THEME: THE FAILURE OF RELIGIOUS PRETENSE AND THE CALL FOR A GOD-ORDERED NATIONAL IDENTITY

The lead article of The Watchman (Issue 06/04/09) deserves serious attention from all Ghanaians, particularly the Church Body in the land. In this response, we posit an answer as a contribution to the prayerful consideration and conscious deliberations of both the Church body and the Editorial Board of The Watchman.

The answer we posit is this: We do not know nor care about God, and we do not truly love our country. All of us have gone astray, each in his own way, chasing shadows and phantoms—worshipping ‘graven’ images in the name of religion and nationalism. Our humble submission in this respect is that many a ‘Christians’ has not sought the face of the LORD GOD MOST HIGH for information regarding His will, plans, and direction for the country and national affairs.

Instead, we our own agenda and pursue them—often half-heartedly, but more frequently with uninformed and misdirected zeal that lacks the knowledge, direction and zeal of God. We may baptize these efforts as ‘Christian action,’ but they remain nothing more than “whited sepulchers”. They are born of worldly agendas, based on human understanding and earthly kingdom considerations, rather than the direction of Christ.”

Consequently, in the wake of Election 2008 and its aftermath, Christians and the Church body have become fractured by party affiliation and worldly interests—driven by personal gain, ethnic ideology, and religious politics. It is not God, not Christ, and not Ghana that leads us.

It is no wonder we are divided over personalities, party lines, and national agendas, and where President Mills plans to take the country— even questioning whether ‘dousing’ the Castle walls with prayer and tears is a righteous act or a mere performance. We are fundamentally divided over the very object of our devotion: To which God are we praying? Is it to Satan, Mammon, or Jesus Christ? Will God hear and direct affairs really if for example the ‘Mills vision Ghana’— is not aligned with the GOD AND HIS CHRIST VISION FOR GHANA?

But as the Bible says, the Holy Spirit, is not a Spirit of confusion. Thus, if we are honest to ourselves, God is not in there with us, in all our debates, insults, and confusion. We exhibit no Christian charity, nor do we offer humble, informed, and knowledgeable responses in the debate.  Debates persist only because we continue to present our ‘graven images’ and represent our own narrow interests rather than God’s.

Dear Mr. Editor, permit me to state in this connection that I am also sad, indeed sorely disappointed before God, that Mr. Divine P. Kumah, in  his “Watchman” duties, could excuse Nkrumah, Acheampong, Rawlings, and Kufuor “reported flirtations” and/or real alliance with Satanic forces, for the control of God’s chosen country, Ghana.

What is the truth of the matter to The Watchman? Are these alliances merely ‘political drama’ which must be stopped or allowed to continue if Mills on his part is perceived by some to be playing the ‘religious card’ for ‘political advantage’? Where is the Holy Spirit, where is the Spirit of discernment or word of knowledge for that matter? What is the voice of God in this matter?

But the crux of the matter is that the Church people in Ghana is neither informed, knowledgeable nor in agreement regarding God’s will, plans, works, hand, and hope for the country. Instead of seeking divine counsel, everyone ‘pitches their tent’ wherever their feelings lead them.

We are tempted, accordingly, to declare that the God we worship is the God of our imaginations — an agenda of graven images. In some cases, the God we worship is the “God” of America or the “God” of Britain. And the Ghana we serve or have in mind is the America, Britain, foreign or so-called “home’ designed Ghana, not the God of Ghana, nor is it the God- ordered Ghana.

Though God the Father and Jesus Christ are one, and the Kingdom of God is one, it does not follow that the church in America or Britain is perfectly faithful to the Father and Christ’s Kingdom Order. Nor does it follow that God will order the affairs of Ghana the same way He has handled, is handling, or will handle the affairs of America.

We are tempted to agree with Mr. Divine P. Kumah that there are indeed many enemies of Ghana. These enemies can be found at the gates of both the church-cum religious groups, and the political and social groups. Among them are foreign sponsored churches, church leaders, ministers, and elders as well as political party gurus, politicians, professionals, the public and private sector executives in good standing in churches and political parties. Many of these leaders look at the Ghana of our birth through tainted, borrowed, and imposed-imported glasses.

What do we do when the church is so divided? When no political party, ideology, or manifesto has real majority conviction, acceptance, and support. Government policies based on such weak foundations are flawed and would receive no full, and well-meaning support and participation, unless the people are coerced by State and Government power, supported by heavily bribed or coerced media.

Sir, the problem Ghana faces today is that we do not know and honor the God we think we are praying to, nor do we have any idea as to His will, plans, and directions for the country. That is where the problem lies, and that is where repentance must be directed, not government alone. This is crucial if we are to see peace, righteousness, godliness, quiet, and progress in the land. While poverty, filth, corruption, and immorality are serious problems, they require medium-and long-term solutions that can only be arranged by righteous and godly people.

Repentance towards God and Faith in Christ—the Truth, True Worship, Righteousness, Holiness and Faithfulness— are the only viable, feasible, dependable and fast solutions for the church and nations beset by sin, the rejection of God, materialism, mammon worship, idolatry, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, faithlessness, and hypocrisy.

Sir, we end by declaring that it is God that builds nations; otherwise, men labor and watch but in vain. Thanks be to God, Ghana is chosen and is resting in the bosom of the Almighty. The shakings and fury of God against the wicked, hypocrisy, idol worship, and ‘religious game- playing’ will but confirm the Peace and Security of Ghana in the hands of God.

Surely, all of us have gone astray, and gone our own ways. We know not, nor honor the God of Ghana—the Creator of heaven and earth— and Jesus Christ, the Saviour, Redeemer, and King of Glory. This is what is wrong with us!

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.” (Psalm 33: 12)

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14: 34)

April 6, 2009