When the President of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo declared that he was about starting construction of the National Cathedral for Ghana as his own promise to God, it was greeted with mixed reactions.
Of course people in his political party (NPP) agreed and supported his decision and defended it as usual on radio, TV, and social media. The opposition party led by NDC embraced the view that it was not the best time to construct such a capital intensive project when the general condition of people is not the best.
Whereas those who support the venture have spelt out the spiritual and business blessings it will accrue to the country, some have also opposed and said it is needless since we have many church buildings in every community where people of the Christian faith can comfortably worship God. They share the view that it is spending money we don’t have that could be used to solve many other problems.
For me as a Bible student, to build or not to build is not my major concern. There is a broader scope to this whole discourse we often miss and meddle in political name calling. I have two points I want to share. What must be our major concern as Christians we clamour to build a cathedral in the name of Christ.
My first issue is that I have no problem with the building of the National Cathedral. We can choose to build one in each region of Ghana. No qualms from my side at all. In any case, churches keep building everyday.
#1. I Have No Problem
I think the main problem of other people has been the timing. If we are being told we have tight financial resources amidst crises such as COVID-19 and the Ukraine War, people are questioning why we use national resources to build cathedrals when workers are crying. Do you know why I have no problem? Because the political class will do it anyway.
#2. I Have A Problem
Now let’s turn to where I have a major problem. I am going to use a Scripture passage to analyze this part.
In II Chronicles 7:17-20, God told King Solomon that;
“As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’ “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”
Solomon had done a great work his father couldn’t do – he built a National Temple in Jerusalem for God. He had dedicated it and had a visitation from God. And the above are the words God said to him about how to live thereafter.
We can learn the following:
- Establishment Through Obedience
God was impressed about the work done but cautioned that what was more important was keeping His word.
When you read about all the people God chose to use, he always told them the same words – obey me and be established.
We can build 16 cathedrals to the glory of God but what will continually attract the visitation of God will be obedience to Him. The Psalmist says in Psalm 1:1-2 that;
“1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Again, Psalm 33:12 says that;
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”
Building the cathedral is not the problem but whether we will continue obeying God as a nation is the main concern. God’s promise is sure. If we obey Him, He will bless our homeland Ghana as our National Anthem so says.
“As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.’”
- Rejection Through Disobedience
The opposite side is also true. If we build a thousand cathedrals and fail to honour the word of God, He will reject our nation, attract His wrath, and punishment. There is nowhere in Scripture that one good act makes do for all other wrong acts we may commit.
In Genesis 2:17, God told Adam that on the day that they eat of the fruit, they will surely die (spiritually and physically). Disobedience calls for judgment and punishment. Truly, Adam and Eve were dead in sin on the day that they ate the forbidden fruit.
Lip service does nothing to move God. He sees our heart. In Genesis 6, the Lord assessed the heart of the people and concluded it was wicked. In John 2:24, the Bible says Jesus knew the heart of the people.
When Saul consistently disobeyed God, He said He had regretted making Saul a King of His people. God rejected Him from being King and never established his throne in Israel. (1 Samuel 15) If we build cathedrals and turn our back on God, He will turn His back on us.
“But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.”
God is looking for people who will build a cathedral and also not bow their knees to Baal. He is looking for people who have not sworn their heart to idols (Psalm 24). I want to live in a nation that exalts God in our words and deeds. I want to live in a nation that does not join the wicked to mock the name of God. My main problem is not building a cathedral but living to honour God.
I pray my nation will build cathedrals and still heed God’s word.
Eric Otchere
www.livingourbible.wordpress.com
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The people of the country are filled with rage. Why? Because “krom ay3hye”, basically implying the cost of living is unbearable and basic amenities are not available to make lives a bit comfortable. There’s so much turmoil in the lives of the people of the nation. Indeed, the government will go on ahead to pursue whatever they have put on paper, ignoring the plights of the people BUT GOD IS WATCHING!
May the Lord raise godly leaders, who will have the people’s needs at heart. The Lord will take care of His children. As for the cathedral de3, there’s not going to be an end of that matter.
We’re in the end of time; things will become tougher than they are today BUT THE LORD KNOWS WILL NOT ALLOW HIS CHILDREN TO BE SCORCHED BY THE FIRE NOR BE DROWNED IN THE WATERS
… Isaiah 43:2
It is well. God bless you, Sir
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This is meaningful contribution to the discussion. Bless you
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