Pr Solomon Male responds to Presiding Apostle Serwadda on Bishop Kiganda divorce & remarriage

      ARCH   P. O Box 11902, Kampala Uganda. Tel 256-772-479386 msmalearch@gmail.com       

Office: suite 309 Span House, Plot 1 Portal Avenue near Workers House, Kampala

Commissioned to equip God’s people for Freedom: come, we can accomplish this call together

24^th May 2013

Presiding Apostle Dr Joseph Serwadda,

BAFFU

Dear Presiding Apostle Dr Serwadda,

Ref: Teaching that Matthew 19.9 permits divorce & remarriage for adultery is peddling lies

Thanks for your response to my letter to Bishop David Kiganda (copied to among others you) in respect of the subject, wherein your raised a number of issues and questions reminiscent of you getting it all wrong as usual, prompting me to respond to you on its material content as follows:

1.       On Bishop David Kiganda being your spiritual son

There is no doubt that you led Bishop David Kiganda to Christ and therefore spiritually fathered him. I hope you are aware that a child remains a child as long as a parent lives, even when he / she matures, becomes independent or even more important than the parent. That being the case then, being his spiritual father required you to oversee his spiritual direction.

2.      On your assertion ‘It seems he divorced Hadija on the advice of his new leaders. I stand to be corrected.’

It is unfortunate that you can even imagine so. Why not investigate to ascertain yet you have capacity to do so! It is important to understand that many times, parents fail to guide their children because of lack of moral authority to do so. I feel that rather than influence of ‘his new leaders’ as you assert, it your own marital background and indulgence in various issues like Imelda Namutebi’s snatching of Safina’s husband, Kula; Pr Stephen Ssozi’s remarriage; Pr Patrick Makumbi’s adultery; and sodomy accusations against Pastors Grace Kitaka, Isaac Kyobe Kiweweesi, Handle Lesley and Robert Kayanja among other church leadership scandals which diminished your moral authority to scripturally / theologically direct him.

3.      On your role in David’s divorce and remarriage

It is surprising that you were aware of David’s intentions to remarry, reached a clear agreement with him on how your involvement would be achieved and that not only had David excitedly started on the process, but given you Hadija's contact numbers and made specific appointments for the initial meetings you demanded, and accorded you opportunities to meet Cindy, Hadija and the children and compile a report which you have never released.

If true, you were ‘waiting to meet the Focus Church ministers and elders and everything was going according to plan, when suddenly’ you ‘were interrupted by the decision of a fellow minister Mr Mpawulo’ working on or not on his boss David’s orders, as a leader, you should have given the Biblical stand and guided all others whether or not the divorce and remarriage was Biblically in order. The matter didn’t require playing safe: it simply required taking a firm Biblical stand and, you chose to do the former.

There is no evidence that beside you taking pride in what you had done, you made any public statement indicating that David was Biblically out of order to remarry.

The processes you talk of can in no way replace Biblical direction unless you are using a different Bible.

Pr Stephen Senfuma and I featured so clearly even in Saturday Vision Intimate Magazine of 2 March 2013 opposing the remarriage. I am on record saying that any pastor who wants to divorce and remarry should convert to Islam because unlike the Bible, the Quran permits Muslims to do so. You talked of processes and a report. Should I say you ignorantly did so or deliberately did so?

When you say, ‘As far as I am concerned, that process was ONLY halted (cut short) and can be revived and at that stage, after the whole full 39 yards are covered, will I be able to ADVISE;’ I wonder if you have hope that someday the conditions you laid down will ever be met when Biblical principles can be contravened with impunity!!

4.      On your statement: ‘My contribution and assignment, as I understood, was NOT to return Nassejje to David's life, NOR was it to hinder David from pursuing a new relation, it was TO CAUSE ORDER in a disturbed environment and bring peace to murky atmosphere.’

Thanks for your admission in this statement, if I have understood you correctly, that come what may, David’s intention of notifying you about his divorce and remarriage was not for you to oppose his decision, but to endorse and give it credence even if it breached Biblical principles.

Sadly, in your e-mail response of Sat, 16 Feb 2013 18:14:57 – 0800 to his dated Feb 15, 2013, at 1:42 PM, instead of invoking the Biblical stand on divorce and remarriage, like the Pope who can make dispensations, you gave conditions which had to be met. Have you assumed powers of a pope!!

I wonder whether you really expected David to follow your conditions which had no scriptural backing to compel him back on track, when he had Matthew 19.9 interpreted to suit his interests and was in the media pushing his agenda. Even if he has a different leader, as Presiding Apostle, unless the title is just for a show, you should have given the scriptural stand on his decisions for the believers to know that what he was doing was in error.

5.      On ‘You will notice that many old friends were and still are totally silent on the matter. Don't you wonder why some people, especially leaders, were AWOL at the wedding?’

To me, Christian leadership silence and / or AWOL with silence amounts to connivance. Being AWOL at the wedding when totally silent as Biblical Principles on marriage were being breached with all impunity amounted to connivance to let the errors pass as truths. It is similar to the action of the UN Blue Helmets peace keepers who turned their backs against the road to Beirut and pointed guns down as heavily armed Israel Defense Forces passed to attack the Palestine Liberation Army bases in Lebanon which culminated into driving PLO out of Lebanon.

It is also similar to the UN troops’ stance in Rwanda which culminated into the 1994 genocide.

I hope, as Presiding Apostle who needs to be foresighted, you understand how Bishop Kiganda’s gross misinterpretation of Matthew 19.9 and subsequent pompous remarriage launched an assault on Christian marriage in the country. Many are going to invoke his remarriage as a precedent.

6.      When you say, ‘I have reason to believe that had we gone through the process, we would possibly, have seen an endorsement on the new relation. Amazingly, it seems no amount of water washes, nor blanket effectively covers a LEADERSHIP ERROR, mine or anybody else's; otherwise, Paul's charges to Timothy and Titus would be in vain.’

To me, this means that your interest was not in David Kiganda’s obedience to the scriptures, but in making you important by handling matters your way, not any other person’s way.

You were about building a consensus which would make you more important than all others! Your absence (AWOL) at his wedding was therefore not about differences on Biblical interpretation on divorce and remarriage, but about not being made more important over all others: sad.

7.      When you say, ‘But that is history and David HAD seemed to have gone through it without much ado, when you resurrected the issue with a new twist, you are actually saying David broke the scriptures! Wrestling the Scriptures is a cultic tendency and borders on FALSEHOOD and sin! You are accusing David of being in SCRIPTURAL error!’

To each of the above assertions I emphatically say with all certainty unless proven wrong, YES.

If you don’t see what he did in the same perspective, I pray you revisit the scriptures: you could be having a problem.

8.      On your first set of questions, ‘You say David did was wrong and turn around to congratulate him on finding the love of his life! What are saying? Bitter and sweet waters coming from the same spring!’

True David is scripturally in the wrong and I can’t mince words.

I congratulate him because he got his heart’s desire and if you can tune his radio programs, he is now following your example (like father, like son) and can hardly conclude a program without talking about his new found love and queen, Cindy, just like you can hardly conclude a preaching without mentioning your love, Freda Serwadda.

Bishop David is not my enemy and I wrote to him as a brother in Christ and friend unless he denies this, to let him know that though he had his way, and as you also clearly said, your role ‘was NOT to return Nassejje to David's life, NOR was it to hinder David from pursuing a new relation, it was TO CAUSE ORDER in a disturbed environment and bring peace to murky atmosphere,’ none could stop him, he still had to know that he is Biblically in error.

Do I really have to labor to explain that bitter and sweet can come from the same spring? If a child gets pregnant in pre-marital sex and delivers, though she has done wrong, prudence dictates that you congratulate her upon delivery of the new born then proceed to rebuke / counsel like I have done. If you don’t, then you prove to be irrational.

9.      On your second set of questions, ‘Because I am amazed that you are making comments on an affair that has been closed, I dare now ask: What is your objective? What would you gain if David woke up one morning and said: I am sorry. I misinterpreted Matthew 19:19 and other portions of Holy Scripture? What would that benefit him, his former wife, his new love and the rest of the family? Help David see how this corrects the impression that those like you have!

Ø  To you and those like you, the affair was closed, but to Christians like me, it has wide and lasting implications on Christian marriage especially in Uganda. It is not as easy as you think Doctor and Presiding Apostle and I wonder how a leader of your caliber can dare insensitively say it was closed.

Ø  It is not my personal objective, it is the divine objective supported by Jeremiah 8.4-13 and Apostle Paul’s life which was never ashamed of publically admitting the wrongs he had done. It also conforms to King David’s open repentance as a lesson never to justify ourselves when in the wrong, evident in 2 Samuel 11 & 12, and his inspirational composition of Psalm 51. It was entrusted to me just like the divine entrusted you to pray for those who want to prosper every Wednesday early morning at Victory Church Ndeeba, unless it was your own concoction.

Ø  If Bishop David Kiganda woke up one morning and said: I am sorry. I misinterpreted Matthew 19.9 and other portions of scripture; it would definitely not be in vain: he will gain just, and the entire Body of Christ to which, unless I am mistaken, you still belong, will gain; and to God definitely will return the glory. It would also contribute to marriage stability unless marriage stability is none of your priorities. I hope you remember Jesus’ great teaching on repentance and its benefits in Luke 15. Even the Prodigal son story context.

Ø  With you, an Apostle, pastor, Dr and leader of the Born Again Faith Federation (BAFFE) religion, and David Kiganda a Bishop, I don’t think I need to labor educating any of you about the benefits of open confession for David because they are obvious for the truly Spiritually filled and guided:

§  Foremost, two of the greatest Biblical inspirers; King David and Apostle Paul are well known for open confessions of their wrongs.

§  Secondly, the East African Revival impacted society because of open confessions.

§  Thirdly, a true Mulokole / Savedee can’t fear public confession. It wins for us trust.

§  Fourth, I hope you realize that David erred. I have done my part and insist from the deepest of my conscience that Biblically, he is in error.

Prove me wrong if you can. If you really love him you would be adding your voice to mine to enable him see things in their true perspective and repent, not to write asking such questions which do not help him at all. In-fact, such questions portray you as a strengthener for people in error. You should have better written to David and asked for his opinion about my letter to him.

You should be aware that he continues to roar on his radio, 93 Kingdom FM, justifying his remarriage and attacking those who opposed it; and in the morning show of Sunday 19 May 2013, I personally heard him denouncing me and praising Pr Robert Kayanja (against whom sodomy and sexual abuse accusations still live despite his use of the Police, DPP and judiciary to torment us and cover himself, 2009 – 2012) for his statement during the funeral of Bishop Michael Mugerwa to the effect that: It takes God more than 30 years to train a greatly anointed leader, whom people can listen to; and that He (God) just can’t shelve him even when he goes wrong.

He also used the analogy of Peter who returned to fishing immediately Christ Jesus was crucified, but was reused after the resurrection; and that it was wrong for the deceased (Mugerwa) to travel in a cheap car which couldn’t protect him during the fatal accident; and that great anointing needs protection!

I wonder what you think about God’s anointed trusting selves, fellow men and great man-made fortifications for personal protection yet Psalm 127.1 says, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

Compare it with Psalm 20.7-8, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”

As a Biblical scholar, Doctor, don’t you think such errors by would-be icons of Christianity are destroying the core and fiber of Christianity? Should we just keep quiet as leaders perpetually degenerate and peddle lies!!

Finally on this, Bishop David Kiganda understands English and has discernment. There is no reason why he cannot read behind the lines. Since my letter is addressed to him, not to you, let him personally require me to show him more benefits if he is interested.

10.   On your question, ‘Why didn't you say the same to your colleague, Pastor Michael Kyazze?’

My brother, I know the difference between Pr Michael Kyazze and Bishop David Kiganda. A function was held at Omega Healing Center, fine. I hope you understand that when God charged you to start the Wednesday early morning prosperity services at Victory Church Ndeeba or the lucrative Namboole Passover which you intensely advertize, He never told you to start them at Nateete play ground, Nakivubo stadium, Namirembe Christian Fellowship or your good friend Pr Robert Kayanja’s Miracle Center Cathedral. The call was specific: to start one at Victory Church Ndeeba and the lucrative Passover at Namboole.

I hope you are well aware of 2 Samuel 11 & 12 that after King David had plotted and used his Commander Joab to have Uriah Killed on the battlefield, Prophet Nathan was sent to rebuke the mastermind, King David, not Joab the lead executor. I hope you are aware that being intent on killing Uriah, had Joab declined, probably David would have plotted his death too and killed both.

In the case instant, even if Pr Kyazze had excluded himself, it would have been of no consequence because Bishop David Kiganda’s remarriage took place in Zimbabwe, far beyond his jurisdiction. In Uganda and at Omega Healing Center in particular, it was just part of the festivities and pomp: David had already breached the scriptures and remarried. 

11.    On your statement: ‘You would have done better saying what you are saying now much before so that others consider your point of view.’

I hope you believe Ecclesiastes 3.1 – 8; “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

There is no way I could have said what I am saying before its time. But even before, as I said earlier on, I at least opened my mouth and spoke and I am on record in several media and in particular, Saturday Vision Intimate Magazine of 2^nd March 2013 (where Bishop Kiganda also featured defending his divorce and remarriage), saying, though edited, ‘To all pastors who want to follow Pastor Kiganda’s ways, they should convert to Islam where divorce and remarriage are accepted.’

But even then, Bukedde of 26 February 2013, page 2, quotes me Biblically citing the error and advising pastors who want to remarry to convert to Islam. I am certain many people must have read and understood my stand.

The reason I never came up with such a statement before is that I was never part of the mailing list and until I received the discussions from ten of the people on your mailing list who were so concerned that a bad precedent was come, I couldn’t make any move. I also had to get copies of the duly signed Christianity Focus Centre and NFBAPC letters to Apostle Alex Mitala in support of the remarriage. When I received them, I had to pray for guidance and the Lord inspired me to write whatever I wrote. Anyone is free to disregard it.

On your part, Bukedde of 26 February 2013 says about you, ‘Ye omusumba Joseph Serwadda akulira BAF Uganda naye yawandiise ng’agamba nti ensonga eno yeetaaga okusooka okwetegereza ennyo, wabula yagaanye okulaga w’asibidde.’ In simple English translation, ‘Pr Joseph Serwadda, leader of BAF also wrote saying that this matter needs careful scrutiny, but declined to specify his stand.’

Was that not cowardice. How could you have failed to direct the matter Biblically at such a time of need? Why bury your head in the sand as things go wrong? Is that not treachery?

Finally on this point, you don’t just wake up and write something that must make sense to others: you need to contemplate. It is sad you don’t understand this principle.

My point is very clear: the divorce and remarriage are both in error. You should have helped Bishop Kiganda to understand this rather than ask such useless questions or try to muzzle me.

You should have also disproved my Biblical interpretation, not merely argue about the timing of the letter. We cannot afford to have errors taken as the truths. If we do, they become precedents for others to error. I hope you understand this Presiding Apostle. If you don’t, your apostolic office should at least help you to. Put heads together with all other Apostles and Archbishops, Bishops, etc and see if you can over-rule my interpretation of Matthew 19.9 in its true context. That is the substance of the matter; not the timing of the document.

12.   On your question, ‘Why didn't you advise the team that flew to Harare and stopped them from breaking scripture?’

I believe my answer in 11 above suffices.

If it doesn’t suffice, can you answer why Prophet Nathan never advised Joab against executing King David’s order contained in the letter delivered by Uriah?

Can you also answer why Prophet Nathan never advised Uriah not to deliver the written order to Joab, or to open and read its contents before delivering it?  

13.   On your assertion, ‘Sorry mate, you come late! The deed was done. The heroes and villains of the case in issue have already been named. Your scriptural expose' has been overtaken by events. Olwatta omwaami nnalumanya, tamalaako muyiiro! (Literally, when you fail to warn, don't comment).’

Doctor, I think you are not only greatly mistaken, you have missed the point. You forget the adage, ‘It is never too late to learn’ and, ‘Better late than never.’ You also forget the Biblical principle of God’s timing embedded in Ecclesiastes 3.1-8. If you haven’t learnt anything from the scriptural expose, that is very unfortunate for you.

You need to understand that the scriptural expose is not for history or Bishop David Kiganda alone; it is for the future direction of Christian marriages which many pastors are no longer much bothered about because of crave for power, pomp, popularity, possessions and privileges. Therefore, despite the events, the expose remains valid for all the married and those intending to get married till the end shall come or till scripture shall cease to be valid (if that can happen since mine is just an interpretation of scripture), and you better teach so.

If true as you assert that because of events, it is late and no longer valid, then even the Bible which we cite is no longer valid!! I hope, being a Biblical scholar at a Doctorate level, you are aware that all the contexts in which every bit of it was written are long gone and just part of history. Even the kraal where the Savior was born is no more. The Pharisees and Scribes Jesus condemned in Matthew 23 are long dead. Theophilus for whom Dr Luke wrote the Gospel according to Luke and Acts of the Apostles is no more. The Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus and Philemon to whom Paul wrote epistles are no more. But isn’t what was written still valid? You must be blinded to ignore the facts.

In 2 Samuel 12, Prophet Nathan would have just kept quiet, after-all, Uriah had already been killed and his message to David would not restore his (Uriah’s) life. But his action ignited David’s remorse and repentance culminating into Psalm 51, a masterpiece of repentance; and gives us direction in respect of snatching people’s spouses. We not only know how perilous it is, but how God hates it.

Furthermore, in 1 Samuel 15, when King Saul disobeyed God’s instructions to utterly destroy the Amalekites and their wealth, Prophet Samuel went and rebuked him. Are you going to ask why God had to wait till Saul had disobeyed to send Prophet Samuel to rebuke him? Would the rebuke undo the damage of disobedience? I suggest, let that be your food for thought in the case instant.

In fact, to the wise and Godly, my letter to Bishop Kiganda makes sense; to fools and hypocrites, it makes no sense just as Salvation makes no sense to them. Discern and choose where to belong.    

Finally, Doctor, your Apostleship should have enabled you to discern that I am not craving for heroism because as a matter of Christian principle, in every situation for every Christian, Biblical Scriptural authority must prevail. It cannot be replaced by mere spiritual inspirations no matter how powerful the anointed may be. I hope you are aware that when any inspiration contradicts scripture, scripture must prevail just as the constitution prevails when any law contradicts any of its clauses.

I hope when you write again, you will labor to disprove or educate me scripturally rather than wholly using your own Doctoral wisdom.

Again, thanks for your letter which has created for me this precious opportunity to clarify.

Peace and blessings.

Humbly yours in defense of true Biblical principles,

Moses Solomon Male

ARISING FOR CHRIST

Bishop David Kiganda Divorce & Remarriage are in breach of Matthew 19.9 and in error

      ARCH   P. O Box 11902, Kampala Uganda. Tel 256-772-479386 msmalearch@gmail.com       

Office: suite 309 Span House, Plot 1 Portal Avenue near Workers House, Kampala

Commissioned to equip God’s people for Freedom: come, we can accomplish this call together

 

4/May/2013

Bishop David Kiganda,

Christianity Focus Center

 

Dear Bishop Kiganda,

 

Ref: Teaching that Matthew 19.9 permits divorce & remarriage for adultery is peddling lies

 

In defense of Biblical principles, my most heartfelt greetings to you in the wonderful name of Christ Jesus and thank you for whatever you are doing for the sake of mankind and to God’s glory. I also congratulate you for having got the wife of your choice and heart in the person of Cindy. Praise God.

 

I refer to your erroneous teaching that Matthew 19.9 permits divorce and remarriage in cases of adultery, the irreversible divorce and subsequent remarriage which have caused not only uncertainty in Christian marriage, but discredited the ability of Church leadership to handle marital problems. It comes when the church is among others already plagued by dwindling faith (nominalism); scriptural, spiritual and physical manipulation; fraud, sexual abuses, homosexuality, pedophilia and indulgence in the occult which have not only hurt but disillusioned many once faithful and left others wondering which way Christianity is headed.

 

It also comes when feminist and homosexual movements are gaining ground in marriage destruction.

 

You are well aware how your remarriage has taken centre stage, shifted focus off the graver pedophilia and homosexuality in the Church in which Born Again pastors like Robert Kayanja, Handel Leslie, Isaac Kyobe Kiweweesi and Grace Kitaka; Catholic Priest Fr Anthony Musaala and Br Robert Mukasa; football guru Chris Mubiru and other prominent people have been implicated by streams of youthful victims though covered up by fellow clerics and people in systems like the Police, DPP and Judiciary.

 

It is even surprising that pastors whose lips were tight during the pastors Kitaka, Leslie, Kiweweesi and Robert Kayanja pedophilia and sodomy sagas and those involved in covering them up and misleading Christians and the entire public that it is rivalry between me, Pr Sempa, Pr Kyazze, Pr Kaira, Sr Deborah and victim David on one side and Pr Robert Kayanja and his bunch on the other without regard for victims whose hearts still bleed, could have the audacity to scribble and circulate emails for or against your new love.

 

I hope you are aware that I am not among those who wished you to be ‘suffocated’ in marriage, fail in your new found love or leadership; I write from deep my conscience, compelled by the Holy Spirit to correct an error peddled as truth and cause for skepticism, even by Christians, about Christian marriage, for the good of the marriage and family institutions in the entire body of Christ.

 

This letter is not intended to force you out of your new marriage, but to let you know that you are in error and that it is you, not your congregants, pastors or leaders of the National Fellowship of Born Again Pentecostal Churches in support of your errors, responsible for your marital decisions and consequences.

 

Being married for 24 years (since 1/4/1989) and for over 15 years involved in marital counseling, I understand your pain and reason to divorce and remarry; but you need to understand that even a chapatti baker is a man; the Bible permits divorce not to the obedient Jesus’ followers (Christians) but to the hard hearted Pharisees and for fornication not adultery; the Bible mandates forgiveness and reconciliation; and, it was wrong to petition, debate and cast lots in regard to your remarriage:

 

1.       Even a chapatti baker is a man

 

My brother, the man with whom your wife is supposed to have committed adultery was a chapatti baker and seller and Daily Monitor of Tuesday Oct 3 2006 (copy attached) quoted you as follows: ‘I would have thought twice if she had committed adultery with tycoons in Kampala but not a chapatti baker. I would have appreciated that may be she was tempted by money. I have been greatly humiliated.’

 

If I am not mistaken, what hurt you and stopped you from reconciling with Hadijah is the chapatti baker vocation. Your statement seems to license whoever wants to commit adultery to do so with city tycoons!

 

You forget that even a chapatti baker is a man and can be more precious to a woman than a city tycoon who doesn’t sexually satisfy her! And consummation is not about occupations, earthly possessions or qualifications however great they may be; it is about ability to function and deliver sexual satisfaction to your spouse. Otherwise, sexually starved women whose spouses have powerful credentials wouldn’t turn to the no-bodies, ie: house / shamba boys, drivers, petty traders, etc, for sexual intercourse. Therefore, chapatti baker or city tycoon shouldn’t be the issue because the man you suppose to have committed adultery with your wife was a substantive man though belonging to the low class to which most Christians even in your church belong and to which, unless you forget too soon, you once belonged.

 

Such a statement attributed to you indicates that you may not be aware what really compelled your wife into an extra-marital affair, which, if not sorted can also compel your bride to follow suit.

 

Therefore, do not be blinded or misled by the social class to which you now belong and the wealth you have accumulated to think that chapatti bakers are inferior men because social class differences may not be constant. A tycoon today may be impoverished tomorrow while a poor one gets enriched. Besides, most tycoons you may be comfortable with having sex with your wife started worse off than the chapatti baker.

 

2.      The Bible permits divorce not to the obedient Jesus’ followers (Christians) but to the hard hearted Pharisees and for fornication not adultery (Mat 19.3-9):

 

I know how much you have fervently struggled to faithfully serve God and how I wish the Bible permitted divorce and remarriage.

 

There is no doubt that to justify your divorce and remarriage, you have not only cited, Matthew 19.9, ‘And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery;’ but used the media to promote a false Biblical interpretation. Though many pastors and followers backed your endeavor, numbers don’t mean they are right or they totally agree with your erroneous interpretations.

 

Matthew 19.3-9 says: ‘The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.’ KJV

 

Apparently when tempted by Pharisees whether it was right to divorce, Christ Jesus responded, ‘Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.’ Matthew 19.4-6.

 

When asked why if such was the case, Prophet Moses had permitted divorce, He said, ‘Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.’

 

Some Bible versions use the term sexual immorality instead of fornication.

 

Since Jesus permitted them divorce in cases of fornication, not adultery, there is need to understand the difference between fornication and adultery. According to various dictionaries, whereas fornication means sex by an unmarried person with someone else (having pre-marital sex); adultery means sex between a married person and someone who is not his / her spouse (having extra-marital sex). This means that a married person cannot fornicate and an unmarried person cannot commit adultery.

 

Sexual immorality is defined as not following acceptable standards of sexual behavior; notably, indulging in pre-marital sex, prostitution, etc. Fornication is a sexual immorality because a person is not expected to have sex when not married.

 

Jewish culture treasured chastity. A woman had to prove a virgin on her first consummation in marriage. Husbands would feel cheated and shamed to marry a woman whose virginity was no more. Remember Joseph, suspecting his wife Mary of fornication because of the pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, planned to quietly leave her when an angel appeared to him in a dream and urged him not to do so (Matthew 1.18-25).

 

I am sure Jesus permitted divorce for fornication to deal with the disillusionment of men who expected to have virgins on their wedding days and to ensure that young women minded about chastity. You missed this provision the day you decided to continue having sexual intercourse with Hadijah after knowing that she was not a virgin on your first sexual encounter with her. At the time, none of you was a Savedee. After cohabiting with her for quite long, you both surrendered your lives to Christ Jesus and proceeded to get married.

 

If I can read Jesus’ mind basing on his teaching about forgiveness in Matthew 18, many temptations and hurts come to the married which, without forgiveness, may prompt marital breakage. If divorce were to be encouraged in all, there would be no marriage. Hence, He permitted divorce only in cases of fornication but which also ceases to have effect on marriage when you choose to continue in marriage with a non-virgin.

 

But even if it was adultery against which Jesus permitted divorce, the argument that He permitted his obedient disciples to divorce is greatly farfetched. It is clear that it is not the converted (disciples, followers or believers in his ministry) who asked him about divorce; it is the hard-hearted Pharisees who never believed him and whose aim of asking was hypocritical, just to find ground to accuse and eliminate him. At the time, wives would be divorced even on very minor issues like when men got younger ones and they (wives) questioned. As a social justice activist seeing that he couldn’t change them, he told them that the only reason for which they (Pharisees, not his disciples) could divorce was fornication, just to save women from being treated like movable properties that can be easily discarded on depreciation. 

 

His response is similar to what you would give to a group of adulterous unbelievers procuring sex services of prostitutes and indulging in reckless sex orgies who are not ready to be faithful to their spouses who come in and ask whether it is right to use condoms in marital sexual intercourse. I doubt, given such a context, you would tell them it is wrong to do so, bearing in mind HIV / AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In my opinion, because you can’t compel them to change and be faithful, prudence dictates that you would not only permit, but urge them to use condoms whenever they go for extra-marital sex to minimize risks of indulgence. You would not only be foolish but insensitive not to permit them to use condoms.

Would that mean that you have okayed those faithfully married to use condoms during sexual intercourse? I believe not because condom use is one of the veneers that prevents full enjoyment of marital sex and is responsible for many men and women seeking live sex outside marriage with terrible consequences.

 

Seeing the way you fervently hinge on Matthew 19.9, interpreting it out of context, deliberately or ignorantly ignoring the fact that at the time of that question, Christ Jesus had just finished teaching about forgiveness and reconciliation in Matthew 18.21-35, had that verse not existed, you would have gone out of the New Testament straight to Mosaic Law, Deuteronomy 24.1-4 to justify your action. With or without Biblical citations, your heart was determined not to reconcile with Hadijah in the very manner the Pharisees were bent on divorce and could in no way tolerate anyone teaching contrary to their hearts desires. 

 

Therefore, justifying divorce and remarriage using Matthew 19.9 makes you no different from the Pharisees who asked not because they wanted to learn, but because they wanted Jesus to condone their actions and if he didn’t, then they would accuse him of teaching against their interests.

 

Your action manifests hard-heartedness, deliberate gospel error peddling and attempt to redefine Christian marriage common in church leadership circles today. This quote from your e-mail to Apostle Alex Mitala dated 15/2/2013 says it all: ‘About My Former Marriage Status: I would love to officially re-inform the Fellowship that, due to well-planned and continuous acts of adultery and witchcraft that transpired in my marriage up to 2006, I made up my mind to put away and later divorce my ex-wife (Ms Hadijah Nassejje) through the High Court of Uganda, which matter I undertook last year, after seeing no room for reconciliation. My divorce certificates are hereby attached.’

 

You decided to divorce and remarry, then deliberately sought Biblical verses that could support you without due regard for its implication on the Christian marriage institution in Uganda.

 

I wonder if you have never breached Jesus’ teaching on adultery in Matthew 5.17-18: ‘Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.’

 

3.      The Bible mandates forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

Apparently, it was after her confession and apology during an occasion meant for reconciliation that you announced your irreversible decision never to reconcile with her in the presence of not only church insiders, but the media invited to publicize the event, meaning you had already ruled out reconciliation.

 

In Matthew 6.14-15, 18.21-35, Luke 6.37, 15 all and Mark 11.25-26, Christ Jesus instructs us to forgive; in Matthew 6.12, He makes forgiveness a pre-requisite of effective prayers and in Matthew 5.9, He taught, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.’

 

Forgiveness is best exemplified by reconciliation and re-unions. It is forgiveness that enabled Joseph to reconcile with his brothers and instead of abandoning them in their times of desperate need or punishing them in any way even if they showed no remorse by insisting on lying to him that he (Joseph) had been killed by wild animals (Genesis 42-45), he welcomed them and sought from Pharaoh, for his entire family without any exception, Goshen, a good grazing land in Egypt.

 

Jesus also emphasizes it by the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) where the offended, the father, welcomed the offender, the prodigal son, without any pre-conditions and even made a party for a re-union.

 

For married Christians, no evidence for forgiveness is greater than seeing a couple that had broken apart get together again and consummating their marriage no matter what happened; in many cases when the offending partner has even produced extra-marital children.

 

In 1 Cor 7.10-11, inspired by the Holy Spirit Apostle Paul wrote, ‘And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.’

 

It is clear that the Lord requires reconciliation, not divorce and remarriage no matter what has happened. I wonder if there is any evidence that since your marriage tragedy, Hadijah ever got another man in her life or continued with Mukwasi. If she has none, it indicates remorsefulness and waiting to reconcile on her part.

 

Apostle John Mulinde adhered to the Biblical principle of forgiveness and reconciled to his wife caught in adultery with a salonist. He never demeaned the man. Today, they consummate their marriage.

 

In many homes are non-believing men and women who treasure marital commitment, forgiveness and reconciliation as great virtues for marital stability and continuity, and have forgiven and carried on with their cheating spouses even in situations where children have been produced out of wedlock!!

 

Some of those cheated on are even pastors’ wives who have chosen to endure for the sake of their marriages! Having served in leadership for such a long time, I am sure you should know many couples whose reconciliations you have been involved in unless you don’t handle marriage issues.

 

You accuse your ex-wife Hadijah Nasejje of ‘… well-planned and continuous acts of adultery and witchcraft that transpired in my marriage up to 2006…’ Though I may not be in position to prove that she did or did not do so, I think I may understand if what you accuse her happened, why it happened:

 

If you can well remember, prior to your marriage breakage, you used to feature live on a daily early morning program on Super FM, praying for people and telling them at times to touch their radios for deliverance. And you used to return home very late, let alone the long trips from home and other schedules subjecting your wife to loneliness and vulnerability similar to Eve’s situation in Genesis 3. You owed Hadijah a duty of care sexually, which you failed to honor because of your constant schedules.

 

Your pastors’ petition to Apostle Mitala dated 23^rd Jan 2013, point 4 highlights that your situation has not changed since then when it says: ‘We collectively know that this servant of God has a lot of responsibilities concerning his home, the ministry which he oversees and in the whole body of Christ in the nation and beyond its boarders, which is such a great task for him to accomplish single handedly. We are reliably informed that many times he wakes up in the wee hours of the night to start his daily routine and stay at it until midnight when he retires to his home.’

 

That being the case then, unless you change and know that in all you do marriage must not be neglected and ministry must not be run at the expense of your marriage, what befell Hadijah may befall Cindy, this time with a tycoon in Kampala and I am sure you will be hurt just like you were though you said you wouldn’t have minded if Hadijah, instead of the chapatti baker, had gone for ‘tycoons in Kampala.’

 

On Hadijah’s indulgence in witchcraft: a man of your caliber, cadre and spiritual disposition should not have made it an issue when you have successfully battled witchdoctors and cast demons from parishioners!

 

From the little that I know, for many years Hadijah was one of your devoted pastors till you fell apart. During her marital woes, she could have prayed in vain because ‘God’ is ‘busy with prayers’ by the numerous Born Again pastors praying for visas, riches, healing and other miraculous breakthroughs, signs and wonders; then in despair, turned to ‘witchcraft’ thinking it would salvage her marriage.

 

You know how some pastors indulge in the occult to attract desperate Christians. Synagogue Pr Samuel Kakande, Pr Ssozi Stephen, Pr Lule Godfrey, Pr Yiga (Mbizzaayo), Nabbi Mbuya Talemwa, Pr Imelda Namutebi and others cannot be a surprise to you.

 

I doubt Hadijah would have turned to the occult without despair and it was up to you as a steward to ensure that she didn’t fall to her total destruction. And as a watchman, your obligation would stop at telling her the truth and letting her make decision on her ways as defined in Ezekiel 3.16-21.

 

And even if she didn’t change but continued indulging in the occult, that would not give you ground to make a decision to divorce her. 1 Corinthians 7.12-16 is clear that unbelief is no Biblical ground for separation. Many brethren in church have unbelieving spouses some of whom even operate shrines and / or ferry in occult paraphernalia from near and far into their homes and they endure it all! Does it mean they should quit marriage? I think they are supposed to be vessels of the gospel to their unbelieving spouses and families!

 

My brother, I hope you are acquainted with the fact that Prophet Hosea married a prostitute (Hosea 1) and an adulteress (Hosea 3) and he had to endure the pains. He didn’t divorce.

 

The ‘divorce certificates’ attached to your letter to Apostle Mitala, General Overseer then of NFBAPCU make no sense when you were wedded in church and should have handled your marriage Biblically.

 

You have repeatedly said that you forgave Hadijah long ago. Your actions should have manifested it by reconciling, getting back together and consummating your marriage again because marriage is not a mere friendship; it was meant to be a life-time commitment (Genesis 2.18-24 & Matthew 19.4-6).

 

You need to be aware that your failure to forgive and reconcile not only erodes your moral authority to counsel the married struggling with similar or worse scenarios, but opens a wide door for hurt spouses to quit their marriages. Your case serves as a very good precedent for many Christians who don’t want to listen to sound Christian doctrine compelling them to endure, forgive and reconcile.

 

You have in effect strongly stated that the Bible of the Born Again condones divorce and remarriage, which is a very unfortunate development in light of the fast growing feminist and homosexuality cults in Uganda and other developments whose aim is to undermine stable heterosexual marriages.

 

You prove a liability to the struggling Christian marriage institution in Uganda should you continue in church leadership and it is very unfortunate that many churchmen and women have not only supported your decision, but helped and stood by you in your pompous wedding and there is no expectation that your pastors and parishioners can dare instruct you to step down when they are the ones who ‘pressurized you’ to remarry and had at some point ‘threatened to chase’ you if you didn’t!!!

 

Besides, it is unlikely that anyone can dare force you to step down when known homosexual, pedophile and rapist pastors still stand in church pews and proclaim ‘Gad / God is good’ and none can dare remove them because they have stoutly built and armed men around them and some of the pastors including those who have criticized you evidently shield them; while some of those who would have the moral authority to do so have supported you, probably out of sympathy or compromise, impliedly stating that it is better to have a heterosexual divorced and remarried Bishop than sodomites whose sodomy appetites are insatiable.

 

4.      It was wrong to petition, debate and cast lots in regard to your remarriage:

 

It is understandable when you are fed up with a spouse and want to get another, especially with all the reasons and support you had; it is different when you decide to use other people to condone your decision via petitions, debates and casting lots while claiming that the Bible permits you to remarry. While many of us waited to hear if God’s stand on your divorce and remarriage is different from the Biblical stand, all we got were petitions, debates and lots cast!!

 

It is surprising that after touting marriage for better, for worse till death, you could turn and pick just one verse, Matthew 19.9, interpret it out of its context and peddle false teachings about divorce and remarriage.

 

I feel our principles should be, the Bible says or does not say unless there is a new divine discourse or dispensation, not interpreting scripture to our convenience.

 

Pastoral petitions:

 

I was surprised by the 37 Christianity Focus Centre’s pastoral petition to Apostle Alex Mitala, General Overseer, NFBAPCU through Bishop Tom Okello, Chairman Board of Elders, NFBAPCU and Kampala Regional Executive Committee NFBAPCU appealing to him to permit you to remarry. I wonder how you, a leader and ‘Bishop’ for that matter could turn a Biblical matter into a petition full of human wisdom, yet you knew what you wanted, to marry Cindy, the new found queen of your heart. The arguments for and against that followed before you expressed your mind, tell it all. In fact, it was done the politicians’ way!

 

If the Bible clearly permits divorce and re-marriage; why the petitions? Why seek Apostle Mitala’s consent and BAFFU Presiding Apostle Joseph Serwadda’s backing if you never expected anyone to Biblically rule you out of order!!

 

In the Bible, one of the most prominent divorce cases was that of King Xerxes pressurized by his officials to divorce his wife Vashati over insubordination which culminated into Esther becoming Queen in the land of her captivity, only to be used by God later in the deliverance of her people from extermination. (Esther all).

 

Never did King Xerxes choose to divorce and remarry; but for seven years you had sufficient time to ponder reconciliation to Hadijah and you chose to divorce her and marry Cindy. Since God had a purpose in Esther’s life and there is no way she could have influenced events in the Jews’ times of need without being his wife, we are yet to see what times Cindy has come into your life for.

 

I am very surprised that the Kampala NFBAPCU leadership could rely on Esther 1.16-18 to claim, ‘We would like to take a stand like that of the elders and chiefs of King Xerxes in Esther 1.16-18 in order to eradicate adultery among church leaders’ when facts are different. It is a shame that many churchmen are involved in adultery and cover each other even when their wives report to the NFBAPCU and no action is taken, yet when it comes to voiceless Hadijah, they hypocritically take such a stand! 

 

In your case, despite 7 years of separation and healing which should have been sufficient for any Christian accustomed with Biblical principles of forgiveness and reconciliation to cool, forgive, reconcile and get back on marital course; you engineered a divorce and remarriage because of Cindy, a beauty queen who conquered your heart about 4 years into your separation. You wrote to Apostle Mitala, ‘I wish to inform you that three years ago, I travelled to Zimbabwe and found a woman that I admired to marry and whose bride price I have already paid to officially procure her engagement to me, and now she is awaiting her wedding day.’

 

I wonder, with such a statement, what you expected Apostle Alex Mitala, Dr Joseph Serwadda and others to do if not to rubber stamp your decision even if inconsistent with scripture when already decided to have your way totally different from what you publically used to stand for prior to your 2006 heart-breaks and had already initiated an unstoppable remarriage process in Zimbabwe!! I am therefore not surprised that many friends ignored Biblical teachings to stand by you in pursuit of your heart’s desire.

 

The debate and casting of lots

 

I followed your remarriage debate on e-mail and was surprised by many of the so called men of God and how they deliberately or ignorantly interpret scripture. Since when did marriage become a debatable matter?

 

If true that the Bible permits divorce and remarriage and your decision was consistent with Biblical teachings, why use your pastors to generate a ferocious debate that would have probably turned bloody had both sides of the debate physically encountered in an enclosure to decide the matter?

 

And why did you let the lots cast by your parishioners where those in favor of your divorce and re-marriage scored over 90% and those against proved a negligible minority?

 

It all depicted a gambling lot totally far from true Biblical principles in respect of marriage, just similar to the sailors who cast lots to find out who of the men on the ship was cause for the mighty tempest at sea (Jonah 1) and the lots fell on Jonah; and when the soldiers cast lots to share Jesus’ garments (John 19.23-24). In none of the two gambling circumstances did the people involved know and believe in the Living God.

 

I am inclined to believe that your pastors and parishioners involved in the casting of votes are in faith not much different from the sailors who cast lots to find out Jonah and the soldiers who cast lots to divide Jesus’ garments. It indicates a high degree of paganism. What a pity to have ‘Pagan Born Again Christians!!!!!!!!!’

 

On your interview carried by Intimate Magazine in Saturday Vision of March 2 2013, I say:

 

Ø  Contrary to your claims, your divorce and remarriage will not make wives more honest in marriage because much of the gospel they hear via pulpits and the media is not only corrupted but poisonous too and most of their would be role models and icons of morality are not only rotten in character but manipulate scriptures to suit their interests. You also greatly forget that many pastors are cheating on their faithful wives! Will your remarriage make husbands more honest in marriage too?

 

Ø  It proves you a Bishop who can’t distinguish between fornication and adultery and what Jesus okayed and didn’t okay in Matthew 19.9; or define forgiveness and reconciliation. If you think you do, then it renders you a deliberate peddler of false teaching on marriage, divorce, remarriage, forgiveness and reconciliation. Either way, it is unfortunate that a Bishop of your caliber can make such non-contextualized interpretations and peddle them as truths.

 

Interesting about the interview is when you said, ‘Sometime back some members of our church convened a special meeting intended to force me to remarry. They even threatened to chase me out of the church if I did not heed their advice.’ Well, to me and I think many others, that was just hilarious of you since none can dare chase you from your church. Those who feel offended by your actions no matter how numerous can leave, not you.

 

Ø  Your divorce and pompous remarriage spell doom for Church marriage and underscore very urgent need for thorough pre-marital and marital counseling which are none existent today. You know that most church marriage counselors are in fact gamblers, soothsayers, manipulators, fraudsters and sex exploiters. It is a shame that Muslim and traditional marriages can be more stable than Christians’!

 

You need to know and understand that:

 

Ø  None of the people who have helped you to achieve your heart’s desire is responsible for the consequences of your decisions and actions; it is you. Remember, Adam, Eve and the serpent was each sentenced for personal actions. The self-justifications of Adam and Eve, putting blame on Eve and the serpent respectively couldn’t help avert God’s anger against each of them.

 

Ø  Not all people who opposed your divorce and remarriage are your enemies. Most are just keen on maintaining the Biblical marriage fiber which is fast getting eroded. If you think all are, I am not.

 

Finally my brother, from the deepest of my conscience, I suggest that during your honeymoon and / or sabbatical, you not only celebrate and consummate but take time to seriously re-examine the scriptures in context so that you eventually release a public statement that you erred in your interpretation of Matthew 19.9. Many people are waiting to hear you tell the truth that in cases of adultery, Matthew 19.9 condones neither divorce nor remarriage and that your heart’s desire to lock Hadijah out of your life and start life afresh with younger, educated and affluent Cindy could have blinded and compelled you to interpret scripture out of context. It is not only possible, it is understandable, since love can blinden.

 

Also kindly internalize what 1 Timothy 3.1-7 says about the integrity of a person of your status who must be exemplary to others: ‘A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.’

 

Understand what Ecclesiastes 7.5 says, ‘It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.’

 

Take seriously what Christ Jesus says in Revelation 3.19, ‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’

 

I also hope you make sense out of the over 400 prophets praises and vain prophetic declarations in favor of King Ahab’s intention to invade Ramoth Gilead contrasted with lonely prophet Micaiah’s declarations, Ahab’s choice of numbers and his tragic ending in 2 Chronicles 18.

 

May God give you wisdom and soul-searching to comprehend the contents of this communication, and due humility in due season to publically apologize and admit being in error without fear of shame, to salvage cherished Christian marriage, remembering that we all make mistakes which we must never deliberately justify or cover-up and that God’s laws must never be compromised using human wisdom.

 

Peace and blessings to you and your dear wife, Cindy.

 

Your loving brother in defense of Biblical principles,

 

 

 

Moses Solomon Male

Pr / Executive Director, Arising For Christ.

msmalearch@gmail.com

256-772-479386 / 256-702-196511