by birth and those who are naturalized through the law.
• Natural citizens are those of us whose parents are born here in Papua New Guinea, and can trace our lineage or traditional relations back to our ancestors and past generations, villages and clans here in PNG.
• There are our fellow PNG citizens whose country of origin, parents and ancestors are from a foreign nation but have taken out citizenship by law in PNG.
• We all have the right and duty to vote.
• If you are 18 years and above, you have the right and duty to vote at National General Election or Provincial and Local Level Governments.
• Both men and women who are eligible, that is have the right age and correct citizenship can and must vote at National General Election or Provincial and Local Level Governments.
• Any male or female who is below 18 years of age, and who is not mentally fit to think clearly or are too old cannot vote.
• Let us elect NOT A LEADER BUT OUR REPRESENTATIVE!  I repeat this: Let us not elect a leader but a representative or mausman na mausmeri to represent us in National Parliament, Provincial Assembly and or Local Level Government.

Why not a Leader? 

• A LEADER dictates, directs and command respect and obedience from the ordinary people. As we say in Tok Pisin, a leader is someone husat igo pas, na yumi bihainim tasol.
• A Leader presides over his or her people and their well being.
• A Leader is expected to provide for his or her people.
• A Leader performs the role of delivering of goods and services using “provision”approach and mentality for her or his people’s development without the people’s participation, making them become dependent.
• Those whom we elect at National General Election day are not, should not and must not be the modern version of the traditional chief or the elder; nor are they elected on prestige, that is title or name or status in the clan or tribe, but competence, that is, ability to first of all understand the needs of her or his people, then speak, articulate well and clearly the needs of his or her people.
• A REPRESENTATIVE represents the silent majority, is a mouth piece, speaks up on behalf of his or her ordinary people who are busy or worst overburdened with their day to day social, economic, cultural and political concerns.
• A REPRESENTATIVE facilitates development and delivery of services through enabling approach, that is, making his or her people empowered to helping themselves with him or her making it possible through enactment of appropriate laws and policies at government levels. 
• We are voting REPRESENTATIVES inline with the Preamble of the PNG Constitution that says: “… all power belongs to the people – acting through their duly elected representatives” (Preamble To The PNG National Constitution).
• The power is ours – us the ordinary people who are voting. We invest this power into the one whom we elect as our representative in the National Parliament or the Provincial Assembly or the Local Level Government.
• Our representatives are mandated or empowered by us the voters, that is, members of our communities to speak on our behalf on the floor of Parliament, Provincial Assembly or the Hall of the Local Level Government. That is why we call our political system in PNG as representative democracy. It adopts the British parliamentary system where representatives are elected to represent their voters in Parliament. We all cannot go to parliament to make laws to address our social, economic, cultural and political needs and issues.  
• The 111 members of Parliament debate, advocate, and vote on our behalf: for us their voters, their electorate first and for the whole nation.
• The men or women we are sending to Parliament do not need to be the richest in the district, nor the ones with the best rhetoric or ability to win in talking, or many years of life abroad and in the international circles.
• What really matters is their knowledge of the area and us the people and have the heart for how to push forward urgent and valuable pieces of legislation for our good.
• The good representatives listen a lot.
• The good representative will show up back home anytime the Parliament is in recess and no other duty or follow-up engagement keeps them back in the capital city. 
• Let us vote for REPRESENTATIVES who enable us to helping ourselves instead of voting for LEADER who provides for us or drag us along behind him or her or spoonfeed us in our development needs.
• Importantly, we are not going to vote leaders, as commonly understood. We vote representative. Repeat, we are voting our representative to National Parliament, to Provincial Assembly and Local Level Government.
• It is not only a privilege and right but a duty to vote our representative to the National Parliament or Provincial Assembly and or the Local Level Government.
• Choose wisely and choose freely is the golden rule in going to the polls or when voting.
• It is not a festival nor a traditional singsing nor a feast. 
• Voters may be tempted to go for the most cunning and unscrupulous, those who might come with a bag of rice today but soon disappear into Port Moresby or Brisbane or Singapore only to show up again at the next election. 
• Every five years or at the most every ten years better choose new representatives, unless the performance and the service (not the cash outs) of the incumbents that is, the representatives that we voted in have been outstanding. 
• It is time to go for women candidates, especially when they better understand the needs of the families, Local Level Government, district, and the Province.
• Our women are not in private business, and reveal a higher level of empathy that is, share the concerns, needs and issues with the people. 
• The ideal ones – men and women – are people from the health and education sectors, labor unions, the legal system, the international relations, the administration of the State, the community services, and the social welfare. With leadership skills, of course!
• What is needed is a Parliament that passes laws and enforces policies and behaviors which benefit and transform the individuals, the community and the country at large.
• People with vested interests instead, though with a few exceptions, will tend to secure their own profit and future, to bend the nation to their own objectives and goals.
• They will make you happy with a donation today, but they will not transform your community, district, province and the country and develop it for the benefit of our children.
• Some commentators already anticipate that the 2022 elections will be the hardest fought and the bloodiest in PNG history. And that is because of greed. The only way to prevent this happending, is that we prepare to dump all those who register their name for whatever reason other than the service of the people and the good of the country.
• The voters will only consider as second-choice if at all, candidates those who have been away from their place of origin for years. In other words, if you are to vote for a candidate who have been away from their place of origin for years, it must be because you have no other suitable person standing, a person who knows and understands well your peoples needs, concerns and issues.

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

Let us remind ourselves again of the key points of the importance of our participation in politics.

• First and foremost, our participation in politics is our duty and right of a citizen by being willing to stand for election as people’s representative. Any citizen who is of sound mind and eligible age can stand for public office in the government of Papua New Guinea.
• Our participation in politics is our Christian duty and right that have the common good of all as ultimate goal and purpose, and not for selfish and personal reasons.
• Politics is a noble profession. This means that the purpose of politics is that the REPRESENTATIVE speaks up and enables sustainable development for her or his people, who have mandated or given her or him their power as enshrine in the Mama Lo as their representative in Parliament or Provincial Assembly.
• Vote for our REPRESENTATIVE and not for a LEADER. There is a big difference between a REPRESENTATIVE and a LEADER.  
• Our REPRESENTATIVE is empowered that is, given power by us through our votes to speak on our behalf about our concerns, needs and dreams for development in our lives and communities.
• In this regard, our REPRESENTATIVE facilitates for our development. 
• LEADER provides, hence spoon feeding her or his people to becoming dependent, and expectant always while REPRESENTATIVE enables her or his people to be strengthened and taking responsibility of their own development.
• Both women and men can and should stand for public office, and not only men or not only women, or not anyone from any one particular area or profession only.

CONCLUSION

Before we conclude, let us hear about how principled leaders or leaders with integrity who have hearts for their people and their people who are inspired and enriched with Gospel values taking action to change their cruel and dictatorial rules to establishing democratic governments – government of the people and by the people . These political events took place in the one neighboring East Asian country of the Republic of the Philippines. 

1. How Filipino People Power toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos

In 1986, over a million Filipinos took to the streets to overthrow the corrupt and brutal regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. It was called the People Power Revolution. President Marcos and his wife Imelda had ruled the Philippines for 20 years. Following the murder of the anti-Marcos politician, Ninoy Aquino, a huge opposition movement rallied around his widow, Cory Aquino. She stood against Marcos in a snap presidential election in 1986. But when Marcos was declared the winner amid massive electoral fraud, huge protests began. The protestors were supported by the Catholic Church under the guidance of Cardinal Jaime Sin. Eventually, senior members of the army rebelled against Marcos. Filipinos poured onto the streets to protect the rebel army officers. Loyal troops refused to fire on the crowds. After four days of mass protests, Marcos fled to Hawaii.

You can read more about this political revoluation in the Republic of the Philippines yourself.

This political action by the people and their leaders though had the potential for much violence, gained their desired outcome of overthrowing President Ferdinand Marcos through non-violent ways and means. During its rul the government of President Ferdinand Marcos engaged in lots of brutal and violent murders of their opponents over his 20 years rule. Lots of people just mysteriously went mission, died and thrown into prison when and if they talked out against the way the government was running their country. The people had enough and took to the main street of Metro Manila and protested, overthrew the Marcos Government and they won.

The people of the Republic of the Philippines took up political actions because they assessed that there had been too much injustices through abuse and disrespect for the people and their basic human rights by the political power of former President Ferdinand Marcos at that time. The leaders, both public and private of the Republic of the Philippines wrestled, that is take away the political power from their ruling government of former President Marcos for the benefit of the silent suffering majority of their peoples. They took non-violent ways of ousting or getting rid of their government.

One factor in the so called Peoples’Power in the Republic of the Philippines is that the leaders and the majority of the people who take the Gospel values with the Social Teachings of the Church into their day to day lives and apply these values to their social, economic, cultural and political lives even to the present time.

Let us pray as we conclude;

O God bless us all and guide us with the Holy Spirit in our preparation and participation in all our social, economic, cultural and political development duties of our people, country, Papua New Guinea and for Your glory and Kingdom here on earth.

We make this prayer in the holy name of Jesus Christ Our Lord.  AMEN.