The Conforming Church

The Conforming Church, the Condemning Church
Go ye into the world and preach politics! Involve yourself in the world; conform to their standards so that they become believers. This is what is taking place but that is not bible.

I have had a burden for my nation in the past months especially concerning the leadership and the church as a whole. This has been on my heart for some time and I want to share it.
The Church has never been called to politics but to preach the gospel to all men and make disciples out of them. Interestingly, the church in Uganda has taken to politics to a level where divisions are evident in congregations due to different political affiliations. Listen, God has called us to be witnesses of this gospel to all men and not to campaign for any party in our pulpits. Secondly, we have not been called to join the heathen and say all the nonsense about the economy, forests, etc. Well, I can hear some voices saying that evil prospers when good men keep quiet. I have grown to hate popular sayings because people just quote them without thinking. It is not about talking but standing up for the truth and doing the right thing.

The Church is not praying for the leadership of this nation especially His Excellency the president-Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his cabinet. All we are doing is linking up with the heathen and speaking nonsense. I don’t care whether you support NRM, FDC, CP, JEEMA, or even the independents, you as a believer MUST (mark the word, must) pray for the president and all leadership. I can say boldly that Evil triumphs when the righteous of God ignore their positions. Museveni is not the problem, and if you think that by change of governments, you will get rich, and all will be well, you have another thought coming. The bible gives us ways to become rich and I for one don’t believe that my increase depends on the economy of any state in this world. Well, you may be asking, “now, who is the problem?” The answer is it is you because you are not praying and even when you pray, you undo your prayers with your words.

Recently as I chatted with a friend, she talked about church leaders inviting secular artists into their churches to entertain the congregation. I didn’t pay attention to it until I landed on a paper supporting it. I learnt a long way back that attacking God’s ministers is one of the easiest ways to get sick quick but it is biblical to judge the fruit for by their fruit you will know them. The church is not an entertainment center and it shouldn’t be. Increase in church numbers is important if it is about the word of God and not “Katemba”. As believers, we must be a strong force and not wimps who are fed on unbelief and trash this week and a little snack of the word the other week. Just call a prayer meeting vs a dancing show and see the one that attracts more. This is one reason why we are having many people who just live from miracle to miracle. Whether the heathen sing “gospel” songs, we need to see those save for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Putting the name Jesus in a song doesn’t make it a gospel song. There is a rally driver called Jesus. We need fruit.

WAY FORWARD: Constructive criticism is okay but dishonoring your president or pastor or Jesus is wrong. The bible says, “Render honor to whom honor is due”. If you think he doesn’t deserve it, then pray for him but I know he deserves it. I have heard Christians say, “omusajja akaddiye”, “Man, the guy has lost it” while another literally said He was stupid. I just knew they were not praying and if they were, they were praying for his dismissal. It is little wonder that we even don’t get answers to our personal needs.
Prayers should be made first of all for those in leadership. Listen and this is what I sense in my heart, the church needs to pray that peace shall continue to prevail that the gospel may be preached. The devil has sought to concern the church with minor issues and by the time it wakes up, it may be too late. I have included an excerpt from the book, “The believer’s Prayer Life”

First Of All
Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 1 Peter 2:13-16

In 1 Timothy 2, we are told to pray first of all for all men but in particular for kings and all who are in authority. Before praying for ourselves or something else, we must first of all pray for our government authorities. Of course if we were going to eat and I asked you to pray for the food, you wouldn’t start praying for kings and all who are in authority. That would be misplaced. All that Paul is telling Timothy is that praying for our leaders should have priority in our prayer life. Why should we put them first in our praying? Why should we give them priority? Verse 2 and 3 say,

“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and reverence. For [or because] this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

It’s for our benefit: that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. It is also for the sake of the gospel. You see if there is trouble on the political scene, the Word of God cannot be spread effectively and people will not be reached. So God wants us to pray for our leaders so that the Gospel will have a free course in our nation and there will be peace. The bible says that government authorities are God’s judgement arm on those who do evil.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” -Romans 13:3, 4

God’s word says the authorities are God’s ministers sent to execute wrath on him who practices evil. So we can bring God’s word to Him like lawyers believing that our leaders will indeed be what the Word of God says they are – a terror to evil works – a terror to drug abuse, abortion, sexual abuse, child abuse, pornography, crime and anything else that is evil. If we pray for our leaders based on God’s word, these evils will no longer run rampant in our country.