Warning: Watch what Museveni says in this video: Ignore the
analysis of the backslidden Pastor Aloysius Bujingo who can’t understand even a
simple title such as Bishop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQcuxxWOPg&t=55s
SEE, full video here, see, 2:54,
then see 3:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN3eXe_aNK0
My Analysis
During the 3rd Covid 19
National Ecumenical Prayers, Museveni embarrassed Bishop Joshua Lwere in front
of the ecumenical audience that comprised; muslims, catholics, hindus, SDAs,
Orthodox and Pentecostals. He satirically said, you balokoole(born again)
bishops who ordains you, what happens, tell us Bishop Lwere. Bishop Lwere felt
very embarrassed and you can see how uncomfortable he was in the video. He was
not expecting Museveni, a friend of Pentecostals to behave in such a manner. He
was not expecting a president with a born again wife to behave that way. Bishop
Lwere’s answer was fair nevertheless he was caught off guard. Dr. Lwere had to approach the microphone to explain himself. At the beginning of his speech he said, Lwere where were you 58 years ago? Imagine calling a full bishop like a mere kid. Museveni looks at him self as a Sabagabe(king) and all others as Bairu(poor commoners).
How can a person whose mother was a born
again Christian fail to understand a simple title such as bishop(overseer)? Why didn’t he ask his born again wife? Why didn’t
he ask his daughter who is a pastor? Is he saying that for the 35 years he has
been in power, he has failed to understand how born again Christians become
Bishops? How can you allow somebody to be the main preacher of a service before
ascertaining how he became a bishop in the first place?Even the very idea of having national prayers came from a Pentecostal Bishop,(Bishop Kwefuga of Kiruhura). Why did he accept this idea from a Pentecostal bishop and even declare a national holiday if he was not sure how this bishop became a bishop?
You see, Museveni is a shrewd, cunning,
politician who was trying to win the favour of the so called old or major
religions of Uganda such as Islam, Catholicism and Anglicanism by disassociating
with Balookole or Pentecostals? In fact there were big cheers from the religious folks when he ridiculed Bishop Lwere. He has been accused of being the propagator of Pentecostals.
However, like Judas Iscariot, he betrayed Pentecostal ecumenists. If he had done it to
Muslims by asking how they become muftis, there would be war. If he had asked Catholics
whether their requirements for one to became bishop are biblical, there would
be war. So, he picked on the humble balokoole and was able to go away with it.
Meseveni does not respect the Pentecostal
ecumenists such as Bishop Lwere and Pastor Joseph Serwadda. He does not respect
many Pentecostal pastors because he knows how greedy they are. They are greedy
for money, greedy for power and greedy for fame. He knows the scandals in the Pentecostal
movement and public outcry against Pentecostal robbing pastors. That is why he
decided to play Judas Iscariot in order to appease the catholics, muslims and Anglicans.
Bishop Joshua Lwere should know that ecumenism is dirty, satanic and embarrasses.
You cannot dance with the devil and expect your garments not to be soiled.
Well, Museveni asked the wrong question.
The question is not how do balokoole(pentecostal) Bishops become bishops? The
question should be who is a bishop according to the bible? The question Museveni
asked Bishop Joshua Lwere arises because of our scriptural illiteracy and
rebellion against God’s word. The institutionalization of deception does not
make something right. For example one needs a degree in canon law to became a
catholic bishop. This is not in the scriptures. This is a deception created by
human beings.
MUST READ:
When Pentecostals joined Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, SDA and Anglicans at Museveni’s 3rd Bogus Ecumenical Prayers : Bishop Joshua Lwere, the General Overseer of the National Alliance of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches of Uganda denies JESUS Christ: Pastor Tom Mugerwa of Mutudwe Christian Fellowship and Dr Joseph Sserwadda of born again faith in attendence
When the Lord Jesus Christ went missing in Bishop Joshua Lwere COVID 19 ecumenical prayer at state house : Ecumenism makes God’s Servants hypocrites
From Uganda to Nigeria: Useless Ecumenical Prayers all over the African Continent : The Devil is using COVID 19 Pandemic to trap Born again Christians into the one religion spearheaded by the Roman Catholic Church
https://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2020/05/from-uganda-to-nigeria-useless.html
When Uganda Pentecostal Ecumenists and Non-Ecumenicists disagree over the opening of churches: Bishop Kiganda, City Pastors wear Sackcloths in Protest’ Over Closed Churches: Don’t use COVID to settle scores -Bishop Lwere warns Pastors protesting Closure of Churches
https://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2020/07/when-uganda-pentecostal-ecumenists-and.html
MUST READ:
The refusal by
President Museveni to lift lockdown on churches is proof that he is worshipper
of BACHWEZI DEVILS instead of the Lord Jesus Christ: Museveni rejects pleas by
Evangelical pastors to open places of worship
Museveni’s Transition from Christianity to Witchcraft : Churches are of course, important when the situations are normal.. This implies that in abnormal situations like COVID 19, they are bogus and useless
When Ecumenical Pentecostals pastors strive to cleanse Museveni’s Atheistic reputation : Places of worship to open on 30th August, no politics in Churches , says pastor Joseph Serwadda
https://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2020/07/when-ecumenical-pentecostals-pastors.html
Elders, Bishops and Pastors: One Office or Three?
While talking with some white-shirted young Mormons one day, I asked them about the "Elder so-and-so" name tags they were both wearing. "How can you, both eighteen years old, be called 'elders'? Also, the Bible says that elders have to be married." Their response was something like this: "Yes, what you say is true, but you have elders and bishops confused. The Bible says that bishops must be married, not elders, and elders must simply be wise ones. God has given us wisdom."
What about that answer? Does it satisfy you? Does the Bible distinguish between elders and bishops? And, what do the words mean? Let's see.
ACTS20
Acts 20:17-18: "From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: 'You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you'" (NKJ throughout, KJV in brackets).
After the riot at Ephesus, Paul left, and sometime later returned by that way. Rather than going to the city itself, he called the elders of the church to him at the seaport of Miletus. They came, and there he admonished them, and told them that he would not see them again. Notice, though, what the Scriptures say Paul called these men when they came to him:
Acts 20:28-30: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [bishops], to shepherd [feed] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.'"
When Paul called the elders, he addressed them as bishops and told them to tend, shepherd, or pastor the flock! If elders and bishops are distinct offices, occupied by different men, this would be senseless; but if the offices are the same, then it is logical. If they were different offices, when Paul called elders, no bishops would have been there to speak to. He told these men, elders and bishops, to "poimaino," or shepherd the flock. The root word is the word for a shepherd who guides and cares for his flock. Thus, in this passage, elders are the same as bishops, or overseers, and these men are to act as pastors and tend the flock, or church of God. Ephesians 4:11 makes the only reference specifically to a group of men called pastors, and here one could easily conclude that he was referring to this important work of elders who oversee and tend the church. Not three offices, but one!
TITUS 1:5-7 & I TIMOTHY 3:1-2
Titus 1:5-7: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you; if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money"
1 Timothy 3:1-2: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach."
Titus is commanded to appoint a plurality of elders in every city, and then Paul immediately lists the qualities that these bishops must have. Is it fair to draw a sharp distinction between the two given the natural flow from one verse to the other? Also, we see from 1 Timothy 3 that bishops are given similar and overlapping qualification. Only the attempt to later justify a distinction in offices that had already occurred historically could lead to an interpretation that these works are distinct.
I PETER
1 Peter 5:1-4: "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd [Feed] the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [taking the oversight], not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."
This passage is much like Acts 20 in that all three words are used for the same office, and of the same men. Peter, an elder himself, exhorts other elders to carry out their duties as God directs. He tells them to feed, or shepherd, tend or pastor the flock which is among them. They are not to meddle in other flocks, but their own. Each church had its own "presbytery" (I Tim. 4:14: Phil. 1:1-2; Acts 14:23; Jas. 5:14).
In this feeding the flock the elders serve as overseers, or bishops.
Elders, Bishops and Pastors: One Office or Three?
Acts 20:17-30
While talking with some white-shirted young Mormons one day, I asked them about the "Elder so-and-so" name tags they were both wearing. "How can you, both eighteen years old, be called 'elders'? Also, the Bible says that elders have to be married." Their response was something like this: "Yes, what you say is true, but you have elders and bishops confused. The Bible says that bishops must be married, not elders, and elders must simply be wise ones. God has given us wisdom."
What about that answer? Does it satisfy you? Does the Bible distinguish between elders and bishops? And, what do the words mean? Let's see.
ACTS20
Acts 20:17-18: "From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: 'You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you'" (NKJ throughout, KJV in brackets).
After the riot at Ephesus, Paul left, and sometime later returned by that way. Rather than going to the city itself, he called the elders of the church to him at the seaport of Miletus. They came, and there he admonished them, and told them that he would not see them again. Notice, though, what the Scriptures say Paul called these men when they came to him:
Acts 20:28-30: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [bishops], to shepherd [feed] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.'"
When Paul called the elders, he addressed them as bishops and told them to tend, shepherd, or pastor the flock! If elders and bishops are distinct offices, occupied by different men, this would be senseless; but if the offices are the same, then it is logical. If they were different offices, when Paul called elders, no bishops would have been there to speak to. He told these men, elders and bishops, to "poimaino," or shepherd the flock. The root word is the word for a shepherd who guides and cares for his flock. Thus, in this passage, elders are the same as bishops, or overseers, and these men are to act as pastors and tend the flock, or church of God. Ephesians 4:11 makes the only reference specifically to a group of men called pastors, and here one could easily conclude that he was referring to this important work of elders who oversee and tend the church. Not three offices, but one!
TITUS 1:5-7 & I TIMOTHY 3:1-2
Titus 1:5-7: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you; if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money"
1 Timothy 3:1-2: "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach."
Titus is commanded to appoint a plurality of elders in every city, and then Paul immediately lists the qualities that these bishops must have. Is it fair to draw a sharp distinction between the two given the natural flow from one verse to the other? Also, we see from 1 Timothy 3 that bishops are given similar and overlapping qualification. Only the attempt to later justify a distinction in offices that had already occurred historically could lead to an interpretation that these works are distinct.
I PETER
1 Peter 5:1-4: "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd [Feed] the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [taking the oversight], not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away."
This passage is much like Acts 20 in that all three words are used for the same office, and of the same men. Peter, an elder himself, exhorts other elders to carry out their duties as God directs. He tells them to feed, or shepherd, tend or pastor the flock which is among them. They are not to meddle in other flocks, but their own. Each church had its own "presbytery" (I Tim. 4:14: Phil. 1:1-2; Acts 14:23; Jas. 5:14).
In this feeding the flock the elders serve as overseers, or bishops.
The word "elders" is from the Greek presbuteros, which in turn is from the root
presbos, or "old." Thus, elder refers to the spiritual maturity of the men who
serve as overseers. They have a wife and children, and are not to be novices (1
Tim. 3:6). They are wise, seasoned, mature. Elder speaks to the character of the
man.
"Bishop" or "overseer" is from the Greek episkopos. It is the word for superintendent, a manager. (Epi- over, and -skopeo, to look or watch.) It speaks to their responsibility and authority. The verb form of the word is used in 1 Peter 5:2, "exercise oversight." In 1 Timothy 3:1, the word is best rendered "overseership," since no word for "office" is actually present.
"Pastor" is from poimen, which as we have seen, is the word used for a shepherd, and thus of his word of feeding, guiding and tending the flock. The verb form is poimaino. In 1 Peter 5, all of these words and ideas are used of the same men. Peter himself is one of them, as a married man (Matthew 8:14ff).
This verse also teaches against the idea that there is another office above that of bishop, called an archbishop. Peter says that even he is simply a "fellow-elder," and that there is one "Chief Shepherd" or archipoimenos, Jesus Christ Himself. The Bible does not authorize the offices of Archbishops, Cardinals, Popes, etc. The only office over a bishop, elder or pastor is the Chief Shepherd Himself.
Conclusion: It is apparent that the organization and oversight of 1st century churches was much different than that found in most all denominations today. Let's be
careful when we read these verses not to "retro-fit" our current practices back onto the New Testament pattern, but rather change our practice and understanding to fit the New Testament.
"Bishop" or "overseer" is from the Greek episkopos. It is the word for superintendent, a manager. (Epi- over, and -skopeo, to look or watch.) It speaks to their responsibility and authority. The verb form of the word is used in 1 Peter 5:2, "exercise oversight." In 1 Timothy 3:1, the word is best rendered "overseership," since no word for "office" is actually present.
"Pastor" is from poimen, which as we have seen, is the word used for a shepherd, and thus of his word of feeding, guiding and tending the flock. The verb form is poimaino. In 1 Peter 5, all of these words and ideas are used of the same men. Peter himself is one of them, as a married man (Matthew 8:14ff).
This verse also teaches against the idea that there is another office above that of bishop, called an archbishop. Peter says that even he is simply a "fellow-elder," and that there is one "Chief Shepherd" or archipoimenos, Jesus Christ Himself. The Bible does not authorize the offices of Archbishops, Cardinals, Popes, etc. The only office over a bishop, elder or pastor is the Chief Shepherd Himself.
Conclusion: It is apparent that the organization and oversight of 1st century churches was much different than that found in most all denominations today. Let's be
careful when we read these verses not to "retro-fit" our current practices back onto the New Testament pattern, but rather change our practice and understanding to fit the New Testament.
By Michael Schmidt
From Expository Files 1.2; February, 1994
From Expository Files 1.2; February, 1994
