'Yes, church wedding is not biblical'
SUNDAY VISION
By Kenneth Lubogo
After reading comments from Pastor Solomon Male and Bishop Paul Luzinda, among others, I found it necessary to write this.
Before reading the article I had a look at Luzinda.
".....Luzinda first courted controversy.
In 2006, he made headlines when he literally fought witchdoctors, who occupied church land at Sezibwa in Mukono and blamed fellow clerics of involvement in the practice he considers evil.
“It is shocking that with over 130 years of Christianity in Uganda, witchcraft is still prevalent. This evil is real because pastors and other respected people in the society are involved in it. That is why I decided to spearhead the eradication of witchcraft,” he said then."
In 2006, he made headlines when he literally fought witchdoctors, who occupied church land at Sezibwa in Mukono and blamed fellow clerics of involvement in the practice he considers evil.
“It is shocking that with over 130 years of Christianity in Uganda, witchcraft is still prevalent. This evil is real because pastors and other respected people in the society are involved in it. That is why I decided to spearhead the eradication of witchcraft,” he said then."
Also Male
Moses Solomon Male (pronounced 'mal-eh') is a pastor in Uganda and Executive Director of Arising For Christ. He is an outspoken critic of corruption in churches, especially those that promote prosperity theology which he calls the gospel of extortion.
He also opposed indulgence in the occult (magic, witchcraft, divination and necromancy) responsible for compelling people into human sacrifice, has openly made a stand against homosexuality; and cares for victims of pedophilia and sexual abuse.
They look like what I expected. In fact both better and worse would be a better description. However the point of this blog is that I haven't got a clue what the actual article is about.
The early Church split because of practices which became law/custom yet they were not stated/or acceptable in the Bible, for example, bowing to images, baptising children and praying for the dead. In Matthew 15:6-9, Jesus warned on adopting laws of men and imposing them on God’s people.
This is emphasised in Titus 1:14.
Pertaining marrying in church, I have not yet found it anywhere in the Bible that the Church shall conduct marriage. The authority to marry off children is vested in the parents and this is a divine authority which cannot be substituted by man’s law.
It is also clear in the Bible that a marriage is not made holy by the ceremonies in church. For this reason, the Bible recognises that a marriage between a non-believer and a believer (of course not made in church) is holy or sanctified by the faith of a believer according to 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 and they bear holy children.
Therefore, it is not the pronouncements in church that make the marriage holy, but the faith of the believer. As regards marriage vows, church leaders need to be reminded that the New Testament does not allow people to make vows any more.
Therefore, it is not the pronouncements in church that make the marriage holy, but the faith of the believer. As regards marriage vows, church leaders need to be reminded that the New Testament does not allow people to make vows any more.
In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus commanded us NOT TO VOW AT ALL. This is repeated in James 5:12. For that reason, it is not right for any Christian to make a vow or to swear to enter into marriage.
On the issue of polygamy, without the law (biblical law of the letter), there would be no sin. David had seven wives and it was not counted on him as sin. He was referred to as a man after God’s heart.
Besides, when David killed Uriah and took his wife, God told David that He (God) gave him wives and if he (David) had wanted more, he should have asked of God and he would have given him more. (2 Samuel 12:8).
In 2 Chronicles 24:1-3,16, Jehoiada got two wives for Joash and the Bible says whatever Jehoiada did was right before God and for that reason, he was buried among the kings, yet himself was not one.
Similary, in the book of Exodus 21:10, God directed: “If a man takes for himself a second wife, he must make sure that he does not reduce the amount of food, clothing and other rights due to the first wife.” (Good News Bible).
In 2 Chronicles 24:1-3,16, Jehoiada got two wives for Joash and the Bible says whatever Jehoiada did was right before God and for that reason, he was buried among the kings, yet himself was not one.
Similary, in the book of Exodus 21:10, God directed: “If a man takes for himself a second wife, he must make sure that he does not reduce the amount of food, clothing and other rights due to the first wife.” (Good News Bible).
When God says let every man have his own wife and every woman her own husband, it is important to note that God looks at every person as an individual. It is not a question of numbers.
However, the one-wife marriage is a requirement for church elders as stated in the books of Timothy and Titus. The implication is that it would be hard for a man with more than one wife to have adequate time for the ministry. Remember that Paul decided not to marry so that he can devote all his time to ministry.
The writer is the MP for Bulamogi county,
Kaliro district
However, the one-wife marriage is a requirement for church elders as stated in the books of Timothy and Titus. The implication is that it would be hard for a man with more than one wife to have adequate time for the ministry. Remember that Paul decided not to marry so that he can devote all his time to ministry.
The writer is the MP for Bulamogi county,
Kaliro district
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