Salvation lies in 40 days of prayer

BY Oketch Kendo

The confusion (on when life begins) invites intense prayers, fasting and denial. It is like asking when does life end, knowing that not all sicknesses lead to death; and not all deaths begin with sicknesses.

There are exceptions to matters of life and death to which professional discretions of doctors should be the authority for the protection of a greater good. But latter day, occasional, Christian fundamentalists want you to live with dogma even as they admit they have lost spiritual control of their flock. They do not love life that much and not always.

The power of the Ten Commandments is no longer assured. Spiritual censure does not seem to contain growing moral promiscuity, and fear of the hereafter does not guarantee Christian righteousness.

The powers of prayers and sermons have not made human beings less sinful. Perhaps another barrier against sin is necessary. Now, Christian fundamentalists want reinforcement from a new constitution that outlaws abortion, without giving room for compromises of special circumstances.

But it is cheeky to try to be clever about things limited human knowledge cannot explain with absolute certainty. It is also presumptuous to play God when it should be admitted the mind is willing but the body is weak. So men of the cross are agitating for reinforcement from laws of the crown to contain the spread of sin.

Experience shows not all conceptions lead to life, even though all lives, with only one exception, are known to have begun with conception.

A 40-day retreat of prayers and fasting with other brethren and sisters who have been through similar acrimonious constitutional moments may be the spiritual outlet Christians need to understand God’s will for Kenya under a new constitution. Those brothers and sisters would probably be preoccupied with challenges of their own, rather than issues on which compromises are possible without shedding more blood. Kenyans have not been fighting for a new constitution so that abortion, in all circumstances, can be criminalised, through a new constitution. And it was not because Christians did not like the idea of Kadhi’s courts being in the constitution. On these issues Christian leaders want their way.

Spiritual piety

But that spiritual leaders are embroiled in abstract arguments with the secular world on matters of moral righteousness is an admission of failure. The shepherds have failed to lead the flock onto the path of eternal righteousness. Now, they are trying to temper spiritual piety with secular laws to seal moral gaps. In any case, we are told, God helps those who help themselves.

The supreme word on moral rectitude is the Bible. But now spiritual leaders expect the flock to find directions in secular law. Either the constitution helps them to fight sin or they trash what could be good for the just government of society.

Abortion has never been legal, but that has not stopped termination of life before birth, even for spurious reasons. Sometimes even without a doctor’s say-so. That such abstract altercations could derail constitutional logic is sad. Even sadder because those who insist life begins at conception, and should be constitutionally recognised as such, have not shown consistent respect for the sanctity of life. Sometimes they do very little, or nothing, to make government of powerful men life supporting, and life itself worth living, with dignity.

Yet this is not the first time clerics are frustrating secular reason. This shall not be the first time their actions or inaction would be understood in ways other than seeking moral purity.

Kenyans with fair memory know the men of the cloth too well to miss their usual attempts to politicise faith. The Church lost face in the 2005 referendum when it refused to lead the flock into understanding the Draft Constitution. The cross went to bed with the crown and citizens lost an opportunity for a new constitution. Five years later, some Church leaders are still standing in the way of change.

In 2008 Church leaders admitted falling short of God’s glory. One would have thought they would now join wananchi in the search for a just foundation for good governance. It is not clear whether their messages on abortion, and Kadhi’s courts are God given. But it does not sit well with wananchi who have fought for and died in the more than 20-year quest for a new constitution.

Mercenaries

The political class has used Church leaders many times before. It is possible some vested interests are manipulating spiritual weapons to undermine constitutional change. It is like certain powerful politicians, with the leverage to break the stalemate, do not want to be blamed for the backlash should the new hope collapse, again. If it does, blame it on abortion and Kadhi’s courts; blame it on the Committee of Experts that harmonised the Proposed Constitution.

It would not be heretic to say some Church leaders are mercenaries whose latest message may not be drawing inspiration from the Almighty.

The Good news is wananchi may not always follow the Shepherd. They did not in 2005.

The writer is The Standard’s Managing Editor Quality and Production.

[e-mail]