Kampala — Another mass wedding code-named 'the big one' is set to take place at Omega Healing Centre next month. Pastor Michael Kyazze started this idea after realising that many Christians in his church were co-habiting with impunity.

It is said that Kyazze, one Sunday announced that all people that were living together but who were outside holy matrimony had to be wed, or else they had to stop attending his church service(s).

I applauded the pastor for taking such a bold step. Sexual immorality is one of the cancers eating up the church. God is more interested in repentant hearts, not lavish ceremonies .

The Bible says: "My people shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free," John, 8:32. This means that when you begin serving God, the priority should be self-analysis to ensure that you live in righteousness. This is because of the fact that once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour, you will have entered a relationship with him.

That is why we are consistently told that salvation is personal. You do not want to hurt your personal saviour.

Living in sin

That is the reason we surrender anything we consider evil; traditional gods, enchantments, and pornographic material to pastors so that they may be burnt. Many of us "kick the bottle" and quit smoking forthwith, simply because we come to realise that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which must be kept clean. (I Corinthians 3:16).

What bothers me, however, is that we are quick to discard many but retain somethings which are devoid of God's blessings. And one such thing is co-habitation; living together before marriage. Granted, many of us learn about Jesus when we are already co-habiting, but then our priority should be holy matrimony - with or without luxuries that characterise wedding ceremonies.

Ruth Kalibbala and Charles Bwanika, both presenters on Super FM, did just that recently. They went to Omega Healing Centre, in the company of their boss Peter Sematimba, Mulindwa Muwonge, and another friend - and got wed.

If Jesus Christ were to return today, the Bwanikas would not be judged for fornication, because their union was sanctified - in accordance with 1 Corinthians 7:9. Of course there are exceptions; some folks have partners who are not believers. However, Paul caters for this category (in the rest of that chapter).

But if you and your spouse are believers, why don't you borrow a leaf from the 'Big One'? Much as we might wish to have lavish and glamorous wedding ceremonies that will be the talk of town for years to come, we should know that not all of us can afford such grandeur. But most importantly, we cannot afford to compromise our salvation just like that.

Bible's emphasis

Where, in the Bible, for instance is it written that Christian marriages must be elaborate with brides in flowing gowns or men in the most expensive tuxedos, with a host of maids?

My pastor has always cried his voice hoarse begging co-habiting couples to cross the line, but the concerned brethren usually discuss the piece of advice, after service, and promise to tie the knot as soon as they earn some 'good' money.

Unfortunately they never heed the advice. The common line I always hear is, "preparations are underway, the wedding is in the pipeline." But from what I see, those pipelines must have long gotten blocked, because nothing seems to ever come out of them.

I have made it my business to remind the men I can reach out to, that in Christianity, marriage is not on the luxury list. They, however, do not seem to understand my counsel. The Bible, in Proverbs 18:22, says: "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord."

There is no such promise for a man who buys the Jeep Grand Cherokee, builds a big house in Muyenga or starts and runs this and the other successful business company. All those are great achievements, but if we love the God we serve, it is then imperative that we grant him due respect and avoid living in sin - more so when we are cognisant of that fact that we are sinning against Him.

The emphasis is put more on the brothers because it is they who decide when to marry. Women can only choose whom to get married to; it was never given unto us to decide when to marry. Now think about this; who wants slow decision makers? Not many of us. If you have lived with this woman for many years and have never married her officially, then it is imperative that you formalise your matrimony into a holy union.

Anything can happen; another man could pluck her from you and usher her into holy matrimony! Even if you huff and puff, calling him a city wife snatcher, she will have been saved from living in a sinful relationship. Concerned folks, if such a thing happens to you, it will be too late for prayers!