In the wake of recent and significant events – the Lina Joy verdict, the Hindraf rally, corpse- kidnapping, and Najib Razak’s declaration that Malaysia had all along been an Islamic state, I have been utterly disappointed at the meek responses of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) and Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM). At a time when individuals of all echelons of society are stepping out of their comfort zones to make a stand for social justice and absolute truth, many churches, especially the politically- connected ones, are shying away from facing the bitter truth about the direction Malaysia has taken in the last few years. Apart from a few well-worded, politically correct media statements on issues affecting Christians and non-Muslims, I see no concrete action on the part of the NECF and CCM.

Instead of being blunt and honest like Jesus was to the Pharisees of his time, Christian leaders are seemingly inundating believers with selective good news and lame reassurances that all is well in an ailing nation. Even as rose-bearing Hindraf children are courageously facing the water cannons of Umno, the Christian and church leaders have hitherto remained strangely silent. It is in total contradiction to the Bible’s commandment for believers to ‘seek judgement for the oppressed’. In general, Christian leaders have behaved as though the religious discrimination endured by our Hindu brethren bear no relevance to the present or future survival of the Christian community. A quick review of NECF’s and CCM’s responses to significant Malaysian issues will show a dismay track record.

At the height of public anger towards the keris-wielding frenzy at Umno’s 2006 annual general assembly, the NECF ‘lauds Umno President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his firm and assuring statements made while delivering his presidential address’ instead of rebuking Umno’s threat of violence and slaughter upon the non-Malays. When a memorandum to the prime minister calling for a review of laws affecting non-Muslims was withdrawn by the non-Muslim ministers, the Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism deemed it as a ‘redemptive and re-conciliatory act’ – as though non-Muslims were at any fault trying to seek justice.

The Council of Churches Malaysia does not perform any better. In an obvious reference to Islam Hadhari, the CCM website describes Malaysia as a ‘nation where progressive and modern Islamic democracy is at work’ and laments the fact that PAS ‘was able to retain its power in Kelantan after a marginal victory at the 2004 general elections’. Personally, I’d prefer the Council of Churches to openly declare its support for the BN regime rather than subtly incite hatred towards the PAS government. In the Nov/Dec 2007 Berita NECF, the federation effectively condemns the Hindraf and Bersih rally, describing them as illegal gatherings that caused massive traffic jams and inconvenience to the rakyat. In the same edition too, the NECF proudly publishes a dialogue session with the MCA.

Such politically-savvy moves are not limited to the NECF leadership. They trickle down to the individual churches as well. A popular ‘Reverend Datuk Dr’ pastor of a mega-church in Damansara Indah with close affiliation to Gerakan read a letter sent to the church by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi instead of preaching from the Bible. Has God’s word taken backseat to the dictation of worldly political masters? The pastor of another church in Seapark once led the congregation in prayer prior to an Umno-vs-PAS in the Pengkalan Pasir by-election, asking in the name of Jesus for PAS to be defeated!

In recent times, the CCM seems to have taken a different stance in the wake of corpse-snatching and Bible-confiscating incidents. Nevertheless, they are still afraid to ruffle the feathers of BN politicians by openly declaring support for more reasonable and sensible voices in the opposition parties. Instead of proclaiming their specific stand in the coming general elections, the CCM decrees a vague and ill-defined message to ‘Vote Wisely’ at a time when the majority of the Malaysian population gains ‘wisdom’ from the BN-controlled media. The failure of church leaders to make a clear and well-defined stand in this crucial general election is ultimately aiding the Barisan Nasional to perpetuate the politics of division, corruption and discrimination.

The NECF has been conveniently selective in quoting Bible verses. In pre-election March 2004, the NECF’s media statement quoted Romans 13 and advised believers to maintain a ‘rightful relationship with the authorities’, equating such a greased relationship to an ‘open door’. It is an open endorsement of the existing BN regime and a subtle decree to Christians to continue voting a regime specialising in racial polarisation and religious discrimination. On another note, in a vain attempt to placate Christians with righteous anger at the degree of ill-gotten wealth among the BN politicians, church leaders - be they pastors, priests, elders or ministers - cite Bible verses reminding the congregation that ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’. To justify poverty as a result of rampant corruption, Christ’s words that ‘the poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me’ come sin handy. To mitigate themselves from their failure to rise against corrupted and big bully politicians, church leaders state that ‘vengeance is the Lord’s, not ours’.

The Holy Bible, however, contains thousands of others verses beseeching the believer to pay more than lip service. In recent times, there have been but few vocal Christian personalities, with the exception of Father OC Lim of St Xavier’s Church, Petaling Jaya. As a Christian, I am searching for Christian leaders in the likes of biblical characters like Moses, Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther and Ruth – personalities who stepped out of their comfort zones to take a stand for righteousness and justice. Instead I am seeing plentiful of Balaams and Jonahs – characters who speak what the powers-that- be desire to hear and quasi-leaders who speak up only when they had no other options. These are merely my personal thoughts and experiences, not necessarily the gospel truth. Nevertheless, he that hath ears, let him hear. Malaysiakini