Was that really you, Gary?

Last Wednesday, a former colleague from Channel 2 reposted a message allegedly from Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano, praying:

“Lord, Please Lord… speak to every heart of those in the Senate… give them the courage and direction to simply do what is right in your eyes. – Gary Valenciano – Singer”

It seems such a message is aligned with the heart and character of Gary V, but I cannot say with certainty that it was an authentic post of Gary V or if someone manufactured it on social media.

For what it’s worth, praying to GOD for the well-being and wisdom of our “leaders” has been in accordance with the teachings of religious groups, particularly the Christian faith.

I confess that I have had misgivings about the idea of praying for the kind of political leaders and politicians we have in the Philippines. I am not being judgmental or rude but wondering about the context of such a practice.

Many Catholics and “Christians” have struggled with this teaching as much as they struggle with “love your enemies” and paying your tithes or 10 percent of your income or profit to the point where some ask, is it 10 percent of net or gross? Similarly, “women, submit to your husbands.”

I have given the subject much thought and the first question is, who exactly are our leaders? How and where are they leading us?

In the time of Jesus, there were two if not three groups of leaders. First there was the Roman Army that occupied and ruled over Israel. Then the Religious Leaders who ruled directly over the people using doctrine, title and the fear of God.

Then there were the Prophets, Shepherds, fathers who looked after their families and tribes, fervently and humbly observing the Old Testament scriptures and biblical principles.

Jesus did not have much interaction with the Romans. He gave no instructions to pray for the Romans. He instructed and exemplified compliance by paying taxes and the separation of Church and State.

The religious leaders, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, were clearly on the bad side of Jesus, since he repeatedly called them out as ignorant, hypocrites, whitewashed tombs, false teachers, burden to widows and orphans, murderers of prophets, etc.

The reason for this is because the religious leaders of the time behaved with entitlement, were corrupt and immoral while portraying themselves as “godly,” which today would be the equivalent of the term “Honorable” imposed and required by congressmen and senators.

The closest that comes to a genuine definition of real leaders, then and now, were the prophets, tribal leaders, familial and true spiritual leaders often referred to as teachers, devoted mentors and shepherds of the flock.

They are today’s parents, pastors and anyone who leads and provides wisdom and well-being, including good and decent businesspeople. But then and now, even in this category, there are bad or irresponsible shepherds of the flock.

In my opinion, we should not confuse the good with the bad or apply the word “leaders” loosely. Even God himself warned his people when they demanded to have a king to rule over them, that the king will end up taking their wealth, turning their children and families into cheap labor and will become a curse instead of a blessing (1 Samuel 8).

The big mistake we have in common with the Israelites is that we look to “kings” and politicians to bring us blessings, direction and rejected or minimalized God in our lives and now we pay for our sins.

In the end, Jesus Christ taught us how to pray for leaders, enemies or “those who spitefully use us” when Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” I, on the other hand, pray “thy will be done,” hoping for divine intervention and divine justice in the Philippines because he did the same to Sodom and Gomorrah.

In a way, I imagine or see the hand of God in everything that has been happening in the Philippines, similar to repeated events in the Bible. Read 2 Chronicles 20, Judges 7, 1 Samuel 14 and other similar biblical accounts.

In different times and places God caused the enemies and invaders about to attack the Israelites to turn on themselves and attacked each other. That, I believe, is what’s happening.

The current troubles in the Senate are not merely the political hand of men huddled in Malacañang but God allowing confusion and animosity among politicians and fake leaders. I also see it as God frustrating and “punishing” Filipinos for making God a minority in our daily lives.

From last year’s SONA where PBBM shamed the shameless Cong-Tractors and contractors, which spiraled to revelations and accusations involving DPWH officials nationwide, that led to widespread finger pointing, congressional committee removal and resignation of speaker Martin Romualdez and flight of Zaldy Co.

Now the fire has spread into a “distracting” impeachment of the Vice President, political instability and weaponization of institutions, not just to assert a majority control of the Senate but a suspected attempt to neutralize or block a determined investigation of  the ghost flood control projects.

Yes, in the end, we can only pray “God’s will be done.” But at the very least, let us turn to God, pray to God and actually be sorry or “repent” for minimalizing or sidelining God in our lives.

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