“The Rich and the Kingdom of God
Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”” (NIV – Matthew 19:16-24).
I just had to drop this passage from the book of Matthew as I read the quotes from the Archbishop of Kampala Diocese, Paul Ssemogerere. Certainly, the sermon which the archbishop spoke during yesterday service wasn’t biblical. Especially, not the bible verses I know. Neither the principals of the Saviour or Jesus Christ himself for that matter.
The Archbishop is more into the pastropeneur and being business savvy, than actually using the bible as it is.
Just read this two quotes, which is so telling…
“God will not entertain the poor in heaven. You will not go there. I will also stand at the entrance to stop you from going there. We have misunderstood the gospel. Being poor should not be misinterpreted to be without money” (…) “God will say I created you with eyes, the brain, and gave you life, and you die poor?!. You will perish in hell. We should work hard. Let’s not sleep and be idle” – Archbishop of Kampala Diocese, Paul Ssemogerere (Samuel Muhimba – ‘“The poor will not go to heaven”- Archbishop Ssemogerere’ 15.08.2023).
When you read Matthew chapter 19 and read the quotes of the Archbishop…. You see the fault-lines very easily. There is no denying that these cannot co-exist. While there are other parts of the scripture the contest the message of the Archbishop as well.
“Those who trust in their riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf” (NIV – Proverbs 11:29).
“The Parable of the Rich Fool
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (NIV – Luke 12:12-21).
When you see the two parables and the proverb. You see where the Archbishop left things out. Where he didn’t follow scripture or even the words of Jesus Christ. As a teacher himself and Christian leader. He should set the example and live accordingly. His message are more on the levels of politicians and not of scripture. The bible is clear and I only shown small passages from the New International Version. Which isn’t really cutting it, but proving my point.
The Archbishop is telling porkies. He should be better than that… maybe I am expecting too much. However, he should know better. Not only as a man, but as a servant of God. Peace.
MinBane 