By Rev K.Kaoma
When the late President F.T Chiluba declared Zambia a “Christian nation” on December 29, 1991, religious leaders’ reactions were mixed. Generally, Evangelical/Pentecostal pastors welcomed the move while Roman Catholic Bishops and the Council of Churches in Zambia cried foul – they were not consulted. Later, Catholic Bishops asserted that the move was discriminatory to non-Christians and undemocratic. 21 years later, these religious leaders are still divided on the issue. Evangelicals/Pentecostals pastors favor the clause, but Roman Catholic Bishops are demanding its exclusion. Interestingly, when Lusaka Times carried the story of the Bishop’s objections, the reactions were equally mixed.
At the risk of called all sorts of names, I thought of adding my voice to the issue. From the onset, I share the Bishops’ concern that the Christian nation clause should be omitted in the proposed constitution. Zambia is not theocracy – in which religious laws translates into national laws. Of course, over 80% of Zambians may be Christian, yet this is not the reason for declaring our nation Christian. Our acceptance of liberal democracy implies acceptance of religious freedom as defined and protected under the law.
That aside, by enshrining a Christian nation clause in our constitution, we are setting an erroneous precedent for future generations. Church history teaches that Christian numbers have always shifted. Just as Christianity once dominated North Africa, today, Christians are in the minority in that part of the Africa. For us to think that Christians will always be the majority in Zambia is ignoring the facts of Church history. In addition, just because all our presidents have been Christians does not mean it will always be so. The 1994 election of Bakili Muluzi in Malawi illustrated the fact a Muslim can become President. Is it fair for such a president to use his power to declare the nation an Islamic State and that the country will be governed by Islamic principles? Most of us would see such a move as undemocratic and unjust. Yet this is how the declaration came about when Chiluba declared that Zambia will be governed by “biblical principles.”[pullquote]
Should drinking and smoking be legislated simply because I view them as evil? In a theocracy, the answer is yes, but in a democracy, it is no!
[/pullquote]But even if we accept that Zambia as a Christian nation should be governed by “biblical principles,” or Ten Commandments as President Sata put it, one would ask, “Whose biblical principles or Ten Commandments?” The disagreements between Roman Catholic and Evangelical/Pentecostal leaders illustrate that different between churches.
Let us take for example the issues surrounding women rights. While the united Church of Zambia and some Pentecostal Churches have women pastors, the Anglican Church in Zambia and the Roman Catholic Church do not. Didn’t St. Paul say that women should learn in silence (1 Timothy 2:11; 1 Corinthians 14:34), a conservative Anglican might argue. I don’t subscribe to such teachings, but I am aware that many churches share such views. Now imagine such views becoming the basis for granting women their constitutional rights. Another interesting case is that of alcohol and smoking. Should drinking and smoking be legislated simply because I view them as evil? In a theocracy, the answer is yes, but in a democracy, it is no!
[pullquote]Friends, we may open parliamentary sessions with prayers, hold bibles while taking oaths and even hold occasional ecumenical services at the Anglican Cathedral of Holy Cross and State House to which all politicians and party cadres are invited. These acts are good, but they don’t make our nation Christian.[/pullquote]
It is time to accept that the separation of religion and State is what sets democratic nations from Islamic states. The stoning of women, the amputating of thieves, and denial of women to drive or divorce in many Islamic States, is due ruling according to “Islamic principles.” I am sure that most of us are horror-struck by such oppressive laws yet there are religious laws to be obeyed and followed. It is here that I applaud the Roman Catholic Bishops’ opposition to the “Christian nation” clause.
By the way, what do we really mean when we claim to be “a Christian nation?” Is it not an insult to our Lord Jesus Christ to claim what we are not? Is it not hypocritical to defend our Christian nation status when sin is what reigns supreme? This year, the “Christian nation” made international headlines when sex-workers provided free sex to men after Zambia defeated Ghana 1-0. Our politicians are just as corrupt as those in the Congo or Nigeria. Insults, tribalism and corruption are found across the nation. People are dying from lack of medical care while politicians and to some extent pastors continue to amass billions in entitlements. Amidst all these sinful acts, the song “Zambia is a Christian nation” is sung by the politicians and commoners alike.
Friends, we may open parliamentary sessions with prayers, hold bibles while taking oaths and even hold occasional ecumenical services at the Anglican Cathedral of Holy Cross and State House to which all politicians and party cadres are invited. These acts are good, but they don’t make our nation Christian. Only by acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives are we made Christians by the Lord himself.
In sum, Christianity is not something that can be imposed on the State or anybody; it is a way of life. That said, just as I am opposed to religious demands to constitutionally declare Zambia a Christian Nation, I find the Roman Catholic Bishops on legal abortion somehow contradictory. While it is within the rights of Bishops to make such demands, to denounce the declaration clause on secular grounds and oppose abortion on religious dogma seems contradictory.
If Zambia is essentially a secular state, then dogmas should not be enshrined in the national constitution. The Roman Catholics may consider all forms of artificial contraception intrinsically evil. They are equally opposed to abortion in all circumstances – rape, incest and the saving the mother’s life. Many Christians may argue otherwise, but personally, I have no problems with such dogmas as long as they remain within the boundaries of the Church. Catholics have a choice to obey or disobey such dogmas – as they usually do on contraceptives and abortion. However, to impose such dogmas on the nation is off the beam.
Undoubtedly, abortion is a serious problem in our nation. We may call it evil or murder, but the fact remains that someone is procuring an abortion in Zambia right now. Some of us know people who have died as a result of illegal abortions – mothers, sisters, cousins, aunties, friends, and neighbors. Rather than jumping on dogmas, we need a compassionate discussion on the legal abortion. Our proposed constitution seems to provide such an avenue.
awe we do not want the other guys to start booming us like in nigeria just let us be as a christian nation
Father Kakoma may seem logically right but he has not understood the gospel.He shouldnt even try to wear that collar. I wonder what the Roman Catholic really is up to! Please there are terrible machinations aimed at yielding to things like homo sexuality-the stance the RC has never come out strongly against.
A country does not become pure or its residents stop sinning by being christian or moslem.Despite what goes on in the country or any, we have a vision or something to compare our selves to.In other words you cannot have an organisation without a vision or aspiration.The enviroment we desire to attain as a country is Christ-like.We have enjoyed our peace in Zambia simply because we have the majority being Christians. We are very tolerant and we have no religious wars in zambia
Zambians, dont get disturbed by such writings. Today at Church, we were taught that all the power is with Jesus Christ, that is what He declared after His ressurection. It means therefore that the devil has no powers over us anymore. The only thing the devil is using is intimidation. he just want to scare someone that is all otherwise, there is total blackout on the devil.
Jesus Christ the son of the living God has chosen Zambia to serve Him. How it will be done is upto Jesus Christ. Amen
I would like to hear from the catholic members and the Anglican members if they support such propaganda by their leaders.
Rev Kakoma, gives us your Bios because i seem not to find it. You might be hiding behind some curtains purpoting to be a Church minister or if someone knows the minister, we would appreciate to have the bios and the church he is representing in Zambia. The Catholic Bishops have come out in the clear.
The catholic bishops are ambassadors not for Christ but the Vatican
Brilliantly written. I know tulibaku Church but stillmo lets think on the national level. Zambia is a democracy which is not just there to serve the majority but to protect the minority.
The problem is the Bishops don’t understand what christianity is.
Christianity is : Not depending on your self-effort to love your neighbour ,not depending on your self efforts to be justified by God , but depending on Jesus christ ,that’s why he is our lord and saviour.
This is good riddance, the author’s approach “antilogic” ( a way of debating adopted sophist or philospher after Aristoto, were one argues on both sides) was insightfull. My question to the readers is wheather abortion, and gayism be acceptable in our society
Christianity is about love for your neighbour .
If our country can be established in Love they will be no need to fight corruption, Politicians will deliver services to the people out of love and we won’t need judicial reforms.
Fighting the declaration(christian Nation) is not a solution ,but working together to fulfil the declaration is the best solution.
Given all your aguments you are belabouring have you considered why USA mantained “IN GOD WE TRUST” on their currency? Do all believe in God in the US? What problems are they (USA) facing because of that declaration on the dollar? Having said that, this issue should be put to a vote and see what the majority Zambians will say. Arbortions, death sentence, “christians nation” I was thinking Zambians had made submissions and that we know what the majority citizenry want. Majority Zambians we dont want a circular nation from the look of things, why force us? GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Which GOD do they trust in? Moslems believe its Allah the IN GOD WE TRUST talk about
Yeah which God? You even have the symbol of the free masons on the dollar
Mr kakoma,for the past 21 years since Zambia was declared a Christian nation, did you ever see other regions complaining that Christians are bothering?If you are not happy with the declaration just join the Muslims.
Iam not a christian therefore this article is irrelevant to me , i have no religion because i dont believe God exists. Iam like the billion asians who believe in nothing about religion.
brave!!! most brainwashed africans are scared to question religon.
Zambia has been a Christian Nation for 20 years now, we have not heard of any intolerance not even people being forced to worship and accept Christ as their savior.
To say that because the way of life for many contradicts with Christian values does not qualify anything at all. In Christian teachings; Jesus came for the lost that they may have life and have it in abundance. We may be sinners but that can not make us forbidden to live in a Christian Nation. Christians do not punish non believers or a person caught wrong doing by stoning so the Sharia Law kind of thing is completely out of context and besides Jesus came to redeem sinners therefore all are free to live in love in the Christian Nation.
Rev Kaoma I doubt if you are an ambassador of Christ.
It is very unfortunate that most of us who say are christians don’t understand christianity.If you read the OT of the bible,you will discover that God made himself a nation called Isreal.This nation was born from Abraham.This was a phisical nation,that he took to caanan removing other nations that were already occupying the land.After the death of Jesus Christ,Isreal as a phisical nation stopped existing.If you read through the book of especially Hebrews,you will discover that all these things in the OT were a shadow of the reality,they were all pointing to Christ.The reality is that the God’s Kingdom,or Christian nation,exists in the spiritual.Who ever believes in God belongs to this nation,it has no phisical bounderies.The ruler in this nation is Jesus Christ,God himself.
God is the only just ruler.This is the way the old Isreal was,God was the ruler.God was “saddened” when Isrealites started started asking God for a king.It was tatamount to telling God that they didn’t need him.Today,spiritual Isreal as a nation is there,Just believe in Jesus Christ and you will become its national by the grace of God.Why are you fighting to declare another nation as God’s.One line in the lord’s prayer says”LET YOUR KINGDOM COME”.A true christian will always pray constantly to belong to the true Christian Nation,not Zambia a fake christian nation.If Moslems call their countries Islamic nations does not make it right for us christians in this country to call it chritian nation.We are different !
Strictly speaking,we don’t look at Islam as a true religion,it is only christianity that is from our living God.These earthly constitutions can never look at Christianity as a superior religion.Why? Because this world is under the control of the devil says the bible.It is only hipocrites who see value in the declaration of this country as a chritian nation.COUNTRYMEN/WOMEN,JUST GO BACK TO THE BIBLE AND LEARN THE TRUTH,AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!Zambian can never be a chritiany nation,THE TRUE CHRISTIAN NATION ALREADY EXISTS !!!
I have grown up in a family that is christian and I embrace christian values and practices.However holding a bible in your hand or making declarations or proclamations on rooftops doe’s not make one a christian.
Let us be judged by our deeds and not just mere declarations.
The bible says you shall know them by their fruits. So ie zambia is a christian nation the fruits will show. Look at these fruits:
1. Chiluba declares Zambia a Christian Nation , the steals Mwanza,s wife. 2.First lady Vera elopes with a coloured Boy. 3. Bishop involved in the murder of a NIPA student. 4 Zambia National team coach trusts his white shirt and not GOD. 5. MCS devorced his wife for the Dr . 6 A bishop bonking a Chieftainess. 6. Milingo and his choncholi. 7. Big Brother Talia….Shagging on TV in front of mother and father,8.Pastors in fake dollar scandals.9.Prostitutes offering free sex. 10.Corruption
…………………Christian Nation??????
The opposition is just spiritual , thank God Jesus overcame everything on the cross of Calvary.
It is shocking that it is those claiming to be Christians who are advocating for change, the Muslims and other religions are quiet. The declaration defines us a nation and undefined home will be prone to all kinds of legislation. Zambians stand up defend this for your children, some of our friends don’t care what happens in future, they will not leave anyone behind
THE INCLUSION OF “CHRISTIAN NATION” IN THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. SOME OF US WHO ARE TALKING HAVE NOT EVEN READ ANY PART OF THE CONSTITUTION. THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE CONSTITUTION SHOULD FOCUS ON:
1. WHAT POWERS ARE GIVEN TO THE PRESIDENT?
2. HOW INDEPENDENT ARE THE ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT: EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY.
3. WHAT ABOUT THE BILL OF RIGHTS OF CITIZEN: FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS.
4. WHAT ABOUT THE ECONOMIC RIGHTS OF THE CITIZEN.
5. WHAT ABOUT GOVERNANCE.
YOU CAN INCLUDE CHRISTIAN NATION BUT THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AGREES TO 1. ABORTION/TERMINATION OF LIFE, 2. DEATH PENALTY, 3. GIVES ROOM FOR SAME SEX MARRIAGE. ARE THESE CHRISTIAN VALUES??? CONTRADICTIONS. THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS HAVE REASON TO SAY NO.
I don’t think the Rev. has read and study the Bible he is quoting.
Religion is the opium of the masses!
now its true catholics are pagans..they don’t want to have anything to do with Christianity..!oh no save us God ..
Before frenzied Dr. Chiluba unilaterally declared Zambia a christian nation what problems or complaints did we face during the Dr. Kaunda era when religious practice was not enshrined in the constitution? If anything there is more Sodom and Gomorrah behavior now than before. Just a thought crossing my mind is what would happen if say an Animist, Atheist, Muslim or Hindu ascended to the presidency? Our constitution does not discriminate on qualification to vie for president on religious beliefs and Zambia has people of these faiths!
Why the noise? we have been Christian Nation for 20yrs, and Christ has been merciful to us even in difficult times He has stood with us such as when we lost our President Mwanawasa and when we recently changed Government, President Rupiah Banda peacefully handed over power to Sata. You do not understand these things but Christ stood for our Nation.
We decided to identify ourselves with the Almighty God and in love we live in harmony with all regardless of creed race religion e.t.c. What is wrong with that?
Rev Kaoma, your points are baseless, No one has been discriminated, No one has been forced to follow Christianity, everyone has free will, Christianity is not forced upon a person, We accept all to practice any religion they wish.
We embrace even sinners because our duty is to make them disciples of Christ, if they do not want that is their decision and we do nothing about it.
In short do not mix or misinterpret or compare to Islamic states. The two are too different and to think like that you end up presenting views with non existence fears. Let it be, Zambia to remain a Christian Nation by this we identify our selves with the living God.
No comment but i must say well written and thought.
Thats why we have so many congrecations in christianity all of us christians we cant come up with one thing. Take a look to our friends the moslims they have one doctrine, one belief, one congrecation. And everything in comon. So this debate again will sprit christiatinity in zambia. Anyway hear this testmony, my brother went to nigeria apon arrive at the airport the imigration officer cheked the pasport only to find he was a zambian, from the mouth of the officer these was the words ( zambia shall be saved zambia a christian nation ) then he asked how many days do you want to be here? He said one week, the officer said i will give you two weeks becouse you are coming from a christian nation. I respect all the views.
IAM HAPPY FOR MY COUNTRY TO REMAIN AS A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY. PLEASE SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN NIGERIA OTHER RELIGIONS ARE KILLING THE CHRISTIANS. THESE PEOPLE THEY BOMB INNOCENT PEOPLE INDISCRIMINATELY . WHAT KIND OF A GOD WILL ALLOW YOU KILL ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND THE LIKENESS OF GOD.
What is to be must be. It was declared already and most Zambians have had no problem with it for the past 20yrs. Omitting the clause in the constitution wont put food on anyone’s table, so let’s talk about something else – creating jobs for instance.
ATI CHRISTIAN COUNTRY, MA RUBBISH. PRACTISE YOUR CHRISTIANITY IN YOUR OWN HOUSE AND NOT THE NATION.
SOME OF U PIPO FIGHTING FOR THE EXCLUSION OF ZAMBIA AS A CHRISTIAN NATION ARE THE SAME PIPO WHO WANT THE GAY RIGHTS TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR CONSTITUTION.WHO DOESNT KNW WAT SOME OF THE SO CALLED BISHOPS ARE DOING.THEY TEND TO BE CHRISTIAN BY USING THEIR OWN HUMAN EFFORT INSTEAD OF CHIRIST NO WONDER THEY ARE ON THE OPPOSING VIEW COS THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR LIVES.THEY NEED THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO CLEANS THEM INORDER FOR THEM TO SUPPORT THE ISSUE OF ZAMBIA AS A CHRISTIAN NATION
I support Zambia being called a Christian nation. There is no war or religious intolerence in Zambia for the last 20 years. What is their problem? I don’t hear these bishops etc complain about secular socities that are turning atheist? Or curricululms in other countries that don’t allow the name God or Jesus to be mentioned. Leave Zambia alone…if people want to be called a Christian nation let the country to enjoy that status.
I support Zambia being called a Christian nation. There is no war or religious intolerence in Zambia for the last 20 years. What is their problem? I don’t hear these bishops etc complain about secular socities that are turning atheist? Or curricululms in other countries that don’t allow the name God or Jesus to be mentioned. Leave Zambia alone…if people want to be called a Christian nation let the country enjoy that status.
An honest answer for you people who do not want a clause, you are scared of the name of Jesus being preached, A Country can be democratic, but still a Chrsitian nation. If you deny that clause which was declared by Chiluba, you will regret for the rest of our lives in Zambia. Please the name of Jesus mustbe preached freely in a Christian nation than if it is left out, people will be put in jails for preaching the gospel and the country may become an AntiChrist, I refuse in the name of Jesus Christ that whoever is trying to influence the decision think through their thoughts and fears of Zambia a Christian nation, what is bothering you, just repeat and live according to the Bible proncipal, it does not matter about your neighbour, but you as an individual, who do you believe in?
@meeso ur right they are scared of the name JESUS.mind u pipo this is the name that is above every other name and every knee shall bow and confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord to the glory of God the father
…..indeed!
Those wanting Zambia declared a Christian Nation are worse than the biblical Pharisees. They are the fake, armchair kind of Christians. They are the hyenas hiding in sheep skin. They think they are holier than everyone else. Go preach the gospel to many more and don’t hide in a meaningless declaration. With such shallow thinking little wonder Zambia is so full of vices and remains underdeveloped. If it is ok for Christians to discriminate against Non- Christians what stops tribes discriminating against tribe? Zambia is for ALL, Christians and non-Christians period!
The declaration was and still remains ludicrous….religion is between you and God so why involve others? It was simply done for show!!! Israel is a Zionist State…it is in religion that the so called men of God kill mankind. Zambia a Christian Nation….to be ruled and guided by the Ten Commandments…stop this nonsense!
Those of you who support the declaration, please refer to the following (Part V of the draft constitution page 17) : 35. (1) A person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion. (2) A person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, observance, practice or teaching. (3) Clause (2) does not extend to- (a) anti-Christian teaching and practice; Anti-christian teaching may mean:- Islamic religion (They do not believe that Jeus is lord and saviour), our tradion ceremonies (Thanking our ancestral spirits for the good harvest, drinking of the blood of a black bull at Ncwala) beer drining (BAs take this to be a very serious sin. Can’nt you see the discrimination?
you’ve gotta love the internet, its where christianity has come to die.
It is a well articulated article and hopefully religious fanatics will undestand that religious faith is a very private and individual pracitce not to be impossed on everyone, at least not by constitutional means. I am oppossed to abortion but I think it becomes more complex when you start debating when life starts, whether at conception or at birth, philosophically and I think theologically as well, life starts at conception as the zygot begins to develop into a fetus and grow! This is a hot debate even in the USA as to whether women should be given a choice to abort pregnancies and under what circumstances! Whether legislated or not, abortions take place but am not sure whether we should provide for that in the constitution!!!!
Another agent of the devil
This issue was already settled when we Zambians made submissions. We resolved to keep the declaration of Zambia being a Christian nation and there is no need to bring it up now.
cry my beloved zambia
People claim to have PHDs, MBA, Doctorates,Degrees etc but fail to reason through the fact that the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is what the majority of Zambians want, as submitted to CRC and the current Committee. Okay the PF got into government by majority vote, and the opposition can’t force their way in , it will be treason. If these agents are sincere why not champion the reduction of presidential powers and the decentralisation of government to speed up development. Lets think country men and women. God bless Zambia!
Catholic Bishops are not for Jesus Christ these people are illuminate members, lucifer’s diciples. Watch and pray you might fall in the hands of the devil
go to google and know the truth
Most of the catholic members understand and believe that they are chrsitians , and they have no problems with the declaration. So the stance of some of these Bishops is a shock to most of the catholics, because they are issues afffecting the general citizenry they expect their spiritual leaders to engange government on rather than be fighting the Christian Declaration, which at the end of the day the fight they won’t win any way. Jesus is LORD over Zambia. We will see which mouth and hand will be used to remove the Christian Declaration from the constitution.God is loving and He also fights His enemies.
Ati the declaration is discriminatory. What a joke!!! We as christians have never forced anyone to abondon their beliefs to join our faith. We are under a master who does not force entry into our lives. He says “behold I stand at the door and knock………….”. Come on guys!! We have given the best areas of Lusaka to followers of Islam to erect their shrines like alond addis Ababa drive and some hypocrite thinks we are discriminsting against non christians. Now let me bring this to your notice you ambassadors of the anti-christ. We know your agenda. Your ultimate goal is to have gayism and lesbianism enshrined in our constitution. God forbid. Zambia will remain a christian nation.
To hell with ka chilubas declaration. Lets it just be the way it was before MMD delcared Zed a fimo fimo. We are still seekers. Lets leave our lives
Rev Kakoma, the writing is on the wall. Read it for yourself. The bloggers on the support of christianity are speaking. What is your constituency? Who are you representing? Tell us.
The devil and his agents has never been happy since Zambia was DEDICATED to CHRIST JESUS. Listen, NO ONE will ever succeed in removing this DECLARATION from our constitution because these are spiritually decerned things and those who want to use carnality can never appreciate this because they are acting in the flesh. There is power in DECLARATION and that’s what the worker of iniquity is afraid of because he knows. However, Zambia is for Christ whether the forces of darkness like it or not!!!!
Real christianity does not need a constitutional clauses or political declarations to defend itself remain firmly entrenched/alive in the faithful.
i like this debate,to those who oppose to the declaration should first understand that being christian is not and shall not be a garantee that you are Holy or Holier than God,but acceptance of christ as the head of oneself or the head of our land…even in the house of Jacob,house of king David…not all were holy…but believed in the God whom their father believed in
Viva Christian Nation :)>-
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