Confronting Corruption

CONTENTS:

Introduction 1

Week 1 - General 6
Week 2 - Bribery 8
Week 3 - Oppression 10
Week 4 - Denial of justice 12
Week 5 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 14
Week 6 - Dishonesty 16
Week 7 - Denial of justice 18
Week 8 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 20
Week 9 - Dishonesty 22
Week 10 - General 24
Case Study 1 From Burkina Faso 26
Week 11 - Bribery 28
Week 12 - Denial of justice 30
Week 13 - Oppression 32
Week 14 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 34
Week 15 - Dishonesty 36
Week 16 - Denial of justice 38
Week 17 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 40
Week 18 - Dishonesty 42
Week 19 - General 44
Week 20 - Bribery 46
Case Study 2 48
Week 21 - Denial of justice 50
Week 22 - Oppression 52
Week 23 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 54
Week 24 - Dishonesty 56
Week 25 - Denial of justice 58
Week 26 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 60
Week 27 - Dishonesty 62
Week 28 - General 64
Week 29 - Bribery 66
Week 30 - Denial of justice 68
Case Study 3 From Honduras 70
Week 31 - Oppression 72
Week 32 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 74
Week 33 - Dishonesty 76
Week 34 - Oppression 78
Week 35 - Gaining wealth by dishonest means 80
Week 36 - Bribery 82
Week 37 - Denial of justice 84
Week 38 - Dishonesty 86
Week 39 - Gaining wealth by dishonest means 88
Week 40 - Oppression 90
Case Study 4 From Pakistan 92
Week 41 - Denial of justice 94
Week 42 - Gaining wealth by dishonest means 96
Week 43 - Bribery 98
Week 44 - Dishonesty 100
Week 45 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 102
Week 46 - Oppression 104
Week 47 - Denial of justice 106
Week 48 - Gaining wealth by dishonest means 108
Week 49 - Dishonesty 110
Week 50 - Bribery 112
Case Study 5 A Western Reflection on Corruption 114
Week 51 - Gaining wealth by unjust means 116
Week 52 - General 118

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard King practised as a barrister in London for 30 years before working for 8 years with Concordis International on conflict resolution and peacebuilding programmes in Africa. Richard has visited South Sudan many times, working closely with local South Sudanese staff on peacebuilding projects on the South Sudan/Sudan border. Before starting work with Concordis, Richard gained a Master’s in International Peace and Security at Kings College, London, which he was awarded with distinction. He is an active member of his local church in Ealing, West London.

Corruption blights the lives of countless people around our world. It is a scourge of the poor and weak. It is a road block to change. It is detestable to God. The purpose of this book is to transform attitudes and behaviours of Christians who live in societies where corrupt behaviour is a fact of life and to do this by letting the Bible, as God’s word, speak. It is addressed to Christians disposed by inclination or circumstance to behave corruptly, to Christians who need courage to stand against corrupt behaviour and to Christians who want to use their influence to put pressure on officials to act with integrity. The book is intended to be used for weekly reading by pastors at church services to remind congregations that corruption has no place in Christian life, as a resource for Bible colleges in training pastors/church workers and for small group Bible study. The readings in the book are interspersed with perspectives from AmyJay Riconalla, Jill Stoltzfus, Jules Compaore and the Reverend Dr Maqsoud Kamil, who have contributed from experience in the Philippines, Honduras, Burkino Faso and Pakistan respectively, together with a reflection on corruption in Western society from the Reverend Joel Edwards.

The Church will richly benefit from the author’s experience and charitable way of urging God’s people to that godliness that exalts a nation. Using these studies with some of my friends was revolutionary and increased our accountability and responsibility to one another.
Ezechi Iwuagwu, Director, Abuja Bible College, Nigeria