The leaders we trust, the leaders we believe in and the leaders who preach our faith. Religious leaders are supposed to offer society spiritual and moral guidance, lead ceremonies, and preach public worship. However, history has unveiled that every religion has produced corrupt religious leaders who go against the core values within their scripture and teachings. Yes, we may be human but there seems to be a pattern of corruption in every religion throughout history.
Leaders from Christianity have sexually abused and raped minors and committed charity fraud. Leaders from Islam have terrorised society by abusing the teachings of the Quran to gain power. Maharaj (A Hindu religious leader) in the 1800’s would exploit and rape women and then kill them if they conceived a child in the name of ‘Charan Seva’. Some of these religious leaders have and continue to abuse the power given to them as a means of hurting society, to feel superior and maximise their personal gain.
History caused me to question what it meant to be a good follower of faith. Every corrupt religious leader preached the scriptures, prayed to God or their respective deities and performed religious practices. They ticked the boxes that they needed to, but they did not truly embody the values of their faith. We should learn from the mistakes of our religious leaders so that we may be better, faithful followers.
Gaining clarity from Mr. Fitzgerald, a forthright Christian
After having a chat with Mr. Fitzgerald on the topic from a Christian viewpoint, I realized that we are human, and our religious leaders are also human and do not always live like Christians.
Here is a look into our conversation:
What do you think being a good Christian looks like?
“Christians believe that no one is good, we are sinners and are naturally disposed to sin by letting evil control our thoughts and actions. I do not always get it right, but the best follower of Jesus that I could be is to put his teachings into practice by being prayerful and to be like Jesus as much as possible.”
Do you think people have interpreted being a good Christian as ticking of a list, whether that be reading the bible every day, praying to God every day, or attending church every Sunday?
“People have interpreted it differently, but if you want to live like Jesus then you need to read the bible which is my practice, as well as going to Church and praying. If I immerse myself in the bible then I will act like Jesus, less of ticking 1,2,3. These things can help us become better followers of Jesus, but simply doing them does not automatically make you a Christian. This is my approach, but other people quantify this, such as religious leaders who do not live like Christians.”
Do you think this is similar to other religions?
“Yes, but this is the difference, in Christianity we are all sinners and need to be saved whereas in other religions they may feel satisfaction in other actions. But the truth is I will fall short but that does not change me being a Christian.”
What is your advice to the Christians in the school or the people aspiring to be one, in terms of being a good Christian?
- You do not need to be perfect to be Christian. Being a Christian is about putting your faith in Jesus and trusting the good news of his death and resurrection.
- If you want to be Christian it does not mean ticking of a list.
- Looking as much like Jesus.
Conclusion
Reflecting on my conversation with Mr Fitzgerald, the misconduct of religious leaders can dishearten us, but it should not shy us away from the pursuit of goodness. We should invest in our core values and engage in the teachings of our faith. Be a part of the community by helping others with compassion and have integrity.
