Yesterday, I was in Manila In Zoe TV studio taping for PJM (Philippines For Jesus) Forum with Bro. Eddie Villanueva(Bishop and Direction of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide) and Bishop Dan Balais(National Director of Intercessors For Philippines and PJM Director) on the topic "What is God saying to the church today?". I understand that this program will be shown over several TV networks and also in U.S. and Canada over pinoy channel on Sunday morning. Just before my program they were taping an interview (by Bro. Eddie Villanueva) with the new Governor of Pampanga, Father Eduardo Panlilio (catholic priest). I was introduced to Governor Ed prior to the taping. This man is loved nationwide because he ran for the election for Governor last year in the province of Papanga when the other two running candidates were well known as corrupt personalities. All the churches, evangelicals and all others supported Father Ed and he won. He announced that on this coming Saturday, 5th July, there is going to celebrate his one year Governorship in Pampanga. Because he is clean, 
bold and godly, he was able to generate a revenue of 230 million pesos in one year as compared with 25 million pesos of the previous government, nearly a 10 fold increase. He is the one who disclosed to the press that after the governors meeting in the palace, each was given a paper bag with a large sum of cash inside, amounting to 500,000 pesos. He lives a simple life, put on a T-shirt, sports jacket and sandals even for the interview. He is approachable, warm and friendly. I believe Pampanga will be a model city soon for the nation in terms of good and clean government. He gives us an example how the church should engage with Government."The pervasiveness of government corruption in this country is nothing less than mysterious. Most of the high officials are Christians. But many of them who hold the highest offices lie at every turn. They steal. They make a mockery of the Catholic Christianity (may I add that the evangelicals were no different either) they love to identify themselves within photo ops. Their actions tear to shreds their oaths of office, the Constitution and the ordinances of the land." Rene Q. Bas, 2nd July, 2008, The Manila Times. Rene blamed Satan in his article and I do not disagree with him, though I believe we should include other factors which I will mention later. What Rene said is also true of Christian high officials in various Governments including Malaysia (though there are some good ones), Rwanda, Fiji, to name a few.
The questions are "What is God saying to the Church today in relations to corrupt government?" What are the issues involved? What can the church do to meet the challenge?
Firstly, when we use the term "church" it should not just be referring to those who meet and worship once a week for worship but also to those out there in the marketplace or workplace. Using the concept of "nuclear" and "extended" family of Harvard sociologist Laura Nash, Dr. C. Peter Wagner borrowed her concept to describe the "nuclear church" and the "extended" church. It was the church out there in the marketplace, with the likes of Daniel, Esther, Joseph and Nehemiah that caused God's purposes to be fulfilled in those nations. Unrighteous laws were replaced with good ones (Daniel, Esther), God's people were delivered from ethnic cleansing (Esther), nations were saved from famine (Joseph), and God's city and walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt.
Secondly, the church should have a change in its mindset with regards to its God's appointed mandate of discipling the nations. When God first created man in the garden of Eden he gave them a two-fold mandate: 1. evangelistic (be fruitful and multiply)mandate, and 2. social or cultural(subdue the earth...rule over it).
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28
This is consistent with the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20 where we are commanded "to make disciples of all nations" and not merely making disciples of individuals of all nations. Jesus even teach us to pray "Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven". The rulership of God must be extended and manifested on the earthly realm in nations as it is doing so in the heavenly realm. When Jesus was on earth, He declared that "The Kingdom of God is at hand" meaning the rulership of God can take place. God's kingdom will deal with and deliver those who are in poverty (the poor), the blind, the sick (the needy) and the oppressed (by demons or injustice). These are the issues or agenda of the kingdom of God. In the nation where God reigns there shall be good governance instead of bad and corrupt ones, justice for all instead of unjust laws and policies, prosperity (freedom from poverty), peace and security (freedom from crimes, drugs) and economic growth (instead of unemployment) and healthy and strong families (instead of divorces, broken families). This is what is saying to the Church today, that the church should be the agency for nation transformation and be actively engaged with Government till we see the good goverment that would align their agenda to kingdom's agenda be in place and accomplishing all the good that God has for the nation.
What can the church do in relations to corrupt government?
1. Pray for those in the Government. God can do many things, including "He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them, He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:21
2. Play the prophetic role. Mature and anointed church leaders and pastors should play the prophetic role by speaking into the lives of those political leaders within their churches. Counsel them to stand against corruption, pray for them, even fast for them, even speak the words of God to them. Prophets of the Old Testament spoke the words of the Lord to the kings; Samuel and Nathan to David, Elijah to Ahab are such examples. We should not be intimidated to remain quiet when we know their lives and practices go against the word of God. Give them counsel and prophesy over them as the Lord release the word to us concerning them.
3. Help those in the Government (regardless whether they are in the legislature, executive, judiciary, government agencies, national, regional or local). Instead of seeking them for favors (most politicians and Government leaders think when the church or its leaders approach them it is for some favors, or money), we should go to them and offer the church hand of help. We can help to clean up a certain section of community, adopt a barangay (village) and take care of their needs where we can.
4. Motivate and inspire our own young people to be equipped with the best knowledge, go to the best schools and institutions when possible, and commit and dedicate themselves to be positioned in places of influence in the branches of government for the sake of God and the nation. Others may be challenged to respond to the call of God to Education, Media, Arts and Entertainment, Business, as long as they are willing to fulfill God's purpose and see the nation transformed. Challenge these young ones to be the "Daniels", "Josephs", "Esthers" and "Nehemiahs" with Godly values in them so that when they are placed into those areas of influence they would not be bribed nor be corrupted.
5. We need to develop models: models of a righteous and good governor like Father Ed, congressmen and congresswoman whom I know of a few, senators, judges like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Puno whom I met during JIL Anniversary last year. He led in prayer for Justice be restored to the nation Judiciary while I prayed for the Church of the Philippines in the presence of 1.3 million worshippers at Luneta Park. We need models for cities and provinces and even barangays (villages) that have been and are being transformed. We need to see more Government agencies to be transformed like the Central Bank of the Philippines where Makati business community voted it as the best performing government agency for the last 8 years.
May His Kingdom come and His Will be done on earth as it is in the heaven.
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