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Religion of Friday, 22 April 2011

Source: GNA

Christians urged to inculcate Christ's spirit of sacrifice

Accra, April 22, GNA- Christians have been urged to inculcate the spirit of sacrifice by doing things for others without looking for reward as exhibited by Christ when He died on the cross for mankind. Reverend Dr Kwesi Arthur- Mensah, Superintendent Minister in charge of Calvary Methodist Church said a virtue would help draw more people to the Christian faith and also make the death of Christ relevant to all.

Rev Arthur-Mensah, who was delivering his Good Friday sermon, extolled the qualities of sacrifice as exhibited by Christ when He died on the cross and called on Christians not to let the suffering of Christ be in vain. "Christ was a King, but for our sake He came down for mortal men to put Him through excruciating pain and shameful death," he said. He noted that, the work of God was not thriving as it should because Christians were not willing to make the needed sacrifices. Rev Arthur-Mensah praised European missionaries for their selflessness and willingness to travel to foreign lands to preach the Gospel.

He asked Christians to see suffering as part of the Christian life and called on Christians to look up to God only when faced with the challenges of life as He is the only One with solutions to all our problems.

"Christ went through a lot of pains for us, and as Christians we should also expect the same. When we are faced with the challenges of life, God expects that we look up to Him only for the best solution." He called on preachers not to centre their messages on prosperity but also preach about suffering as it was also part of the Christians life.

Rev Arthur- Mensah called on Christians to eschew sinful habits as that tend to bruise the wounds Jesus suffered at Calvary thereby making Him unhappy.

He bemoaned the high rate of conflicts in Africa and appealed to leaders on the Continent to endeavour to do the right things and eschew acts that might trigger conflicts. "African leaders must educate themselves a lot about sacrifice and learn to let the seats go when their time is due regardless of how difficult it might be," he advised.

Rev Arthur-Mensah urged politicians in the country to guard against politics of insult as the nation approached an electioneering year.

Rev Arthur- Mensah's message was on the theme: 93The Meaning of Christ's Suffering." 22 April 11