We’re not a Christian nation. Do you need any more proof?

Matthew 7:15-17 says:

Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.…

This is the verse that I am referring to when I say we are not a Christian nation.

False prophets are known by their fruits, as are Christians. How do you tell a Christian, or a godly person, or a religious person, or a person who possesses a moral code, from everyone else around them?

Specifically, for Christians, the answer is found in Galatians 5:22 – ‘but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’

Kenyans hang on to this belief that 80 per cent of the country is Christian. That’s a lie. Certainly, there are Christians among us. But they are not the majority.

READ: Praise God, but we really are atheists

READ: OBBO: Kanyari can only eat from his flock

READ: MUMIA: Atheism is greatly misunderstood in Kenya

If we were a Christian or religious nation, we wouldn’t still be ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world according to Transparency International’s 2016 findings. Because Christians act in love – love for each other, love for their fellow Kenyan and love for our country.

If we were a religious nation, we wouldn’t have so many corruption scandals. In fact, there have been so many scandals that before you forget one, another pops out to keep things interesting.

We go from illegal buildings to MPs disrespecting citizens, to banks closed down because the directors are siphoning cash like fuel, to wheelbarrows being bought for the price of a showroom car in the twinkling of an eye with barely any room to breathe.

Yuri Baraza suggested on Facebook that it would be interesting to have an app that tracked all these scandals. It would be called M-Bezzle.

We have all these little distractions from the bigger picture to help us not notice the farce. For example, the power tool of tribalism – which, by the way, is rampant in our churches.

THANKSGIVING CEREMONIES

Your pastor will have something against his colleague from another tribe and yet they are supposed to be working for the Same Guy. Tithe will go missing arbitrarily, and seeds will still be planted next week for those preaching the prosperity gospel but drinking a lot of wine.

You think our leaders care what tribe the money they steal is coming from? They steal it all. Tribalism is a tool to keep us, the minions, fighting. As Kenya burns, they watch from their mansions of splendour.

If we were a religious nation, then the panel on religion that sat on Larry Madowo’s show wouldn’t have even happened, simply because religion teaches tolerance.

Whether or not there are atheists in Kenya trying to form an organization and be registered is a non-issue. If you believe what you believe and it doesn’t infringe on my personal right, then do what you believe in.

If we were religious, then the absence of prosecution for any powerful personality in Kenya would be more pertinent than the presence of atheists, because non-belief is not a crime, but crimes against the state are. Where are the panels bringing our leaders to task?

Why does the church not speak this loudly, then, when all these other scandals are going on but elects instead to hold thanksgiving ceremonies when leaders are acquitted?  Why must the panel be held when there is something ‘threatening’ organised religion?

DEMAND YOUR RIGHTS

Which churches have made an effort to help the victims of sexual assault in Kibera, and indeed, all over Kenya, who are too scared to seek help and have no money to do so?

Why is it that a report on Westgate, or Post Election Violence, must be done by outsiders because nothing conclusive has come from the Kenyan government?

Which churches are following up on the reparations that are due and have been due PEV victims, to whom nothing has been doled out? Their lives are still a shambles but we broadcast prayer services across major state channels.

If we were a Christian nation, we would be doing better. Sure, maybe the problem is the people in power. But if the people in power are a reflection of an ordinary Kenyan, then I am right.

Instead of letting your MCA get away with sleeping at the county assembly, call him out. Call your fellow Kenyans out when they throw garbage on the street. Demand your rights at a council office instead of assuming you must pay a bribe.

Get off your knees and do something. God only helps those who help themselves, no?

So there you have it. Either disabuse yourself of the notion that we possess any form of a moral compass, and that you attending service every week means anything, or please, I beg of you, prove me wrong.

Twitter: @AbigailArunga