Rev. J. Thungjamo Lotha
As someone quotes, “Acceptance of money to vote for a candidate is a corrupt practice of bribery under Section 123 (1) of R. P. Act, 1951. It is also an offence under section 171-B of Indian Penal Code and is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or both.”
There are 77 bible verses that talk against bribery, but a few are quoted here:
Exodus 23:8 teaches, “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.”
Proverbs 15:27 warns, “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 17:23 says, “The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.”
Psalm 26:10 says, “In whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.”
1 Timothy 6:10 Paul says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Ecclesiastes 7:7 Solomon writes, “Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.”
Isaiah 5:23 says, “Who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!”
Matthew 28:12-15 tells, “And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”
Proverbs 10:2 Solomon declares, ”Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Proverbs 28:21 says, “To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.”
Deuteronomy 16:19 says, “You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.”
1 Samuel 8:1-3 says, “When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.”
Matthew 27:3-9 tells, “Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. ...”
Our hearts are saddened to see the lives and the deeds of the present Naga Christians in Nagaland. Our Naga Christians ( voters and contestants) know the bible verses mentioned above very well, but they set them aside when they want to do corrupt practices like purchase of vote which is bribery and which is against the living God. Our God is not happy with us when we go wrong intentionally. But you know, we cannot hide from God. For He “neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Ps. 121: 4). He sees all our dealings. God loves us so much that He disciplines us when we go wrong, but His disciplinary action, though it is with love, is so painful. Let us therefore repent of our sins of our corrupt practices like bribery before He disciplines us and live the life that is acceptable to Him that we may live well here and now and in the world to come.
