The Church must kick against it
John 4:19-24
The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Government has plans to facilitate a pilgrimage of Christians to Israel like they have been doing for Muslims to Mecca and want us to believe it is a holy trip. smh
The first batch of pilgrims will leave the country on the 15th of July 2017 according to the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. Clearly, it only got to the public domain after everything was planned behind the scenes and presented to us when all was set like food served in restaurants.
I have always been against government involvement in the organization of Hajj because I believe that Muslims can organise their own pilgrimage and bear the full cost without need for any government interference.
I am of the view that people should go to every length to satisfy their religious obligations and do so fully at their own cost so that they merit the promised blessing that comes with it. If I give you money to pay your offering, it is my offering and the blessing will be mine. If you genuinely don’t have the means to embark on such travels, the God you serve should know and pardon you
Israel currently has no effect whatsoever on the believer and his relationship with God. It is at best a historical country that gets many tourists from all over the world and diverse religions because of its unique history
In view of this, going to Israel is at best a tour and in no way a spiritual exercise as we are being made to believe
Sadly, some well-known Pastors are calling the trip a Holy Trip. Israel is in no way a Holy Nation than Ghana is and means not an inch more to God than Ghana.
As Christians, we believe that the Spirit of God resides in us and that wherever we go, we go with him. He is not in my Church, he is in me. When I meet other believers to fellowship, we create an environment for Him to function for the corporate gain.
In view of this, it is very problematic when the believer begins to think of God at places and special locations, in things other than God in him and with him wherever he goes.
Touring Israel should be an individual’s decision and should not be institutionalized to make it the next burden on Christians in future.
From Rev Owusu Bempah who is a member of the board to oversee the pilgrimage, government, contrary to the views of people will not pay for airlifting people to Israel but will collaborate with authorities in the country and the various locations Christians would want to visit so that the process is made smoother. The question is: who is going to pay the board and make funds available for the task ahead?
Individuals, groups who have toured Isreal, started going on those tours a longtime ago and have never needed government. What has changed?
Clearly, it seems President Akuffo Addo is eager to pacify Rev Owusu Bempah and others for whatever spiritual role they claim to have played to ensure his victory.
All I can say is that suffering people don’t need to be moved by the prayers of another to vote for change.
The earlier President Nana Addo realises that pastors didn’t win him the elections and that he won by making fat promises that the good people of Ghana could not overlook the better.
A holy pilgrimage to Israel, sales of anointing oil, spiritual stickers and spiritual banners are all idolatry in disguise in the light of Christianity. The Jordan River remained a river after Jesus got baptised in it and aside its historical relevance, its spiritual relevance isn’t any different from that of River Pra, Densu and other rivers in the country.
The only difference is that Jordan hasn’t had to contend with galamsey.
Traveling to Israel to pray to God and to the Jordan River for a miracle is the same as going to River Pra for a miracle. If it is idolatry to expect miracles from River Birim, it is an expensive idolatry to seek same from River Jordan
Christians should instead be encouraged to believe in their personal prayers in their little corner and cut their over dependence on con men who disguise themselves as servants of God, take money to be seen and sell anointing oil 20 times more than the actual market value of the product.
Some of these pastors claim to have acquired their oil from Israel
If government will not make any attempt to clampdown on the daylight exploitation of believers by these unscrupulous men who present themselves to be of God, they shouldn’t deny that village school boy a school desk by using money that can meet his need for a desk to satisfy the curiosity of already rich people.
With our cup in hand, we are all over the world borrowing money to develop this nation. We are too broke as a nation to think of sponsoring tours decorated with Christianity.
We have pupils in school buildings ready to fall on them but our government want to use part of our meagre resources to facilitate the leisure and tour of predominantly rich people to Israel.
Cry my beloved country.
Source: Isaac Kyei Andoh/[email protected]
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How little Re. Prof. Asante knows about pilgrimages. It is a pity. Pilgrimages commenced around 380 AD after the mother of Constantine, Helen, in her visions led to the discovery of the original cross of Christ. Lost, in the battle with Saladin by the Crusaders, these sites have been protected since Pope Urban IV times in 1095 AD. I now know that Duncan Williams takes the rich and affluent in his ACTION Church to Jerusalem to undertake the STATIONS OF THE CROSS. something which is the preserve of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Coptics
i am not against those who make pilgrimage. it it strengthens one's faith. however, i think successive governments have their priorities mis- placed. governments have no business funding pilgrimages when they cannot even fund water shortage problems and Toilets facilities for the general public. what sense does it make then for the government to fund individuals who have got monies and and have decided to embark on pilgrimage? will the government decide to fund individuals who want to tour other countries? it is a big disgrace and misplaced priority.
i don't blame the pastors, i blame the followers, for it is clearly written that "for lack of knowledge my people perish". Some pastors and people say so many negative things about Obinim but how different is Obinim from Duncan Williams. Obinim is for the illiterate and Duncan for the elite, apart from that i see no difference in their ways. we Ghanaians claim to be a peaceful country, apuuutccc when its just a bunch of fear stricken people. We are too shallow and must wake up, prayer without action is needless. Blame the people not the so called pastors. Amen
I beg to differ cos their s nothing wrong once its the concern to God. That place is not satanic but holy connected to Jesus Christ.
Yeah,You are Right, Look up the Heavenly Jerusalem. Old Earth & Old Sky Destroy, New Earth & Sky Created by God.
The writer has a point to say that government deep involvement in this Christian trips is not necessary and also that some pastors are taking advantage of the people these days and he should remember that these fake pastors emergence are prophesies in the Holy Bible but some of his pronouncements also indicate that he may not be a Christian. It is good to make your point plain and simple otherwise you will be seen to attacking the faith.
You made my day Massa. Wow!!!! I f we could all have this understanding. Boss, you are endowed with wisdom. God bless you!!!
I totally agree with you. Well written too. It is idolatory!! This practice must stop!!
brother i agree with you. some of our so called men of God are not but ***barred word*** finding every avenue to make money out of the same people coming to them for help. shame to them. great, well done brother
I'm sorry for the writer of this article and I believe he is anti Christ that's why he hate Christians pilgrimage to Isreal. I live in America and I know for sure almost all Evangelists in America have been on a pilgrimage to Isreal and I can tell you their Christianity is different from the one in Ghana, I don't really know which God those Christians in Ghana worship because even some pastors have kicked against that,and I don't doubt their opposing views because they have another they serve and even Kwaku Bonsam testify the god Ghanaians worship. If they are worshipping the living God why are they afraid to go to Isreal the home of JESUS? Some of them go to Benin and others why don't they sit in their bedrooms and pray to their Benin gods to visit them but they go there if that is not necessary. The Rev. Ministers and those Pastors are afraid because they are using the word to do their own business, they are afraid something may happen to them because of their love for money. It has come true to me because I always ask myself why Ghanaian pastors and Rev. Ministers hate going to Isreal except the Catholics who visit there every year the rest are afraid. God is a living God and no man can mess with him. I salute the Muslims for the enthusiasm they show in going to Mecca. Nigerian Christians go to Isreal on a pilgrimage but Ghanaian Christians are scared of the power that is there. Who are you deceiving? Yourselves. A whole Rev. Minister could ask the essence of that and I said Oooh my God, is this man a real man of God or he took theology as like any other course? God have mercy on the congregation who listen to these fake ministers and pastors who are scared to go to Isreal.