BiAS 7 – The Bible and Politics in Africa
The Way of Peace
On 28th July 1985 he preached a sermon entitled, The Way of Peace
based on Philipppians 4:1-9. Gitari starts by setting the context of the
epistle of Philippians. Then he picks on the theme of joy which he says
cannot be complete without peace. He elaborates on the two prominent
women Eudia and Syntache who were stumbling block to the peace in
the church. From there then Gitari expounds on how church leaders in
all levels may fail to be foci for unity in their congregations. He advises
them not to be identified with groups that would cause chaos. He fur-
ther calls on them not to create factions in the church. Then he advises
them not to join competing political parties as that would divide the
congregation. They should be able to remain neutral so that they could
be peace makers when the rivaling factions fight. They must exercise the
ministry of reconciliation. He warns, ‘But church leaders can never
succeed in reconciling quarrelling groups if they are already prejudiced
against one group or the other. In any kind of dispute, a reconciler must
never be biased towards any group. His bias must be only on the side of
truth.’53 He concludes by asserting that justice and righteousness are
conditions for peace. Then he says that peace is needed in every sphere
of life. He urges for peace in Kenyan politics by holding fair grassroots
party elections. He expressed unhappiness because in some areas of his
diocese and the country there was violence and unfairness in the KANU
elections. He noted:
The grassroots elections in which people lined up to vote enable wananchi
to see and judge for themselves whether there was justice or none at all. By
and large justice was done; but those pockets of injustice may have given
some people leadership without authority of the people. It is possible to
have power without authority. That is not justice, and it is not the way of
peace.^54
He called on those elected to work with the others they defeated for the
welfare of the nation.
Do not be conformed to this World
On 27th July Gitari preached a sermon through the national state radio
which despite being edited it was forth telling and foretelling. The coun-
try had asked her athletes not to participate in the Commonwealth
(^53) Gitari, In Season and Out of Season, p 50.
(^54) Gitari, In Season and Out of Season, p 52.