Pastor Otabil Cautions: “The Enemy of the Church Is Internal, Not External”

LOB Team I www.livingourbible.com

Cape Coast, Ghana — The 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving and Dedication Service of ICGC Exalted Temple took place on Friday, April 25, 2025. General Overseer Rev. Dr. Mensa Otabil delivered a sobering reminder about the true threats facing the church today.

In his address, Rev. Otabil emphasized that while many often look outside the church for opposition, the real danger lies within. “The church’s enemy is not demonic or external. The church’s enemy is its own self,” he stated plainly.

He further explained that deviation from Christ-centered doctrine poses a far greater threat than any external attack. “False beliefs, traditions that replace Christ, and subtle shifts in our focus from Jesus to other things — these are the real dangers,” Rev. Otabil warned.

He drew from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5. He likened the church to a city set on a hill. This emphasized the need for steadfastness. “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. But if we forget the foundation—Jesus Christ—then even a city on a hill can collapse from within,” he said.

Rev. Otabil cautioned against the rising tendencies to elevate practices, personalities, and traditions above Christ Himself. “Do not replace Jesus with oil, with altars, or with the so-called ‘grace upon a man.’ Our only grace is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he urged passionately.

His remarks served as a heartfelt call for believers. They should guard the integrity of their faith. They must guarantee that Christ remains at the center of all Christian life and worship.

“Let us defend the purity of our faith, not by fighting outsiders, but by staying true to Christ within,” Rev. Otabil concluded to resounding applause.