WHEN A MAN OF GOD SINS

Doc, I'm in the Anglican Church of Uganda and our Archbishop who most of us loved, admired and looked up to has been found in the sin of adultery which he has publicly confessed. Kindly give some advice to the church.

DISCLAIMER: I HAVE MENTIONED THE ARCHBISHOP BY NAME BECAUSE HE CONFESSED PUBLICLY AND HIS STORY WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS.

MY REPLY

First, I salute the retired archbishop of the Anglican church in Uganda, Rev. Stanley Ntagali, for confessing his extra marital affair. There’re many of us who live in sin and continue to minister with a dead conscience. The Bible demands we confess our sins to one another (James 5:16).

As believers, we must forgive one another as God in Christ forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). That’s one of the lessons Jesus intended us to learn from the parable of the prodigal son. The elder brother found it hard to receive back his brother who was lost in sin. But the father received his son with open arms.

That said, leaders are required to live by a higher ideal. Scriptures say those who teach the word will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). That’s why the duties of a minister of the gospel must be relinquished so that the name of Christ and His Church is not tarnished. 

But in as much as we look up to our leaders as role models, we must never forget that scriptures only point us to Jesus as our ultimate example. Our faith is anchored on Jesus and Jesus alone. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The rest of us are mere mortals.

Finally, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Allow the church structure to handle such matters and focus more on your personal spiritual journey. None of us has any moral right to cast the first stone to the archbishop. And if Jesus forgave him, who are we to condemn?

DR. K. N. JACOB.