Corruption: An open letter to all churches

By Reni M. Valenzuela

The failure of our government is first the failure of our spiritual leaders. “Every nation that has fallen has first fallen from within.” – Scott Wesley Brown

Who can embody the living, resurrected Christ except the Body of Christ — the Church? We need genuine men and women of faith, not any of the Pharisees of old in our modern times  —  “pious,” indifferent, uncaring, dispassionate, selfish, elitist, hypocritical.

We chase the heart (and example) of the Lord, not those of the Levites and priests who did nothing about the beaten robbed man on the roadside (Luke 10:25-37). Convenient Christianity is no Christianity.

Dear shepherds of flocks, you ought to be the first to discern and see demons when they appear/manifest to wreak havoc in the lives of people (not just your people); the first to rebuke devils and denounce crookedness in society and government; the first to feel the pain and agony of the suffering; the first to step out for the needy and grieving; the first to show life and give life to the lifeless and hopeless.

“The thief (devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I Am come that they might have Life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

But what are most of you doing (instead) in your high, opulent, free from flood offices and state-of-the-art sanctuaries, seated securely and comfortably atop your lordly, stony thrones — amid injustice, suffering and mountainous scandals of corruption and every sort of abuses, ruthlessness and inanities perpetrated by authorities no less, in cahoots with equally greedy, godless private people?

Hindi ka po dapat nananahimik sa gitna ng alingawngaw, lindol, baha at baho ng kabulukan, kasamaan, kahangalan at kahirapan sa lipunan at pamahalaan. Hindi mo sinasarili lamang ang “panalangin” mo, kasama ng iyong mga pinagpapastulan, kung panalanging ngang tunay ang mga panalangin ninyo.

No, sirs and madams of pulpits, “convents,” and altars, your prayers are no prayers at all for you are unfeeling, unmoved, uncaring, uninvolved — wanting just to be forever on the hush-hush — away from controversies and crises of the nation.

Some are worse. They can be seen and active only during elections. But worst, a few of them had entered politics only to be nothing and do nothing but blend with the corrupt and flow with the rotten system. Nothing is heard from them (ever) to “fight demons” — except when they “fight” to collect tithes, offerings, donations, and kickbacks.

The Church isn’t just proclaiming what Christ did. The Church is what Christ is doing in society (as He once did) like He is flesh and blood living among us today. Until when shall we, Christians, let the unbelieving churchless people (whom we desire to share our “gospel” with) continue to have the heart that we should have and do what we ourselves should be doing for the country and fellowmen? Irony.

“For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:14 (ESV, your version)

The DPWH thieveries/anomalies could have not happened had shepherds and flocks fought the evils of corruption early on. Many of the nation’s problems could have been prevented and stopped had they done their part. You are supposed to serve as guiding stars for government officials.

Countless thousands of our countrymen could have not been killed in the Duterte bogus “drug war” had you (with me through my published articles) rebuked the despot as early as mid 2016 and done your share of “governance” to stop him on the onset of his diabolic drug campaign.

Where were you when standing for what was right and speaking against what was wrong during those bloody days sounded like a voice in wilderness? Ah, you were in your closets, praying for the killers rather than the victims. “Alagad ng Diyos.”

You’ve gotten used to keeping your opinion about controversial issues only to yourself and your immediate associates when there is a compelling need for you to be heard by all Filipinos. Where in the entire Bible can we find the Lord Jesus making his teachings and stand on public issues shared and known only to his selected, limited group of disciples?

“You brood of vipers!” Jesus openly lambasted the “dignified” charlatans in high places (Matthew 12:34-37). And He had no qualms about it. Get out of your shells.

You profess to be a follower of Christ, but who indeed are you following, given the kind of life you are living and the cold heart you have toward the problems of the country, much less toward the poor, destitute and victims of abuses and exploitation — by the rich, famous and powerful whom you so love to preach to, serve, cuddle and nurture — for selfish (financial) reasons.

What love of God do you have when you can’t even lend your voice for the voiceless and speak out against injustice and crookedness that besets your nation and plunges your countrymen into widespread deluge of pain and distress?

You did not participate in the recent angry “Trillion Peso March” either by joining the rallies or by making your “outrage” known and heard publicly. Fine. Understandable.

However, it would be unthinkable, if not unforgivable, if you would be callous and numb (still), and stay silent and shady after having been hit by the same blinding light that struck Saul of Tarsus on his way to Damascus and heard a voice from Heaven to be saved and used by God, and be transformed completely into becoming the great apostle Paul.

You are concerned about the family of each of your members (via your series teachings), but what about the family of Filipino people as one people and nation?

Heaven pleads: Stop praying (for a while) for your nation, your government, and its corrupt officials. Pray for yourselves (first). Put on a sackcloth and contend with the same angel whom Jacob wrestled with on behalf of your nation. Intercede rather for those who are in “direst” spiritual condition, such as — YOU.

How great it would be for the country if all shepherds, flocks and churches, under the anointing and leading of the Divine, would do their part and play their role in society and government as mandated of them by and from Above.

Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David of the Catholic church is proving to be a man of cloth (and heart) in action. Gaze at his inner man nowadays. He hates gambling, poverty, corruption and injustice, and joined the anti-corruption “March” last September 21. “The root is indifference,” he bewailed.

Beyond what a Christian knows about theology and the Bible, and beyond his being active in church works, ministries and missions, such a Christian can be known ONLY for what and who he truly is by what contains his heart and what consumes his whole being — in a big, real world.

I am a born-again Christian, but I am ashamed of several big born-again churches — for a number of reasons. By the way, Merriam-Webster defines the word elitist as “One whose attitudes and beliefs are biased in favor of a socially elite class of people.” Exactamente (in spirit and truth).

Jesus Christ became big and famous for the right things and right reasons. “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about.” – Luke 4:14

A church is a church for the poor or it is not a church. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”  – Luke 4:18

In the midst of the controversies over the government’s flood control projects, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has issued a strongly worded pastoral letter in its Facebook page last September 6, “As faithful sons and daughters of the Catholic Church, we denounce the evil of corruption.”

When have you even had such a statement issued publicly to tell of your concern (genuine, real, true and authentic) for what is happening in the country, dear other churches?

Centuries old Catholic Church buildings may have crumbled in Cebu due to the recent 6.9 magnitude temblor, yet the Church (in spirit and truth) remains strong and steadfast in its heart and commitment to serve the poor — opening its doors even to filthy beggars, attracting no particular class of people.

Its 24-hour Adoration Chapels (prayer rooms) are open to sinners and saints alike, rich or poor, Catholic or not.  “… My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” – Matthew 21:13 

In his homily last Sunday, the good Cardinal preached: “Lazarus did not die because there was no food. There was plenty of food— but all of it on the rich man’s table. Lazarus was within arm’s reach— lying by the gate of the rich man’s house, yet he could not even get the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.”

Sob.

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com