Church of Uganda proves Pastor Bugingo wrong after his comments undermining Marriage Vows.
Jan 14, 2020.
The Church of Uganda has published different articles from different Anglican men of God including Rt Rev Johnson Twinomujuni, Bishop, West Ankole Diocese,to react on House of Prayer Ministries International senior Pastor Aloysius Bugingo’s recent preaching undermining Marriage Vows.
Pr Bugingo recently said that the ‘I take you, to be my wife (or husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part’ said in churches are meaningless and not biblical.
Rt Rev Johnson Twinomujuni, Bishop, West Ankole Diocese: Pastor Bugingo has made a declaration that the phrase ’till death do us part’ is not biblical, and that it is from Satan! In so doing, the pastor attacks the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Pentecostal Churches, associating them with what he calls a practice from Satan.
I can’t believe that these words are from someone who claims to be a pastor! Nonetheless, I’m not surprised that he is making such a statement after divorcing his wife on grounds of a sickness!
Bugingo claims that he has read the Bible a number of times he is not even able to count! That in itself is an interesting claim, which I wish he were humble enough not to associate himself with. Even if it was true that he has read the Bible countless times, it would be prudent for him to know that it is one thing to read even several times, but another to understand.
He states that no where does the Bible say that the married should not separate. Remember that the Bible is God’s holy, infallible, and innerant word, some versions of which he once set ablaze on an Easter Monday, claiming that they were deceptive!
Of course, for this particular statement and others of similar nature he has been making, one underlying and obvious factor, which is having a significant influence on his judgement, is his divorce, the possibility of other forms of conditioning notwithstanding. His yearning soul is in a desperate need for justification over his prejudiced separation with his bona fide wife, which, because he cannot get it by virtue of moral objectivity, he is deliberately misinterpreting the Bible, so he can justify his act – if it were possible.
Also, it is so disheartening that Bugingo is taking advantage of the innocence of those that attend him, some of whom have been blinded and/or brainwashed by his heretical eloquence that finds solace in a theological vacuum that he himself has created and made them victims of.
Let us now zoom in on the issue at hand and do a theological analysis of his claims, basing on the Bible, of which, deriving from his utterance, he is a prolific student and a voracious reader.
- Does the Bible he has read countless times have the following verses: Rom. 7:2-3; Mal. 2:13-16; Heb. 13:4; Mat. 5:32; 19:4-9; plus 1 Cor. 7:2-40, and especially verse 10 which says, “To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord), the wife should not separate from her husband.” Verse 11b also states clearly, “and let not the husband put away his wife.”
Again does the Bible Bugingo has read contain Gen. 2:18; Eph. 5:33; Luke 16:18, and 1 Cor. 7:39 which says, “A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to get married to whom she wishes, but only in the Lord”?
What is Bugingo’s interpretation of these verses, and if he has not read them, which Bible has he been reading all those countless times?!
- Consider Jesus’ command: “What God has joined together let no man put asunder” (Mat. 19:6). Has Bugingo read it? Can he define either the logical or conceptual scope of its duration? In other words, where and when does the legality of that instruction’s demand end?
- About those who are joined in marriage Jesus asserts, “they are no longer two, but one flesh” (Gen. 2:24; Mat. 19:6). How can one separate with oneself?! Looking closely at the immediate context of the verse and Jesus’ plot of thought here, one doesn’t have to be a genius or even a cultured theologian to realise that the word “therefore” which Jesus uses immediately after his assertion, is actually ‘there for something’ – to emphasize what is otherwise implied, that he (Jesus) is speaking against divorce. Actually, the words ‘no man’s in the phrase “what God has joined together, let no man separate”, speak also to the two, who are married. The husband and wife are also included in that prohibition.
There is the except clause of Mat. 5:23 that has always been looked at as Jesus’ permission to divorce. While it is true that “marital unfaithfulness” or sexual immorality can be a ground for divorce, if it happens, it comes as a regrettable consequence of an already defiled marriage, not as its approved remedy.
- Does the Bible Mr. Bugingo has read have God’s assertion “I hate divorce” in Mal. 2:16? When God says so, what does that mean for the married? Doesn’t that imply that God requires that our marriage be a lasting one? Where does a marriage whose parties won’t divorce end, if not till death separates them?
- In Eph. 5:25-33, Paul likens the marriage between a husband and wife to Christ’s relationship with the church, and commands the man to love his wife as Christ loves the church. When does Bugingo expect Christ to be separated with his ‘bride’ – the church?
Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe, CHAPLAIN, St. Francis Chapel Makerere University:
It is common knowledge that Pastor Bugingo of House of Prayer Ministries has attempted to rewrite the plain teaching of Scripture about marriage. This became clear to me after a video clip of his renunciation of marriage vows circulated on social media a few days ago.
To all members of St. Francis Chapel Makerere University and the wider Body of Christ, I appeal to you: For the sake of your soul, flee from Pastor Bugingo’s teachings about marriage. They are heresy and a danger to your soul
The Bible’s understanding of marriage is a core teaching of Scripture. It is grounded in creation (Gen 2.24; Mt 19.6; Eph 5.31); renewed after the fall (Mt 19.1-9; 1 Cor 7); and proclaimed through the rich Biblical teaching that marriage points to the mystery of the union between Christ and the Church (Rev 19.6-10; Rev 21.1-4; Eph 5.21-33).
“What is marriage?”, asks the book, To Be a Christian. “Marriage,” it answers, “is the exclusive, lifelong, covenantal union of love between one man and one woman, and a reflection of the faithful love that unites God and his people. Marriage is therefore holy and should “be held in honor among all.” (Hebrews 13:4; see also Genesis 2:18–24; Matthew 19:4–6; Ephesians 5:21–33)
The central teaching of the Bible on marriage is that it is an exclusive and sacred covenant between one man and one woman for life. It is based on God’s covenants with His people and, at the same time, points to God’s covenants. The covenant of marriage is binding. It is so binding that the Bible teaches that a man and woman become one-flesh (Gen 2.24; Mt 19.6; Eph 5.31).
