Accra, Ghana, April 26, 2019//-The debate as to whether the Church is playing its expected role in the society seems to be defying conclusion. The driver’s brakes – it continues unabated.
The population of Ghana like many other countries around the world is Christian, nominally, through its history, heritage, tradition, but the people need to explicate Christian faith in such a way that they may see the values that are vital to the moral health and happiness of a person and of a nation. In other words, they need true biblical christianisation.
Should Ghana take a look at say Germany after World War Two? Historically, Germany overcame the destruction of the war and became a economically powerful nation in the world – by work force.
German churches made efforts to make Christian faith an active and practical aspect of their people’s lives, rather than just a pietistic expression or an abstract understanding of salvation of souls.
There are many other aspects in the moral sphere of national life which need to be reformed through the Christian faith, as well as the experience of faith that the church fathers bequeathed to the present generation.
Some faithful believe that messages from the pulpit should lead the people to hard and honest work but not the utopian ideal of praying everything into being. For instance, church should interpret the Biblical saying, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread…” [Genesis 3:19] in such a way that the soil of Ghana – the natural resources of the country – would become the field of work for the people.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the opening of the 60th Session of the Ministerial and General Council Meeting of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) in Accra, called on the church to work closely with government to build and ensure national cohesion and development.
“The church has a greater role to play in shaping the minds of the people and redirecting their efforts in transforming and building a nation that stands tall among other nations”, he said.
According to the President the church has a duty to help Ghanaians to cope with difficulties they may encounter in their daily lives as they stuck with their faith and beliefs.
Speaking during a GBC Radio discussion on the topic “THE CHURCH AND NATION BUILDING – Should We Blame The Church For The Woes Of The Country?”, Dr Samuel Onwuna, Vice President of the Scripture Union Advisory Council, said the church should deliberately train its members to join political parties as the salt of the world.
He was of the opinion that there was the need to train people to become effective and honest politicians. “People must not just get up and become parliamentarians and Ministers”, he said.
He remarked that the church is adulterated in the country with leaders without pastoral training leading congregations.
Touching on the seemingly ineffectiveness of the church in nation building he made it clear that it has something to do with the message being preached – it has moved from righteousness to materialism. “The salt has been adulterated. We should go back to messages of transformation of life, righteousness and holiness,” he said.
One Frederick Adetiba writing in the PREMIUM TIMES of Nigeria some years back in a similar situation the Ghanaian church finds itself called on professing Christians to look at the position of King Lemuel in the book of Proverbs on how they can influence the environment and enforce the principles and values of the kingdom.
According to the writer, King Lamuel encourages Christians to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed… Speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice’ (Proverbs 31:8)”.
“Apart from raising men to live right and impact their environment with the values and principles of the Kingdom, Church leaders who are considered as men of influence in the society ought to speak up in defence of the defenceless.
These men are quick to pray for the political leaders, but they are not quick to correct and rebuke them when they err.
The only time church leaders rise in the people’s defence, is when Christians are being killed, particularly in a section of the country. We do not get to hear them when these political leaders are stealing our common wealth with impunity, which is what is responsible for the many ills in the land”, he said.
On his part, Venerable Cannon Dennis Tong, the Parish Priest of the Saint Cyprian Anglican Church in Bolgatanga is not happy that wanton greed, selfishness and an insatiable taste for worldly possession that had taken over truth, love, honesty and compassion for humanity as taught by Christ.
Venerable Cannon Tong who made the remarks in a sermon to mark the Easter festivities noted with great concern that, “Selfishness and greed have overtaken our world. If all Christian politicians could make a sacrifice of honesty, truthfulness, and love, our world would be a better place”.
To Apostle Enoch Osafo, of the Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI, the Church had become sick and vulnerable today because pastors had abandoned the Message of the Cross for prosperity and motivational messages, thus making Christians stunted in their spiritual growth, with some having their conscience seared by corruption.
Preaching during the Easter festivities he said, “The Message of the Cross was about repentance and salvation; transformation of mind from worldly things to eternal values; godliness with contentment; forgiveness and reconciliation; witnessing to the lost; showing love for one another; and long suffering and endurance”
He expressed regret that, “Sons of magicians have taken over the pulpit and are performing all kinds of magical acts, such as giving of lotto numbers, sharing money and engaging in fortune telling”.
“Christians have become slaves to these false prophets because the message is preached as if persecution is not part of Christianity, but I tell you that the Message of the Cross makes it evident that the persecutions would come to the Christian but God would deliver the righteous from all of them”, he stated.
Some pastors say the issue has become so profound due to the fact that the church is full of religious people instead of truly born again Christians.
According to them religious persons are the most dangerous people to be found in the church – they either do not understand the teachings of the Bible or intentionally disobey its commands and statutes.
Many citizens are also of the view that since the church and the state are partners in development there is the need for politicians to include churches in initiating and executing developmental projects but not do things alone and turn back to blame the church for the woes of the society.
By Oppong Baah, African Eye Report
