The Prophetic Insight I Badly Needed In This 2021 Uganda Election.

I write to you from the lowlands of a heightened political season in Kampala, Uganda.

At the time of writing, most of us Ugandan Balokole have just been indicted for our radical silence about political events in this country we call home.

I partly bear that guilt, in one WhatsApp group I am part of, the consensus recently seemed to be that we Ugandan Christians often retreat to prayer more than we exhibit relevance plus transcendence in perilous political times.

This question we must answer, or at least try.

Most of us Ugandan Balokole have just been indicted for our radical silence about political events in this country we call home.

For now, ten or so presidential candidates, including a renowned protege of a popular Kampala “prophet” ,Joseph Kabuleta, are vying for the country’s top position. Yet Ugandan Christians may still have no clear “prophetic” guidance on how to proceed.

As noted before, we have almost infamously coined a common response “pray for this country” as a conversation stopper on any political discourse.

Others among us have gone full board political, almost ignoring our primary identifier in Christ – reflected through our evangelism and discipleship priorities. (Which means after elections, no one may need to hear from us, seeing we’d have abandoned the primary calling that got many wanting to listen to our ministry, in the first place)

Others among us have gone full board political, almost ignoring our primary identifier in Christ – reflected through our evangelism and discipleship priorities.

How then shall we live?

Reading God’s word to arrogant Nebuchadnezzar, telling him how “…the most high rules the Kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 4:25) brought me some comfort the other day—God actually knows who Uganda’s next President will be.

Likewise, Daniel’s continued posture of prayer in light of his political circumstances, “three times a day just like he’d done before” (Daniel 6:10) also pierced my tendency towards abandoning ordinary means of grace, in evangelism, discipleship — especially now, when political impulses seem to always pull the other way.

Yet still, reading the psalmist’s proclamation about God’s throne being founded on righteousness and justice seems to disturb my often hands-off politics approach, for what would my temple-activity (like in Amos’s charge to hypocrite Israel) of lifting holy hands every Sabbath mean anymore when justice, is no longer “rolling down like a river.” (Amos 5:23-24)

As a result, unlike in previous elections, I’ve decided to proactively look up my voting details, I will cast my vote and make my voice heard accordingly.

Yet still, a few other convictions have cut deep this season.

God still requires personal holiness as my platform for anything. I have no business losing the fruit of self control about some political post, I am still called to exercise self control in all things, including sometimes restraining my “beloved” political opinion.

Then, I still need my church as it hopefully needs me, this is not my time to misuse the microphone, or conversation opportunity (or lack of both)

Many just like myself, in the community of God’s people, are still battling a prowling lion who knows no democratic seasons; marriages still need more biblical counseling, not less, pride is still killing leaders, churches are still lukewarm, pulpits are still moralizing, teenagers are still troubling, adultery and lust haven’t taken a break, in other words—sin is still killing. So I have no business abandoning my primary battle post too.

More questions derived from Christian revelation continue to haunt me this election season, how do I practise self-control when bad news dominates my newsfeed, and (supposedly) renewed mind?

In political discussions, have I distinguished the permissible from the beneficial? In assessing governance, how slow am I not to lean on my own understanding?

As a result, unlike in previous elections, I’ve decided to proactively look up my voting details, I will cast my vote and make my voice heard accordingly.

Online, have I been a conduit of conspiracy theories? How guarded is my time from incessant and alarmist news I as I seek to fulfill God’s mandate for me today, this hour?

Do I realize that even Pilate’s necklace of arrogance in executing injustice was only allowed to proceed in accomplishing God’s sovereign purposes —only with a reminder, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above…” (John 19:11)

Before I even head out to exercise my choice on January 14th, the expectation (and prayer) is that I am on track with these gospel implications, and more. Otherwise, I am afraid I just may have no answer to Jesus’s question, “what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34)

More so, if Jesus were only my Savior, a lot of these would perhaps be excusable, but he isn’t only that, he’s Lord of my life too.

Well, In light of this article headline, I also regret to inform you that inspite of my Christian tendency to solely treat prophecy as prediction, I recently came to a biblical realization that I don’t always need to predict events as part of my spiritual privilege.

But I only need to follow through with what God has already revealed about the prophetic implications of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection, on how I interpret my current political realities . Well, I am — ( or at least I am trying.)

Well, summarily put, my prophetic insight is that I am going to vote.