BiAS 7 – The Bible and Politics in Africa
serves support and that the church has the duty of confronting it where
it goes astray.^50
Archbishop Gitari: A Case Study of Biblical Hermeneutics in
Support of Democracy and Political Pluralism.
Benson believes that the Kenyan churches’ vigorous involvement in
politics is the result of a sustained hermeneutical enterprise. This is
demonstrated by the preaching of Gitari as found in his book, In Season
and out of Season, Sermons to a Nation.
May we dwell in Unity?
This is a sermon he preached at Nairobi Baptist Church on 20th April,
- It followed a few days after the assassination of a prominent politi-
cian in Kenya, the Hon. Josiah Mwangi Kariuki popularly known for his
generosity and spoke on behalf of the marginalized. He was therefore
not favored by those in authority. Gitari was calling on the people of
Kenya to remain united but at the same time demanded for justice. He
based his sermon on the National Anthem and supported with the scrip-
tures. At this period Gitari was the General Secretary of the Bible Society
of Kenya. It was broadcast live through the national radio.
After appealing to the Kenyans to live a holy life based on 1Peter 2:9 and
to repent he called on the church to base their prayers on the first stanza
of the National Anthem during the week. The stanza runs:
Oh God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation
Justice be our shield and defender
May we dwell in unity
Peace and liberty
Plenty be found within our borders
Gitari observes that ‘a national anthem is a hymn or song expressing the
patriotic sentiments of a people. It is the Magna Carta of a people’s per-
sonal and political freedom. ‘Often when the music of the National An-
them is played, it captures my emotions so much that I am not shamed
to stand to attention and concentrate wholly on the patriotic sentiments
it embodies. What are these patriotic sentiments? They include the de-
sire for blessing, justice, unity, peace, liberty and plenty to be bestowed
(^50) Benson, Ideological Politics versus Biblical Hermeneutics, p 194.