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Church must do its best to lead above average - Rev Siwila

Church must do its best to lead above average - Rev Siwila
By Agness Changala
Sun 25 Nov. 2012, 14:00 CAT

A UNITED Church of Zambia clergyman Reverend Teddy Siwila has urged the Church to set an example of how a just society ought to be.

Commenting on Tabernacle of David Assemblies of God deacon Felix Kazwala who observed that the Church had not been spared from selfishness, Rev Siwila of Mufulira said the voice of the Church must be strong compared to the government and society.

He said the Church must set a standard in speaking for those less privileged in society.

"I think that was a question that Jesus Christ brought. He made it clear that the Church must be fair and even the people who speak out, must be fair and just," he said.
Rev Siwila explained that if the Church was measured at the same level as society or politicians, "it would lose saltiness and its mission becomes ineffective".

He said the Church must do its best to lead above average for it to speak authoritatively on all matters.
Rev Siwila said the mission of the Church would never be effective if what people saw in the Church was the same thing that existed in society.
"At the end of the day, people do not see any difference between the Church and society. When you talk about corruption, you talk about the Church, who are the richest?" he asked

Rev Siwila said if the clergy was getting rich at the expense of the poor, it meant that the Church and society had become selfish.
He said if the Church expected the government to be selfless, it should demonstrate what it means to be selfless.

"I think, I agree with him deacon Kazwala," he said.
Rev Siwila said the vice of selfishness must be overcome by following the teaching of Jesus Christ and allowing all members to prosper.
"But if as a pastor I live above average by far than anyone else, then we will be questioned," said Rev. "Because obviously what that means is that prosperity is more on the side of the pastors than the members of which we will be questioned."

During a sermon last Sunday, Kazwala noted that very few people were discharging their duties selflessly.

"…Selfishness is everywhere, we see it in our political leadership. And it is also present in our workplaces, in our homes and even in the church, there is a lot of selfishness. A selfish person is only interested in pleasing himself and is looking for only his ways, that which benefits him. While selfishness is for me and now, unselfishness is for the later, the future and for all of us," said Kazwala.

Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, LEADERSHIP

posted by MrK @ 7:21 PM