Following the endless disputes that have been witnessed in churches leading to some varying factions taking each other to court, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says government is now considering coming up with a law that would govern churches.
The prime minister shared this during the ordination and graduation ceremony of Archbishop Samson Hlatjwako as Chief Archbishop Professor at Inyandza High School hall yesterday. The archbishop was also celebrating a 10-year-anniversary with his wife. Hundreds of brethren were in attendance filling up the hall, donning their church attires.
After reading a scripture from II Timothy 2:15, the prime minister observed that the archbishop was now held in high esteem by the nation. He said this verse encouraged Christians to be presentable and respectful before God.
“Nowadays, the church has many problems and they include infighting in churches which has led to others getting arrested.
“The most challenging thing is that after one works and succeeds in growing a church, they then grow an ego and feel like people should worship them,” he said.
He said the church should not be easily misled by people, who now see themselves as god or jesus. He said the power of the Christian faith was for everyone to speak about the name of Jesus since he was the only one who was their saviour. He said there were many people who performed miracles, but were buried and never resurrected.
“No one should be worshiped and government has discovered that churches and church bodies should be controlled. It was beautiful when churches were at their best behaviour, but we have since discovered that there is a problem that was now affecting the church, which is why it is now time for government to come up with laws and regulations that will govern the operations of the church,” he said.
He said as the church, they should be part of the initiative.
He also shared his testimony by thanking God for choosing him while very young. He said he did not regret choosing to walk in in faith, because such has presented a great experience for him.
He said he accepted God as his saviour while in Grade III, because he grew up in a family guided by Christian calues.
“I am here to honour Bishop Hlatjwako although there are many things that I would have done today. His achievement of being honoured by academia has not been easy, since many people are unable to stick to what they believe in.
They are now influenced by situations and I am happy that the archbishop did not ask for this, but they saw him deserving of the qualification,” he said.
Dlamini added that even if a person was learning or working, they should focus on the important things and then keep on doing what they believe in.
“This is an achievement and we would like to thank the idea that was shared by the people, who ordained you with these qualifications,” he said.
He encouraged Emaswati to take the message conveyed by the bishop and discover that a learning facility can respect their values.
Manzini Regional Administrator (RA) Chief Gija stated that Hlatjwako should continue being Moses and bring back the gospel that was there in the ancient days.
He said there was something that was lost in the church through church disputes that were now being discussed in courts.
“The church is spiritual and everything that happens there should be addressed spiritually. There are people that have locked their doors, yet they are pastors. Others have even spoken words that are bitter to the other and have taken each other to court,” he said.
He said Hlatjwako should help them retain the old Gospel where people were respectful to others despite any situation. He said Christians should learn to forgive and this was not a message directed to Hlatjwako alone, but for the entire church.
“Let us also not disturb the courts as christians,” he said.
All Nations Church leader Archbishop Bheki Lukhele said as the archbishop was being ordained with new qualifications, they appreciated the school that saw Hlatjwako fit for the qualifications.
He congratulated the League of African Churches and noted that since he became the president, many churches now affiliate under the league.
He said this was a sign of the humility that the pastor displayed.
“I hope that there will be more following in his steps,” he emphasised.
