By Chinoyi Chipulu
Former Ndola Pastor’s Fellowship chairperson Reverend Chilekwa Mulenga says asking a servant of God to publicly apologise or clarify a Homily is very strange.
Rev Mulenga was reacting to a video where Ndola based Catholic priest Father Chalwe Chonde shared a video clarifying his recent Homily where he was describing King Herod as a selfish leader.
In his Homily, Fr Chonde who is also Radio Ichengelo company executive officer said King Herod did not want to be replaced by anyone because he was a bad leader but he would be removed.
Fr Chonde posted another video on Radio Ichengelo Facebook page clarifying his message saying he never meant to attack any individual or political party.
But in an interview with Daily Revelation, Rev Mulenga said it was very unfortunate that men of God were being questioned when they delivered a sermon.
He said Fr Chonde did not mention any names in his sermon for him to be put in such a situation.
“Did he mention any name? Who was offended? Every preacher is called by God, the Bible says he called some to be apostles, preachers, evangelists and prophets. So truthfully speaking, what we preach we are answerable to the Lord. When someone goes off the line, superiors can call them privately to guide,” he said.
Rev Mulenga said people must avoid politicising sermons delivered by servants of God.
“People must not politicise sermons delivered by faithful servants of God, they must be ready to receive encouragement and to be rebuked. Sometimes it’s just a Homily addressing generally a matter. Sometimes it can be purely a spiritual matter. How people take offense baffles my mind,” he said.
Rev Mulenga said this should not be supported and should be stopped.
“This shows that the people asking for Chonde to clarify his Homily were offended by the word of God. You know that is not good because the word of God comes to encourage and rebuke. People only want a servant of God to give a Homily that is sweet to their taste,” he said. “But then to ask a servant of God to go publicly to apologise or to clarify a Homily is very strange. Last year, a certain pastor in Kitwe was asked to retract and apologise for a sermon he delivered but he refused and resigned because he never mentioned any names.”
He said it was not good to put pressure on men of God as they were only answerable to God.
“Why should he be subjected to such? Apologise to who and why? From where I stand that is not something I can support. We are answerable to God not to man and we remain submitted to structures we belong,” said Rev Mulenga.
