Popular Catholic priest, Fr. Kelvin Ugwu, recently shared his perspective on the trending saga involving actress Ekene Umenwa. The actress made headlines when she left her husband during their wedding ceremony to kneel before the gospel musician/minister Moses Bliss, who was performing at the wedding.
In his lengthy commentary on the matter, Father Kelvin provided insights into the actress's actions and the broader issue of preachers and clergymen appearing god-like to their followers, a phenomenon he believes is at odds with the biblical tradition where apostles would swiftly correct such misconceptions.
Fr. Kelvin shared his thoughts by saying, "You must have watched the trending video that portrayed the reaction of the bride at the sight of the gospel musician/minister Moses Bliss who appeared on her wedding day. The Bride, Ekene, was literally out of control at the sight of her supposed idol or 'powerful' and 'anointed' minister."
He went on to address the emotional aspects of the situation, emphasizing the need for emotional intelligence and maturity. Fr. Kelvin pointed out that some individuals tend to be overly dramatic, and he used this incident as an example of such behavior. He remarked, "Some women will even join to organize their engagement party, and still act surprised when the man asks 'Will you marry me?'"
However, what seemed to concern Fr. Kelvin even more was the behavior of the minister, Moses Bliss. He expressed a recurring concern that modern ministers often portray themselves as god-like figures and actually revel in such adoration from their followers. This, he argued, contrasts with the biblical precedent where apostles and disciples consistently humbled themselves and corrected any misperceptions of divinity.
He cited examples from the Bible, such as when Peter visited Cornelius in Acts 10. In that instance, Cornelius fell at Peter's feet in reverence, but Peter swiftly corrected him, saying, "Stand up, I am only a man myself" (Acts 10:25-26). Similarly, he mentioned an incident involving Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14, where the people wanted to worship them as gods, but the apostles tore their clothes and cried out, emphasizing that they were just ordinary men.
Fr. Kelvin concluded by emphasizing the need for ministers to correct misconceptions and not revel in the adulation they receive. He argued that incidents like the one involving Ekene Umenwa kneeling to Moses Bliss highlight the problem of ministers making themselves out to be superstars. He also reiterated his belief that the biblical message is clear: "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Luke 17:10 RSV).
The post he shared can be seen in the images below:
