Use Your Pulpits To Fight Corruption In Ghana

One of the most devastating frauds Satan cleverly has running is preventing the church from using its pulpits to fight corruption in Ghana and in many other African countries. Transparency International (TI) define corruption as “the abuse or the misuse of entrusted public power for private gain or benefit”. Though there are several definitions of corruption, the denominator is abusing power for private gain. A recent publication in usnews.com (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/10-most-corrupt-countries-ranked-by-perception) ranked Ghana amongst the 10 most perceived corrupt countries in the world.

A visit to websites of almost all the media houses globally will reveal reports of corruption scandals at governmental, organizational and in social settings. Corruption is a frequently discussed topic amongst citizens in most, if not all African countries and amongst Africans in the diaspora. Research findings suggests that corruption is the number one problem in the world with its unequal distribution of the social good. Citizens in most countries including Ghana are demanding the elimination of this sadistic practice. Though legislation has the potency to fight and to scare people from engaging in corruption related practices, society, including Christians has a duty of being partakers in this fight. Christians are obligated to display ethical, moral and spiritual attitudes towards transforming society from unethical, immoral, corruption laden and unspiritual attitudes.

According to Leslie Holmes (2015:1), the rise of the Protestant Reformation was in response to the perception of corrupt practices by the Roman Catholic Church in the improper sale of indulgences. Protestantism grew to become the second largest Christian group in the world because of the fight against the exploitation of Gods people. What is the protestant, the Pentecostal and the charismatic churches doing about corruption in Ghana today?

I understand that more than 70 percent of Ghanaians are Christians, which could mean that some Christians are part of those unleashing corruption in our country. It could be fair to suggest that majority of corrupt people in Ghana are Christians. What is the church doing about this? Is the church devoting more time to preach and to teach against corruption? The answer is most likely a big no. You may contest my position, but I believe it could be difficult to prove otherwise. How many Pastors, Revenants, Bishops, Evangelists, Arch Bishops, Priests, Generals and Lieutenants preach on corruption in the course of a year? I do not have the answer, but my guess is that most of these Men of God have never and may never preach on corruption in their Churches. Those who do might do it once, twice or thrice in a year because of ignorance and some because of gain. So why are they not prioritizing on teaching against corruption, which is fast destroying our country through disadvantaging the majority? The men of God should answer this question.

Some of you might be wondering if there are scriptures in the Bible about corruption and I will address your wonder shortly. Let me begin by declaring this from the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 13:1, the Bible declares that “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established”. By this declaration, I will be using three scriptures from the Bible to prove that corruption is unchristian and unbiblical.

Firstly, Genesis 6:12 say thus; “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” (KJV). This was in the days of Noah and after this scripture, the next scriptures foretell of the destruction of this earth because of corruption. Secondly, 2 Peter 2:20 says thus; “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning” (NIV). This scripture is provocative and highlights the importance of Christians remaining uncorrupted after knowing that God abhors such practice. Refusal or otherwise by men of God to teach and preach against corruption will potentially make their corrupt congregants worse off at the end. Finally, in Deuteronomy 31: 27-29 (KJV), Moses preached the following sermon to the children of Israel; “For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? 28 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. 29 For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands”.

The three scriptures above portrays how God dislike corruption. These days, some Christians are brave enough to donate unverifiable sums of money to their churches without anyone questioning them. Others will live lifestyles, which their salaries or business/s cannot support, and yet nobody will question them. I challenge every church in Ghana to make it a duty to ascertain the source of funds coming into their churches and to rebuke people who indulge in corrupt practices. I also challenge churches in Ghana to institute committees in their churches to investigate members linked with corruption related issues. When your members give testimonies that hints of corruption, subject them to enquiry, interrogate them and rebuke them if necessary. When politicians visit your churches, be strong enough to tell them what the Bible says about corruption. Speak to them just as Moses did in the above scripture.

If sermons and teachings from pulpits in Ghana hit hard on corruption, our nation is likely to witness a change. Hello men of God, be bold, strong and courageous in using your pulpits to sensitize and to instil in your members the teachings of the Bible concerning corruption. This call is unto the true men of God. May God help you in the name of Yeshua as you take up this task.