Christian Youths Should Engage in Politics to Promote Righteous Leadership

Pastor and member representing Langtang North Central Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick, has challenged Christian youths to actively participate in politics. He insisted that the Church must engage in governance to promote justice, fairness and righteous leadership in the society.

Speaking during a teaching titled “Christian Youth and Politics of Righteousness” at the annual Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) Youth Fellowship programme held at COCIN Local Church Council (LCC) Sabon Gari, Regional Church Council (RCC) Hwolshe on Thursday, Listick said Christians can no longer afford to remain passive while critical political decisions that affect the Church and society are being made.

Drawing his message from Proverbs 14:34 and Proverbs 11:11, he said righteousness exalts a nation and stressed that justice and fairness would only become entrenched in governance when more Christians actively participate in the political process.

He lamented that many believers mistakenly believe politics begins and ends with voting during elections, explaining that political participation goes beyond casting ballots to include leadership, policy making, civic engagement and influencing governance with godly values.

According to him, Christian youths should invest their time and energy in politics despite its complexities, noting that proper understanding of the political system would enable them to make meaningful contributions and protect the interests of the Church and society.

Listick described politics as a secular space where both good and bad ideas compete, but maintained that Christians are called to serve as the light of the world by promoting what is right and working to transform what is wrong through integrity and righteous leadership.

He further observed that many Christians have remained spectators in governance instead of active participants, urging young people to begin their leadership journey from community development associations, student unions, schools, churches and other grassroots platforms before aspiring to higher public offices.

The lawmaker also encouraged Christian youths to acquire political knowledge by studying the Electoral Act, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, political party constitutions and other legal frameworks guiding democratic governance, saying political education is essential for effective participation.

He reminded participants that God’s original mandate in creation was for humanity to exercise responsible dominion over the earth, stressing that governance and politics remain important instruments for managing public affairs and advancing societal development.

Listick advised aspiring Christian politicians to cultivate wisdom, patience and self-control, urging them to listen more than they speak and to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit when making decisions in the often challenging political environment.

He introduced the principle of PURE, (Peace, Unity, Righteousness and Education), as a practical strategy for Christian political engagement, emphasizing that believers must first be spiritually grounded to withstand compromise and remain faithful to biblical values even when standing alone.
He Urged the youth to view politics of righteousness as a divine mandate, encouraging the youth to become agents of integrity and positive transformation capable of influencing governance for the advancement of the Church and the nation.

He also highlighted some civic responsibilities expected of Christians, including obtaining Permanent Voter Cards, participating in elections, paying taxes, promoting education, environmental stewardship, peacebuilding and national development, describing them as practical expressions of Christian citizenship.

The teaching concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, where participants discussed strategies for increasing Christian involvement in politics.