Is Dr. Sheyavali preaching the word of God or political theology? Dr. Shejavali has been overhead agonising at funerals whenever people turn up in SWAPO colours. I thought colours are objects and do not offend anybody, unless you find them offensive based on what they represent.

What shocked me and other people as well, were Dr. Shejavali’s accusation at a memorial service for the late Dr. Hendrick Witbooi, that SWAPO had betrayed him. I though Dr. Shejavali is against funerals not to be turned into political events, but then he had just done the opposite to what has been preaching. Then one has to ask where do we go from here, politics or religion?

The creation theory in book of Genesis teaches us that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. When everything was done and finished God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was beautiful. The world is beautiful because it is full of wonders and mysteries. In Psalm 24:2 we are told of the beauty of the earth that God has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

The creation theory further teaches that God made the beast of the earth of different kinds, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps upon the earth after its kind.

One of the mysterious animals created by God is a bat and I believe it is beautiful; but the only problem is we do not know in which category it belongs. It has wings like birds, but it is not a bird and it has appearance of a mouse, but it is not a mouse. It is a creation of God and I dare not question the hand of He who sits on high throne. But something bothersome whenever I listen to Dr. Sheyavali, he acts almost similar to the characters of a bat.

I personally have high regard for him, as a man of the cloth. I have respect for our religious leaders but I also know that the first coloniser came with a bible on one hand and a dagger on the other hand. Hence anybody using religion as a cover for political objectives without disclosing it, that person serves two masters at the same time. Religious leaders are human being and are entitled to their political views, but not in disguise, except when their lives are in danger. I thus respect all those who respect themselves. Nevertheless, respect is earned and not inherited. When a man of the cloth acts like a bat, which does not know whether it is a bird or a mouse, he must be “he fought the good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to him on that day, and not only to him, but also to all who have loved his appearing”.

I do not want to say more I have to show sensitivity towards the family and the entire nation which still in a period of mourning. Dr Shejavali failed to show that sensitivity. The late Dr. Witbooi was a SWAPO member from the day he joined until the day he departed this world. How can SWAPO betray him if he was part of SWAPO?

I recently came across a lengthy letter written by Dr. Shejavali protesting the appointment of Solomon Hauala as Commander of the Namibian Army in the early 1990s, he concluded with a quote from the book of Amos 5:24, “let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”. I have no capacity to pass judgement on any fellow human being and I do agree as stated in the book of Isaiah 11:3 the “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears” Nevertheless, I write this with a question posed by Psalm 24:3 at the back drop of my mind “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” The answer we are told by same Psalm 24:4 “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, he who has not lifted up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”

Are trees not known by their fruits? Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? The sphere of politics is open to all those who wish to get their followers into politics but political homicide disguised behind the religious cloth is the worst form of backstabbing and must be treated as such.

I want to conclude with a phrase of Dr Martin Luther King about what Jesus said to Nikodemus, when he wanted to know what he should do in order to be saved.

“One night, a juror came to Jesus and he wanted to know what he could do to be saved. Jesus didn’t get bogged down in the kind of isolated approach of what he shouldn’t do. Jesus didn’t say, “Now Nicodemus, you must stop lying.” HE didn’t say, “Nicodemus, you must stop cheating if you are doing that.” He didn’t say, “Nicodemus, you must not commit adultery.” He didn’t say, “Nicodemus, now you must stop drinking liquor if you are doing that excessively.” He said something altogether different, because Jesus realized something basic - that if a man will lie, he will steal. And if a man will steal, he will kill. So instead of just getting bogged down in one thing, Jesus looked at him and said, “Nicodemus, you must be born again.”

I am not saying that Dr. Shejavali is a liar or a cheater but I have a problem of distinguishing whether he is of politics or religion. He is entitled to his views and I respect that, but I do not expect him to force his political sugar-coated with religious flavour on the throats of others. He must be politically born again if he wishes to enter politics. Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

P. Haindongo is a Namibian citizen; he expresses his democratic right of opinion and thought as he sees the happenings in the world. These views are entirely his.