Primate of Uganda warns against syncretism

By Gavin Drake
Posted May 26, 2016

[Anglican Communion News Service] Archbishop of Uganda Stanley Ntagali, has warned against syncretism – the practice of merging different religious beliefs. The warning came after a prominent Christian politician made a public visit to her ancestral shrine to give thanks for her re-election – a practice in line with the country’s traditional religions.

“We value our ancestors because we are connected to them by the relationship we have,” Ntagali said. “But, we must always trust only in God. We no longer need to go through the spirits of the dead because Jesus is our hope and protector. He alone is the way, the truth and the life, as Jesus says in John 14:6.

“The Church of Uganda condemns syncretism,” he said, as he urged bishops and clergy to “use this opportunity to proclaim the sufficiency of Christ crucified to meet all our needs, and to work pastorally with Christians to apply this glorious truth practically in their lives.

“As we approach the commemoration of the Ugandan Martyrs on 3 June, we are challenged by the faithfulness, commitment, and witness of these youth. Their willingness to renounce the ‘world, the flesh, and the devil’ and to joyfully embrace the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, even unto death, is a model for how we should all understand living a life with a single-minded focus on Jesus as the only Saviour and only Lord.

“There is a cost to discipleship and a great reward in following Christ.”

The archbishop concluded his statement with an appeal “to all Christians in the Church of Uganda . . . to uphold Paul’s exhortation to ‘live a life worthy of the calling you have received’ (Ephesians 4:1), to live ‘above reproach’ (1 Timothy 3:2), and to not cause others to ‘stumble’ (1 Corinthians 10:32).”


Tags