Worship God only not political leader- Rev Mezuwa Banda
Outspoken Rev Maxwell Mezuwa Banda of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has warned Christians against what he called “worshipping individuals.”
He said this on Sunday at St Andrews CCAP in his sermon broadcast on Transworld Radio which he said was to touch on contemporary events.
Preaching from Colossians chapter 1 and Psalm 105, Banda said that the Christians and the Church belong to Christ who guards it jealously.
In a sermon which aired on Trans World Radio Sunday evening, Banda referred and used Biblical Saul in Acts 9 as a case study.
Likening him to a Youth Cadet who wanted to destroy the Children of the Way (Christians), the fearless and fluent speaking reverend said Saul persecuted the believers having received letters from authorities. He said Saul however met a powerful Jesus on his way to Damascus.
“Saul” Banda said, “We might say suffered a minor cardiac arrest for attacking the children of God.”
As he preached, congregants were sent into laughter and shouts of Amen’s at the message.
Banda bemoaned the tendency of some Christians whom he described to be worshippers of people rather than Jesus Christ.
He said that the Church just like Christ is generally reduced to insignificance in the world today yet very powerful.
The former Livingstonia Synod Moderator said that Jesus protects his church and said that anyone attacking God’s Children suffers consequences-a statement that one would allude to be a direct reference to politicians who attack the clergy.
“If you touch a church member, if you touch the Christian leaders, you arrest the clergy, you touch Jesus and cardiac arrest is the response,” said Rev Mezuwa Banda adding “Saul survived a minor cardiac arrest because God wanted to use him.”
He said that the Church was planted by Jesus Christ hence it would live on though insignificant in the eyes of many. The preacher added that it will never be vanquished because the Church has a supreme message.
At this point in his sermon, Banda stated that the Church lives on while worldly institutions are bound to end at some point.
“This country was first administered by the British for 73 years. Then came the MCP for 30 years. It became a big organization, strong and mighty but its power ended in 1994. Then came UDF. It was in power and ruled for 11 years. DPP came in and ruled for 7 years. The trend is worrying. 73 years of British rule, 30 for MCP, 11 for UDF and then DPP only 7. It is worrying because the number of years in power is declining. I don’t know for how long PP will rule but I wish them longer,” Banda is quoted as saying in his message.
He therefore once again warned Christians who demean the Church just because they have joined politics.
“Where is DPP, where is UDF, where is MCP? They are nothing compared to Jesus Christ Church!”
While admitting that the Church errs, he was quick to point out that it is under construction.
“Someone during the DPP era called me a confusionist. I haven’t yet met him to ask him how he feels now,” Banda said in apparent reference to the change of fortune for DPP.
He called on the church members to worship God only and not an individual. Rev Banda wondered where Kamuzu was, Bingu, Bakili asking party loyalists if they were not ashamed. He advised congregants to worship God alone and not sing praises for man.
Rev Mezuwa Banda is a known critic of government bad policies.
On its part, Trans World Radio said that the special broadcast of the church services are part its special offer to some churches they are visiting this May where listeners are asked to be a blessing to the radio ministry.
According National Director Victor Kaonga, the month of May has been set aside to give listeners and friends to bless TWR Malawi in a special way through their resources especially finances.
“It costs TWR only 5,000 Kwacha each hour and listeners and friends are challenged to consider sponsoring an hour and help TWR Malawi reach more people with the Word of God,” Kaonga said.
Kaonga said that this emphasis follows the organization’s emphasis on raising resources from within Malawi. He added that the coming Sundays will also feature sermons from other churches in the Centre and South as part of a special arrangement for the “Bless TWR Month.”
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