Pastor Mensa Otabil Identifies Four Popular but Misguided Views About Jesus

Accra, Ghana – In his latest sermon titled “Which Jesus?” Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), highlighted four popular but erroneous views about Jesus Christ. 

With striking clarity and thought-provoking arguments, he dissected these misconceptions, emphasizing the need for a proper biblical understanding of Jesus.

1. The Mythical Jesus

“The first view is what I call the mythical Jesus,” Pastor Otabil stated. This perspective suggests that Jesus Christ is a fictional character whose story was concocted by early Christians. Proponents of this view compare Jesus to legendary figures such as Hercules or Ananse, claiming His narrative serves only as a moral tale or a tool of oppression.

“There are people who say Jesus’ story was made up to oppress us, but the illogicality of this argument is not even funny,” he remarked. Pastor Otabil dismissed the notion that Christianity is a European invention, noting that Jesus was a historical figure from Galilee, of Jewish descent. “Christianity did not start from Europe,” he explained, adding that the Jews of Jesus’ time had a darker complexion, unlike the modern European Jews.

2. The Mortal Jesus

The second view portrays Jesus as a mere human. “The mortal Jesus says he’s just another human being—he was born, he lived, and he died, and that was the end of his story,” Otabil explained. This perspective equates Jesus to great historical leaders like Kwame Nkrumah or Nelson Mandela, acknowledging His existence but rejecting His resurrection and divine nature.

“People with this view do not think Jesus should be worshipped or that His words carry any divine authority,” he stated. According to Pastor Otabil, such individuals see Jesus as a kindhearted Jewish carpenter, but not as the risen Savior.

3. The Mystical Jesus

“The third view is the mystical Jesus,” Pastor Otabil continued. This perspective casts Jesus as a spiritual guru who attained divine status through enlightenment. Advocates liken Him to figures like Buddha or ascended masters in mysticism.

“Jesus is not a man who became God,” Pastor Otabil declared emphatically. “In Christianity, Jesus is God who became man.” He explained that viewing Jesus as a mystical figure undermines the uniqueness of His divine nature and mission.

4. The Modular Jesus

The final and perhaps most prevalent misconception is what Pastor Otabil called the modular Jesus. “This view says Jesus is whatever we want Him to be,” he explained, likening it to a buffet where people pick and choose what they like about Jesus while discarding the rest.

“Some say Jesus is all love and grace, but ignore that He also spoke of judgment and said some people will go to hell,” he pointed out. Pastor Otabil warned against reducing Jesus to a one-dimensional figure who merely aligns with personal preferences or social causes.

A Call for Biblical Understanding

Pastor Otabil concluded his sermon by urging Christians to embrace the totality of who Jesus is. “When we come to Christ, we don’t pick and choose. Of His fullness, we have all received,” he said, referencing the Gospel of John.

The sermon is part of a series Pastor Otabil intends to use to realign misconceptions about Jesus with biblical truths. “Hopefully, by the end of the year, we can help align your views properly to Christianity,” he said.

Conclusion

Through this enlightening teaching, Pastor Otabil underscored the need for Christians to critically examine their understanding of Jesus. 

Whether viewed as a myth, a mere mortal, a mystic, or a modular figure, these misconceptions fail to capture the profound and divine identity of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture.