I like watching the making of movies, I am the one person who will watch the “how the movie was produced, directed etc” program before I watch the actual movie, why you may ask? Well, I like to see the creative geniuses, the thought process….if there’s anything new; after watching how the Matrix(Trilogy) were made I can comfortably say nowadays there’s nothing new. I apply the same principle when something perplexing happens in this world, no shock that when this Bobi Wine(#freebobiwine) and Arua 33 saga happened I was confused, I thought it was a movie. Some of the scenes and pictures that were being shared on Social media were so grotesque, I felt hopeless. How did we get here? The Pearl of Africa…..what is this? I turned to God, I was lost I needed a compass; since His word says that there’s nothing New on this earth I looked at books of people who went through such vile human rights violations and yet these same people were the “chosen” of God. It wasn’t adding up. Then I landed on a small book called Jude. Most people don’t even know this book exists, I doubt many people have read it. It’s only one Chapter, but boy oh boy, what a Chapter!!
I have had many discussions about the inhumane treatment of the #Arua33, people asking “where is the church?” “Why is the Church silent?” “What does the Church have to say about this?” The responses to most of these tweets or Face book posts are nothing more than ignorant runts. WE ARE THE CHURCH!!! Not, the Church Council or Church of Uganda….Church isn’t a building, it is the people in the building, so I must ask “WHAT ARE WE BELIEVERS DOING ABOUT THIS?” Now Jude starts this book by stating how he was to write to this particular church about Salvation but he instead wrote to them to keep the faith which was once delivered to them “THE SAINTS” This book reads like a letter that a parent would write to a child as they head out to University, you are old enough to know a couple of family secrets but still need guidance on conduct out in the university.
Jude mentions certain men who have crept into the church, these men inhabit the characters of three men in the Bible; the way of Cain(jealous of his brother and became angry with God( Am I my brother’s keeper?), the error of Balaam( paid to give wrong prophecies over Israel) and the Rebellion of Korah.(Didn’t believe in God’s choice of leadership)
CAIN- ANGER (JEALOUSY)
BALAAM- AVARICE
KORAH- AMBITION
What we see as a commonality amongst these men is that their creed (beliefs/principles) were corrupted which in turn corrupted their conduct, when your conduct is corrupt , your character is corrupted as well because your character is a result of your conduct. The interesting thing about all these men is that once their character was corrupted, their conversation was corrupt (Luke 6:45; A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.) These same men are grumblers and faultfinders, dreamers building a fantasy after their own likeness yet they defile the flesh, reject Authority and speak evil of the saints. They are boasters and flatters; flattery is the counterfeit of HONOR. Flattery is saying something positive and expecting to get the same thing back: it is for my sake. Well as Honor is saying something nice to you and not needing it in return (It’s for your sake)
HOW DO WE AS SAINTS DEAL WITHTHIS?
For one we shouldn’t be surprised when it happens. As Saints we are called to a higher standard because the Gospel needs to be illustrated through us. As Bill Johnson says,” WE ARE NOT RELEVEANT WHEN WE MIRROR THE WORLD AROUND US, WE ARE RELEVEANT WHEN WE MODEL WHAT THEY LONG TO BECOME” Jude mentions the Arch Angel Michael and the devil fighting over Moses’ body (Yes, Moses died alone nanti he didn’t cross into the Promised Land), so did he bury himself? Apparently not! Arch Angel Michael buried him. Anyway Angel Michael goes to bury Moses and finds the devil like ngaha, this one is mine; he murdered an Egyptian he is mine. Do you know what Arch Angel Michael does? Please note Arch Angel Michael is like the General of Generals of The angels, He could have just rebuked the devil himself….nope! He simply says, “The Lord rebuke you!” This here was an eye opener; don’t try to level with the devil with a blasphemous curse why? The devil will beat you, guy has years upon years of experience; let God take care of him.
What does the Gospel say then?
- Build yourself up in faith, love and hope.Jude 20-21 “But you, Beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most Holy Faith (continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit.21and keep yourselves in the love of God waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.
- Build others (fallen Saints, those who have lost faith)-Save them from MENTAL DOUBT, MORTAL DANGER & MORAL DEFILEMENT. Jude 22 “Save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear(mercy on the sinner not the sin),loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom”
The one promise that is in this Chapter is that God keeps us but we should also keep ourselves in Him, Jude24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant Joy and unspeakable delight.”
To mirror the world defeats the purpose for which we were born again, faith and love must be at the centre of ALL SAINTS! Whether we are being persecuted or praising God in church (the building). He is LORD of all. I have been a very disgruntled human being ever since this #arua33 started, questions upon questions filled my mind (grumbling and faultfinding had become me), I slowly realized that with all the anger I had I was slowly becoming the thing I hated. We can’t be like them, these men who have sneaked into our freedom, God given freedom which doesn’t mix with sin. This Freedom for us SAINTS to do what is right not what we want. To be tolerant of other peoples’ ideas & opinions, to forgive those who offend us, to pray for those who offended us but more so to show kindness to those who have fallen(lost faith) to visit the victims’ families, have drives to collect food, clothes, money to help those families whose people are still in prison and even as we as SAINTS pray in the Holy Spirit be obedient to what God is trying to partner with us to do at this critical time in our Uganda, THE PEARL OF AFRICA.
I want my daughter to see a Uganda where;
A President can peacefully hand over powers to the new elect president at Kololo Airstrip, no tear gas, no tankers, no army men guarding the venue but multitudes of Ugandans in dance and song rejoicing and jubilating because for once their vote counted!
A Politician who serves the people he has been chosen to represent actually doing his job, holding under the mango tree meetings and not looking for bullet proof cars and vests to protect themselves from their voters because they have passed a bill that pushes their people into deeper poverty.
A Church Council (well represented) with members not afraid to keep the Government in check; keeping the original Gospel and stop trying to modify it to fit the “now” generations or Government.
A people who are not afraid to voice their opinions, which can proudly stand for what they believe in also have the discernment to accept correction when they have gone astray. To be tolerant of one another’s view.
An Army that actually protects its Citizens and Government from external threats not a personal army for the highest bidder, a Police force that surely Serves and protects the Ugandans, working hand in hand with its Citizens.
A Judicial and legislative system that actually purposes to up hold the constitution (Law) without fear or favor.
“The Chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell” – William Booth(Founder of Salvation Army)
