Seeking Peace and Justice in a Corrupt World

I was browsing randomly the newspaper laid on my tea table this morning and came across a revealing fact published on the front page of Times of India (dated 18th November 2009) that India continues to be one of the most corrupt nations in the world with many of its public institutions given to rampant misdeeds.

Corruption when put in simple words mean "misuse of public power for personal gain," when allowed freely would hamper the normal functioning of organisations, hampering economic development, diminishing public trust in the organisation, and undermining the image of the nation in the international community.  Leaving aside the immorality of bribe-taking, influence-peddling, embezzlement, and other abuses of power for personal or narrow group gain, corruption exacerbates inequality, desecrates the rule of law, and undermines the legitimacy of democratic regimes. This could eventually affect the very constitution that protects the country from all ill effects.

Corruption is India's bane and threatens to derail its rapidly growing economy.  Mera Bharat (My India) ranks a dismal 84th in a list of 180 countries, according to Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index, a measure of domestic and public sector corruption.

The corruption watchdog says that many African, East European and Latin American nations fare much better than India.  If it is any consolation, India actually climbed one spot up from 85th (it's 2008 rank) to 84th. India's integrity score this year is 3.4, down from 3.5 in 2007, says the survey. Its score in 2006 was 3.3.

Till 2007, India shared the slot with China, but Beijing has managed to cut down corruption and is ranked 79th in this year's list.  However, this is not an indication that India has become more corrupt but that nations like China now appear less corrupt.  That is because China has launched a sustained anti-corruption drive and intensified a crackdown on corruption in the public sector, investigating and prosecuting ministers, public officials and employees.  Corrupt officials above provincial levels were disciplined and preventive measures to deal with stimulus packages to tackle the financial crisis have helped keep China's score stable in 2009, though still low at 3.6.  I am wondering whether we can learn a lesson from China to curb corruption in India.

In reflection I was thinking how the churches in India can work towards fulfillment of Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”  I am we sure we can root out corruption but there is a precondition ‘that we, the church, must be honest’ – I am not sure if we can substitute ‘honest’ with a better word to describe ‘free from corruption’.

"If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14.  This verse throws challenges at us to be channels of blessing for our country.  We can do this because ‘God has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.’  I Peter 1:4.

Kindness and truth will meet; justice and peace shall kiss in our country if we are honest.

Kasta Dip