Use Easter celebrations to re-examine message of the Gospel - Rt-Rev. Martey

Right Reverend Professor Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has appealed to churches and their leaders to use Easter to re-examine the message of the Gospel they are preaching.

He said in an Easter message on Tuesday that some churches are sick, suffering from spiritual malnourishment as they have ignored the Word of God which brings true spiritual nourishment.

Rt Rev Prof Martey said some claiming to be church leaders lack integrity and ascribe to themselves academic qualifications and church titles that they know they do not deserve.

He said some also claim to have received ordination without any credible Bible believing and practicing church.

Rt Rev Prof Martey said, some institutions describing themselves as “Bible Colleges” and “Seminaries” without any accreditation are awarding high degrees after just a few days’ seminar.

He said these institutions ordain uninformed candidates without knowing the church into which they are ordaining them.

He asked "Is there any wonder that Ghana and surrounding countries abound with charlatan pastors who do not care about immoral acts, fraudulent behaviour, unethical conduct and the giving of false prophecies?".

He said “Those who take God seriously will not keep silent over their faith, and will not fail to act what they believe in, even at the cost of their reputation, their jobs or their lives."

Right Rev Prof Martey said, Christian faith compelled Christians and the Church to embark upon constructive engagement with the government and the political leadership to promote growth and sustainable development.

He said, Ghana is confronted with corruption, armed robbery, intolerance, drug abuse, ritual murders and greed, and commended the government for its bold decision in instituting measures to investigate the judgment debt payment saga that had engaged the attention of the country for some time now.

“This move, if properly handled, would restore the confidence of the ordinary citizen in the governance process."

Rt-Rev. Martey said if there was any lesson to learn from the judgment debt payment saga, it should be able to activate public consciousness so that both the citizenry and various arms of government would be vigilant so that the legal system would not be misused to perpetuate the very abuses and crimes it had been established to prevent.

"It is our hope that investigations would be conducted in a very transparent and fair manner to serve our national interest," the Moderator added.**