The Christian Council of Ghana has called on religious leaders, especially those in the Christian faith, to ensure that their teachings and practices facilitate personal and national development to reflect the balanced teachings of Christ.
The Christian Council of Ghana has called on religious leaders, especially those in the Christian faith, to ensure that their teachings and practices facilitate personal and national development to reflect the balanced teachings of Christ.
It stressed the need for Ghanaians to use religion to build the country instead of destroying it, adding that “faith must facilitate the development of our families, communities and nation.”
A press statement issued by the Council and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, noted with concern the worrying trend of religious excesses in the country, especially within the Christian fraternity.
It said some self-styled ‘pastors’ who were engaged in religious excesses forbade their members from going to school, accessing health care and working to earn a living because they perceived such activities to be against the teachings of Christ.
Jesus embraced education
According to the statement, recent media reports of some churches disallowing children from attending school, and preventing pregnant women from accessing health care because they claimed Jesus never went to school or the hospital, were but a few of the widespread religious excesses in the country today.
“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 religious teachings and asking mind-boggling questions as recorded in Luke 2:46-47. He subjected himself and his disciples to the then pattern of education,” the statement said.
It expressed the view that such religious practices were a threat to public safety and undermined the socio-economic development efforts of the country, “especially in our attempt to meet development targets such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”
“Unfortunately, most of these excesses are practised and championed by ‘men and women of God’ who lack balanced understanding of the Bible and the teachings of Christ,” it stated.
Collective efforts needed
According to the council, the current trend required a collective national effort in addressing the issues before it turned to become a national disaster.
The statement, therefore, called on key stakeholders such as theologians who are knowledgeable in sound Christian teaching, the security agencies, judiciary, Department Of Social Welfare, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities and other government agencies to collaborate to provide a national response to it.
The council, in the statement, assured the nation of its preparedness to make available its expertise and facilities to support national efforts in addressing the excesses which had now become a menace.
