“Because the Bible is scathingly honest and truthful, those indulging in sin do not want to read it. People are afraid of that truth,” the Local Ordinary of Mangochi Diocese who doubles as the Chairman of the Commission for Social Communications of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) was quoted as saying in the September 7 report.
The 64-year-old Catholic Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Malawi’s Blantyre Archdiocese in April 2010 further said, “People are afraid of taking up the responsibility that the Bible is giving them, to spread the Gospel further afield.”
He underscored the cost of discipleship, saying, “Whoever has chosen to follow Jesus Christ, the word of God, must be prepared to face problems and challenges that come with that choice.”
“Whosoever wishes to know what God expects of us and what humans need to do to please God, should be able to find that in the Holy Scripture. The Bible is the word of God. That is why we have the saying: the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” Bishop Stima emphasized.
He challenged the Catholic faithful not only to own the Bible but also to read it, and added, “All those who wish for wisdom should learn to fear God.”
“How many of us own a Bible and read it?” the Malawian Bishop posed, and continued, “I urge those of us who cannot read to request those who can, among them, to read out the Bible to them.”
The Holy Scripture is a piece of advice from God to humanity, Bishop Stima said, adding, “We should stop avoiding the Bible because it is rebuking us for the wrongs we are doing.”
Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.
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