This blog was originally published in April 2018.

A friend from Asia recently told me that, in his country, it’s typical for only about 30 percent of the money for a public works project to actually be used for the project. The other 70 percent simply disappears—presumably into the pockets of various government officials. 

I was flabbergasted. 

Of course, my home country is not immune. The U.S. is knee deep in corruption controversies on any given day—from campaign finance to Veterans’ Affairs. The state I grew up in currently has not one, but THREE former governors in prison. I have to admit, that sounds almost comical. 

But corruption is deadly serious when seen from the perspective of people who are marginalized. I visited a friend who has spent the past 30 years building biblical community in one of the U.S.’s most violent inner-city neighborhoods. As I questioned him, trying to understand the root causes of the problem, he explained how easy it is for anyone—from drug dealers to children—to get guns. When I asked why, he simply said, “Corruption at every level.”

Corruption takes away the power of average people’s voices and puts it in the hands of just the few who have money. It destroys justice, because corrupt leaders make decisions based on their own financial gain (or reputation or retention of power and control…) rather than on what’s best for the people or morally right. It oppresses the poor, favors the rich and powerful, and endangers the powerless. 

In most of the world, one of the root causes of corruption is the belief that those in power ought to be appeased. The lie flourishes in cultures where the predominant religion requires sacrifices or gifts to please ancestors and spirits. The logic is, “Give something to get something”—whether that’s in the spiritual realm or in dealing with your supervisor or local government official. Corruption runs rampant when societies are infected by this lie. 

In the U.S., we don’t necessarily hold to these beliefs, but we do honor success and wealth. We wave the banner of the American Dream. We laud the people who’ve “made it.” It wasn’t so long ago that people were slapping bumper stickers on their cars that said, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Is it any wonder that, to gain more success and wealth, people would misuse public funds, pay for political favors, cover up their crimes, or bend the rules of business? 

The Bible has a few things to say about all of this. These verses might sound familiar:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 1 Timothy 6:10

You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. Deuteronomy 16:19

…Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.

They do not defend the orphan,

    and the widow’s cause does not come before them.

Therefore says the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel:

Ah, I will pour out my wrath on my enemies and avenge myself on my foes!

Isaiah 1:23-24

I have to admit, a big part of me tends to look at all of this, get depressed, and sigh, “Yeah, but what can you do?” Sometimes, when there’s a scandal or when I’m standing in a neighborhood entrenched in gang violence, I get fired up. But more often, I feel helpless…resigned. 

Friends, there is something we can do about corruption. For starters, we can seek the Lord and ask for His intervention. Surely He is eager to hear and answers prayers about an issue He obviously takes very seriously. Join me this month in praying against corruption. 

Pray for:

  • Changed mindsets—that we would not believe the lies of appeasing or glorifying those in power. Pray that we would stand up to corruption when we see it in society, and that we would hold ourselves to God’s standards of truth and justice.
  • Pray that the Church all over the world will model justice and transparency. Pray that the bride of Christ would be a haven for the oppressed, would show no favoritism toward the rich, and would be a voice for truth and justice in society. 
  • Pray for God to raise up political leaders on every continent who will stand against corruption. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convict those who have been accepting bribes and favors or misusing money, that they would turn away from this sin and experience forgiveness, like Zacchaeus did. 
  • Pray that we would have just governments, business, and churches with appropriate accountability and oversight. Pray that just laws would be passed and upheld that do not favor the rich or allow rampant corruption.
  • Pray for the light of truth to shine on corruption, for unlawful activities to be revealed and stopped.
  • Pray for those who are poor, powerless, or oppressed to receive justice. Pray that God would intervene on their behalf and protect them from corruption that would exploit or endanger them.
Looking for more resources on how to pray for corruption? 

Download our Pray Against Corruption prayer card

Sign up to receive our monthly Justice Prayer email