Founder and Senior Pastor of Agape House New Testament Church Reverend Dr. Richard Whitcomb has said building a national cathedral does not bring the presence of God much as a humble heart does. He urged Ghanaians to focus on building themselves and working towards making their hearts right and humble.
He indicated that he is neither for nor against the construction of the cathedral but is more concerned about the spiritual implications of building a national cathedral.
“Herein friends, is the grave danger we face as we debate over building a national cathedral, you can build it but it doesn’t bring the presence of God… I’m not for or against the national cathedral. I’m not speaking to you today as a politician, I’m speaking as a prophet. You can build the national cathedral but that will not guarantee the presence of God.”
His statement comes in the wake of the debate about the national cathedral. Some are of the view that the country has need of other facilities which are more pressing than the construction of a national cathedral.
According to Rev Whitcomb, having a national cathedral with proud leaders does not guarantee the presence of God.
“God opposes the proud and dwells with the humble. I will rather be a humble nation without the national cathedral than a proud nation with a national cathedral because if you have a national cathedral but your leaders are proud God’s presence will be far from you. But if you have no national cathedral, no temple at all, your hearts are humbled the presence of the lord will dwell with you.”
He cited America as one of the countries which has a well-equipped national cathedral but has sin and waywardness clouding the judgement of its citizens.
Quoting the scripture Acts 7: 48-50, he said.
“After all they have a national cathedral in USA and it’s a backsliding, sin filled perverted country, apologies to the Americans. I’m not speaking for or against the national cathedral, I’m not a politician, I’m not speaking today about the political, legal or financial implications of building a national cathedral. I’m a voice from God speaking you about the spiritual implications of misunderstanding God’s holy place. God doesn’t dwell on national cathedrals or in temples, He doesn’t dwell in buildings made by hands. He came to live amongst us so that He might live within us.”
Background
President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2017 cut sod for the construction of a National Cathedral to serve as a national non-denominational Christian worship centre for the country.
To begin the construction of the national cathedral, some nine justices of the Court of Appeal as well as other judicial staff occupying bungalows around the site earmarked for the project, were asked to vacate to make way for the construction of the 5,000-seater capacity facility.
They are to move into temporary residential buildings pending the construction of some 21 new bungalows on the Second Circular Road – Cantonments in Accra.
Source: ghanaweb.com
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Kindly help us with scriptures where the bible says the Apostles were afraid. Many Christians are not willing and ready to KNOW the truth themselves.
And who said they were afraid. Don't be deceived. They were ready to die for they gospel. Don't even go there.Acts 21:13, Acts 4:29.
@ Glory to God: The apostles, for fear of persecution were meeting in their various houses to worship God. In this time of age when Christianity has been accepted, do we need to lit a candle and put it under the bed? Christ destroyed the 'temple' and in 3 days restored it. This same Christ gave those who believe in Him the power to perform greater things than He did. Such persons are putting up structures to the Glory of God.
Is it not in the same Bible that God ordered Solomon to build him a temple in all its glory so men could worship Him there?Of course God dwells in the hearts of people but does this priest not have a place where he and his flock worship?Just as in the drone narrative those who want to distract from the issues fixate on the supply of blood to remote regions deliberately refusing to acknowledge the fact that blood is only one of the medical supplies that the drones will be carrying around. There are many other uses the national Cathedral would be put to if I remember correctly.Why must we debate everything before we implement?We love to ***barred word*** in this country too much.
Yes,God doesn't dwell in buildings,yet he deserves to be worshipped in the most expensive and splashed temple ever,if we build multimillion dollar theatres,and sports stadia for ***barred word***.Only the devils oppose any good thing for God.
God bless you, so the focus is the people not the temple. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
This same house Christ said it was the house of God. He went further to say I will destroy this house and build it in three days. Don't allow yourself to be deceived. He did that when he died and resurrected. He is saying now I will live in the temple which i have built with my hand (Your body). The apostles never built a temple because they understood the scriptures. They were meeting in their houses and any place that was available. Their focus was the people and it was recorded in the book of Acts that Neither was there any among them that lacked (Acts 4:32-35). Glory be to God
Every good thing to honour God is opposed by the devil as a threat to his kingdom.So is this Cathedral to honour God. These agents of the devil should research for the purpose of the: Tabernacle, Temple, Synagogue. Please don't expose your feeble mindedness.
When Jesus threw out those buying and selling in a temple, overturning their tables, He made this statement: 'My house would be called a house of prayer and not a den of ***barred word***' (Mathew 21 vs12-13). Jesus was giving recognition to the sanctity of the temple as a place of worship and reverence to God. Our worry should not be over the building of the Cathedral but it's intended purpose. The building of a National Cathedral to honour God is good and as to whether that will be a dwelling place of God is not for humans to judge. Clearly, the scriptures says God resides in our hearts (Ephesians 3 vs 17) and everywhere that 2 or more persons are gathered in His name(Mathew 18 vs 20). LET US NOT USE THE CATHEDRAL FOR UNHOLY PURPOSES if it is built. The importance of temples to God was amply demonstrated by Jesus. Rev Witcomb,I don't think when you preach you tell your congregation that God's presence is not at the premises where you give your sermons.
so why does this guy have a church building, by his argument? we all know he used to rent a space at menzvik hotel. SMH if chinese are not allowed to have retail shops i suggest foreihners must not be allowed to have their own churches unless they have an already established church which is thriving in yheir own countries.