As calls for the regulation of churches intensify, Members of Parliament (MPs) have urged government to keep its hands off the church.
This came during the debate of the Prime Minister’s Office second-quarter performance report yesterday. The debate followed reports that government was considering regulating churches due to, among other reasons, the ongoing disputes within some religious institutions.
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A meeting scheduled by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address these issues with various religious denominations was reportedly postponed.
Mbabane East MP Welcome Dlamini said churches were capable of regulating themselves and that the Bible was clear on how internal matters should be handled. While acknowledging existing challenges, he argued that government intervention would undermine the spiritual autonomy of the church.
“Spiritual issues should be treated spiritually. Daniel refused to worship idols, and if we allow government interference, we will stop going to church. Do not regulate the church. Yekelani tintfo takaNkulunkulu tibe takaNkulunkulu, ninake tasemhlabeni (Let the things of God remain God’s, and focus on earthly matters),” he said.
Dlamini reminded the House that the Prime Minister had previously suggested regulating churches during the ordination of Professor Archbishop Samson Hlatjwako.
He questioned whether government had the moral or legal authority to regulate the church, noting that the Bible already defines the distinct roles of the church and the State.
“The church is responsible for spiritual matters. Why then is government getting involved? In government there are people who are non-believers and that is a fact. Why should non-believers regulate matters of the church? What exactly are we trying to do?” he said.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo, who is also a pastor, said he would be failing the church if he remained silent while others debated regulating religious institutions.
He stressed that faith is not exclusive to Christianity, noting that even non-believers often express forms of faith or spiritual belief.
Nxumalo questioned what exactly government intended to regulate and by what mechanism.
“Faith is not limited to those in the church. If you want to regulate, then arrest anyone involved in criminal activities, but do not focus only on Christians when religion itself is so broad,” Nxumalo said.
Meanwhile, during the Ministry of Home Affairs’ second-quarter performance debate, Chief Ngalonkhulu Mabuza, who chairs the portfolio committee, urged the ministry to engage the three mother bodies in the country to address the ongoing commotions within churches.
“God will punish us for what is happening in the churches. This is out of order; we cannot brandish bushknives at each other in the house of God,” he said.
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