“Every Idea That is Not God-centered is Bogus” – Pastor Mensa Otabil

Accra, Ghana – Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has issued a strong warning against conforming to societal ideas that contradict biblical teachings, declaring that “every idea that is not God-centered is bogus.” He made these remarks during his sermon on the renewal of the mind at ICGC Christ Temple East in Accra, as part of his series titled Living for God.

In his message, Pastor Otabil, citing Romans 12:2, emphasized the transformative power of the Christian life, urging believers to reject worldly concepts and ideas that run counter to their faith. “The Bible says if you’re going to really live for God, don’t conform to this world. How do you do it? You have to reject godless ideas,” he stated.

He elaborated that while some of these ideas may come from highly educated individuals or prestigious academic institutions, their validity should not be determined by their origin but by their alignment with God’s principles. “Just because they have better education doesn’t mean they have better ideas. Every idea that is not God-centered and that is not Christ-centered is bogus,” Pastor Otabil declared.

In an impassioned section of his sermon, Pastor Otabil challenged the increasing acceptance of new gender ideologies that depart from traditional understandings. He noted how quickly society has shifted from clear definitions of male and female to a proliferation of gender identities. “A few years ago, everybody knew what a man was and what a woman was,” he remarked. “Now there are he’s, they’s, z’s, and me’s, with people saying there are about 23 genders. Are we crazy?” he questioned, adding that such ideas often come from “learned people” yet must be boldly rejected by Christians.

The pastor did not limit his critique to gender issues but also tackled popular philosophies like the belief that life is about personal happiness or that individuals are their own gods. He called such ideas “godless philosophies,” asserting that “life is not about your happiness, life is about divine purpose.” He further condemned the notion that a woman has absolute autonomy over her body when it involves another life during pregnancy, urging Christians to defend the sanctity of life.

Pastor Otabil’s message focused on the need for Christians to renew their minds continually in order to live out their faith authentically. “When you get born again, your mind does not get born again. If your mind becomes born again, it means every memory you have will be wiped out,” he explained. He stressed that while the Holy Spirit transforms the spirit, believers must take personal responsibility for renewing their minds by rejecting old ways of thinking and embracing godly principles.

He also cautioned against conforming to the pressures of modern society, particularly in the context of youth culture and social media. “Young people are facing a lot of pressure… There are Christians who are on weed, smoking weed because they are under pressure. Anything that makes you lose control of your normal thinking process is not good for you,” Pastor Otabil warned, urging the congregation to resist such temptations.

In conclusion, Pastor Otabil encouraged believers to be bold in rejecting ideas that do not align with God’s Word, emphasizing that the process of transformation requires a constant renewal of the mind. “If you want to live for God, you must be bold to reject godless ideas,” he affirmed.

His sermon underscored the importance of discerning between worldly wisdom and godly truth, and it served as a call to Christians to stand firm in their faith, regardless of societal pressures.