THE CHURCH AND POLITICS

For so long a time, tongues are wagging on the position of the church in the recent upheavals in Cameroon. I have received many inbox messages about the church since I am the one who launched a support for the church leaders during their time of predicament. Yes, the call to support the church leaders was heeded to with great outcomes of the people in the two regions of the country. My reflection to this is historical as always. This is because when the call for the church to support the struggle was made, historical legends were used to make that call sound convincing enough.
Christianity and politics have been a heated debate for decades. Some are for the opinion that the church should stay clear of politics while others argue that the church by its dealings is already political. Be that as it may, history has it that in most societies of the world, the church has played strong political roles either as active participants or as pacifiers. In some communities, the church is supposed to be neutral and remain at the central of the village where it can receive anyone with his/her opinion.

In Cameroon, the church history is not a very long one. But if we borrow from the short history of the state and the church in Cameroon, we will understand that the relationship has been rocky and has led to violent clashes at some point. The arrest of Ndoghmo by Ahidjo should tell us that politics is not a fearer of God. Away from Cameroon, historians who must have read pass the Bloodless Revolution in England and the French Revolution certainly know what happened to the church after those revolutions. The French Revolution is a typical example of what the French did to the church. It is worthy of note that the Church at the time was a materialistic church that owned more land that even individuals. They used their pulpits to tell the people that the leaders were chosen by God and must be respected. The corruption in the church was so rife like what was happening in the society. Church leaders formed part of the elite class and participated in sharing the booty of the land.

At the end of the revolution, the church was kicked out of France. Napoleon confiscated all church land and sent their leaders packing from France. The church land was shared to the people as their contribution to the revolution. This was a bitter lesson to the church. It took a great negotiation for the church to come back to France and maintain a foot hold. This was almost a similar situation in England after the Glorious Revolution. The church lost all it privileges in the country. That explains why England is an Anglican society and the Bishop of the Anglican Church commands a lot of respect in England.

Taking this back home means that we as a people must be reminded that the church is not the leaders but the people. We always hear that the church is the body of Christ. The leaders are just the servants of the people. If we go by this maxim, in whose house will the servant pass orders and be taken seriously. In as much as we stand by the church during their trail moments, it suffices to remind them that the church is you and me and we decide what the church wants. I know the pressure from the state is also very high on the church. I also know that the church may mean good to call for school resumption. Which is a usual call they always make every year.

This should not stop any efforts to get the state call for a dialogue and listen to the people. What is wrong that what they people want is so bitter that the government thinks only decrees can solve them. This is a wrong way of seeing things. No one hates school. However, school resumption should not be made a matter of life and dead. If truly we practice what we preach, then let those who advise the state know that they are pushing the wrong buttons. They should not think they love Cameroon more than any other humans. Their love is tested and tied into material things that they fear to lose. These groups of people who are helping to spoil things in this country but turn around and say they are patriots

Atanga Belmondo

Political Historian