Religious excesses threat to development, security – Christian Council

The Christian Council of Ghana has observed and noted with grave concern the worrying trend of religious excesses in the country, especially within the Christian fraternity.

Some self-styled ‘pastors’ who are engaged in these religious excesses, forbid their members from going to school, accessing health care and working to earn a living, because they perceive it to be against the teachings of Christ.

Recent media reports of some churches not allowing their school going children to go to school, and pregnant women from accessing health care because they claim Jesus never went to school or the hospital, are but a few of the wide-spread religious excesses in the country today.

The Council is of the view that, such religious practices are a threat to public safety and undermines the socio-economic development efforts of this country, especially in our attempt to meet development targets such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Unfortunately, most of these excesses are practiced and championed by ‘men and women of God’ who lack balanced understanding of the Bible and the teachings of Christ.

This current trend of event requires a collective national effort in addressing it before it becomes a national disaster. Key stakeholders such as theologians who are knowledgeable in sound Christian teaching (orthodoxy) and sound Christian practices (orthopraxis), security agencies, judiciary, department of social welfare, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities and other government agencies would have to collaborate to provide a national response to it.

As a Council, we assure the nation of our preparedness to make available our expertise and facilities to support national efforts in addressing these excesses which have now become a menace.

It is therefore important for everyone to know that, Jesus embraced education and that explains why at a tender age, he was always in the synagogue listening to teachings and asking mind-boggling questions as recorded in Luke 2:46-47. Moreover, he was addressed a Rabbi (Teacher) and some of the formation pattern of education that he used are still considered relevant in the current formation pattern of education. Although most of the current formation pattern in education did not exist during Jesus’ time, he subjected himself and his disciples to the then formation pattern of education.

As a Council, we belief that we must use religion to build the Ghana we all want instead of causing destruction with it. Faith must facilitate the development of our families, communities and nation.

We encourage religious leaders, especially those in the Christian faith to ensure that their teachings and practices facilitate personal and national development, and should reflect the balanced teachings of Christ.

We admonish everyone with these words by Apostle Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 which reads; “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” (AMP)

S.G.D

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong

General Secretary