Six tips on spiritual well-being to youth
Archbishop Stanley Ntagali prays for the youth during the Bible Society of Uganda youth conference. PHOTO BY LYDIA AINOMUGISHA.
What you need to know:
A youth conference that aimed at equipping young people with life skills took place last week. It addressed contemporary challenges affecting the young people and offered guidance on overcoming them based on Biblical instructions. There are lessons to the youth that would help them lead pure lives and overcome these challenges. Lydia Ainomugisha highlights the spiritual lessons for the youth.
The youth in churches need guidance. For that matter, Bible Society of Uganda held a 2015 Annual Youth Assembly at Makerere University Sports Grounds. Youth from different denominations and all walks of life were in attendance. Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali, was the key speaker.
He said secularism and religious denominations hinder fellowship among people. “People talk of my church, my religion but religious denominations won’t take us to heaven. We are on our way to eternity and there we will be in fellowship with the saints, angels and everyone else who repents despite their religion.”
He condemned secularism, which he explained as doing things outside God’s will. Many people, he said, worship others, properties and gadgets like mobile phones, television sets, internet, instead of God.
The cleric also dwelt on the conference theme derived from 1 Cor. 10:13, saying it underscores God’s power over life challenges and temptations.
“We are surrounded by many challenges like poverty and fornication and have no human solutions but if you say no to these, our God is able and will make a way,” he explained.
Emphasising that he and his agemates are in the evenings of their service, he asked the youth to prepare to take over from them, adding that the trials and temptations they are facing are not new as generations before also faced such.
The archbishop commended the Bible Society of Uganda for translating the Bible into local languages and in braille, which has made the blind people also understand scriptures.
Without shying away from modern technology such as mobile phones, he said these are good but the youth need to watch how they use them as these can be a source of evil.
“Even as I speak, I know that some of you are there scrolling your phones.”
The Archbishop then gave the youth key guidelines to life.
The word of God will guide you to understand the secrets and mysteries of God and life. So, read the Bible.
Your bodies are temples of Holy Spirit, don’t misuse them by sleeping around. You will have sex at the right time. In case of temptations, always rely on God’s word and promises for encouragement.
Taking contraceptives and abortions makes you a murderer.
Don’t rush into earthly things because when you rush, you crush. Please don’t rush because your life has no spare.
The way that leads to destruction is wide but the one that leads to life is narrow therefore decide today which path to follow. Decide to follow Christ.
Denominations will not take us to heaven, its faith and obedience to God that will.
Using the story of the Fishermen in the Bible, he said many people are toiling and not making ends meet but if they obey, follow God and do His will, then He will make a way.
With just a few weeks into the New Year, his grace asked the attendees to be fishers of men, do everything in God’s name. He also reminded them to always thank God for what they have achieved.
He condemned hypocrisy saying some people live different lives from how they appear in public.
