Clergyman condemns prosperity gospel - Asserts practice affects equitable wealth distribution

The overconcentration of church sermons on material wealth is breeding greedy and covetous individuals in the country, a senior pastor at Crossroads Community Church, Dr Kwabena J. Darkwa Amanor, has said.

That, he said, was affecting the equitable distribution of wealth and impoverishing more people at the expense of others; hence, the need for churches to shift from what he described as the prosperity gospel.

“Unfortunately, many churches are prosperity churches and instead of teaching the true gospel such as giving to the poor, they are rather teaching that one person can have as much as he wants so long as it is God who is giving it to them, but the true gospel is about using one's blessings to help the less fortunate, not selfish accumulation.

“When you emphasise material things, there will come a time when people become rich and won’t go to church,” he said. Dr Amanor made the call while delivering the 12th Berea lecture series at the Ghana Shippers House in Accra last Monday.  

Many church leaders from various denominations attended the lecture, which was on the theme: “Covetousness: an unsuspecting hindrance to the Kingdom inheritance”.

It was chaired by educationist Matilda Amissah-Arthur, who is also the wife of former Vice-President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

Wealth distribution

On wealth distribution, Dr Amanor explained that currently, a small fraction of the population controlled a disproportionate amount of the nation's resources, while many Ghanaians struggled in poverty.

"One person wants to own 10 houses, while someone else doesn't even have a home; meanwhile, the national wealth belongs to all of us, but only a few people get to enjoy it.

“If those who manage our economy and finances know that they don't have to be greedy or covetous, Ghana's wealth could be more equitably distributed,” he added.

He, therefore, urged the public, including the country’s leaders, to shun greed and covetousness, adding: “The true riches are found in sharing what we have with those in need”. 

Relationship

For his part, the President of Trinity Theological Seminary, Rev. Prof. Frederick Mawusi Amevenku, said the fall of humanity into sin was nothing but a broken relationship between God and humanity.

He, therefore, urged Christians to make conscious efforts to spread holiness. Mrs Amissah-Arthur said the issue of covetousness was embedded in the very fabric of public lives, adding that Christians must be vigilant against the sins that entrap them in their walk with God.

 "We have to be careful. We must open our eyes to what is entrapping us and ensure that we are rich in our souls and spirits,” she said.