VICE-President John Mahama has underscored the need for the church to weed out false prophets and charlatans whose activities are denting the image of Christendom.
He observed that in contemporary times, the perception of Christian leadership was poisoned by the activities of some charlatans and false prophets who are driven by greed and lust of the flesh.
"The conduct of the numerous ordained pastors and ministers of the gospel of Christ ought to have a positive impact on our lives," he said in a homily delivered at a Christian education and leadership conference organised by the Emmanuel University College.
The conference, held under the auspices of the Royal House Chapel International, had the theme, "The role of christian education and leadership in fulfilling the church's great commission."
Vice-President Mahama stated, however, that notwithstanding the negative tendencies of some members of the clergy, "We must not focus on the messenger [though they are important] but look beyond the messenger and focus on the message."
He said the challenge to the present generation of christian leadership was how to ensure that the leadership style and trappings of the modern 'world' was not copied blindly, stressing that "Our message must focus on God's Kingdom."
"That is why the christian faith should groom exemplary leaders who through the structure and practical christian education system, must possess a strong empathy towards the Lord's flock and be willing to persevere through persecution or hardship for the sake of bringing back lost souls or flock back into the herd," he said.
The Vice-President stated further that the challenge of literacy and modernisation with its attendant abandonment of traditional values, leading to the breakdown of the extended family system and erosion of the spirit of selflessness, posed a challenge to both political and spiritual leaders.
Noting that the signs of the coming of the kingdom would be manifest in our current human society, he urged christians to take an interest in governance and world affairs to enable the gospel to spread much more.
In his welcome address, Right Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah, Apostle-General of the Royal House Chapel said the objectives of the conference were to create a veritable intellectual platform where current doctrinal and theological issues could be discussed.
It was also to create a powerful media platform where the church could address forcefully current social, economic, moral and political issues confronting our modern civilisation.
Story: Irene Ata-Donto
28/1/11
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