BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Gift giving is common in our community and society. It can be an acknowledgement of friendship or a tip for services received. However, at times a “gift” may in fact be a bribe intended to induce someone to do something wrong, or even to get them to do what is right and give us what we are entitled to. Such bribery and corruption permeate our society. Corruption is found in government departments, in institutions, in the law courts, and among police officers and politicians. It is even found in the church. Individual Christians take bribes, show favouritism, pay unjust wages and pursue dishonest gain.

Many church committees are controlled by people who do not seem to believe that their ethics should match their professed beliefs.

Despite regular condemnation of corruption and the existence of official anti-corruption bureaus, most South Asians accept this situation as a fact of life. Bribery has been part of society for centuries, and fatalism and a belief in karma encourage people to believe that nothing can be changed. Even Christians accept this and act accordingly.

Yet the Bible makes it clear that bribery and corruption are not normal but are manifestations of greed and of the sinful state of fallen humanity. It also stresses that God expects his people to be holy as he is holy (1 Pet 1:15). Our character should reflect his character, which is just and righteous. He shows no favouritism, accepts no bribes and cares for the vulnerable, rather than seeking to exploit them (Deut 10:17-19). In the OT a primary example of bribery that is condemned is judges being bribed by the rich to give unfair judgements against the poor. God speaks out strongly against judges who accept bribes, because “a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent” (Exod 23:8; see also Lev 19:15; Deut 16:19). He hates the dishonesty of inaccurate weights and measures and other sharp business practices (Prov 11:1). He also strongly condemns the exploitation of workers by those who do not pay them fair wages (Amos 8:4-5; Mal 3:5). This last is one of the factors that can perpetuate corruption as underpaid workers seek to extract bribes to supplement their meagre income.

In summary, God hates everything that perverts justice (Eccl 7:7; Isa 5:21-23; Ezek 22:12; Amos 5:12; Mic 3:11; 7:3). The OT makes it clear that God sees such practices as national rather than just individual sins. He judges nations that practise them.

What must Christians do in societies where bribery and corruption are rampant? First, we must acknowledge that such practices are sinful and must steadfastly believe that God “will not acquit the guilty” (Exod 23:7) even when we do not see immediate evidence of this. We must be prepared to take a stand against the crowd and the powerful figures who show favouritism, give false testimony, deny justice, accept bribes and oppress those who are vulnerable – the poor, Dalits, foreigners and refugees. We must be the ones who do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed and defend the orphans and widows. We must seek to appoint officials who are not companions of thieves, lovers of bribes and chasers after gifts. We should encourage those who fear God, are trustworthy and hate dishonest gain (Exod 18:21). Our lives, both individually and corporately, must testify to the character of the God we worship (1 Pet 2:9-12).