The General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church, Pastor Dr. Mensa Otabil, has cautioned against the growing trend of idolizing pastors, anointing oils, and altars within Christian worship.
Delivering a sermon at the dedication of the ICGC Exalted Temple at Kakumdo, Cape Coast, Dr. Mensa Otabil described such practices as unsound doctrines which are inconsistent with biblical teachings.
He emphasized that God cannot be confined to any individual, church, or object, and warned against what he described as the “false doctrine” of exalting religious leaders to divine status.
Dr. Otabil criticized the elevation of senior pastors by their junior counterparts, arguing that it fosters a form of spiritual dependency that detracts from true worship.
He warned against this, emphasizing that there is no transferrable grace from any man of God, and that the only grace that matters, is the grace of Jesus Christ.
“People read phrases like Paul says, you are partakers of my grace, and the question is, when we read the Bible, we just pick a statement and run with it,” he said. “So, ask yourself, what did Paul mean when he said that? He simply means you are partakers of the ministry that God has given to me…”
“Just like me saying you are part of the ICGC…It doesn’t mean there’s a special grace in ICGC you are partaking of, but that you are part of this family that we have put together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
He also questioned the increasing practice of pouring anointing oil directly on worshippers’ heads, describing it as a deviation from scriptural tradition.
He contrasts it with earlier practices where prayer was simply offered in the name of Jesus, based on biblical promises.
“There are even pastors who cannot pray unless they have oil. They ask, give me oil, give me oil. So, then you realize…it’s very subtle, but gradually the faith of the people is being moved from the simplicity of Christ to now anointing oil.
Pastor. Dr. Mensa Otabil stated that the church must defend itself from these “little things” that shift faith away from Jesus Christ.
He further stressed that altars should serve only as symbolic places of worship, not as sources of divine power themselves.
He explained the trend of attributing power to specific altars, houses of worship, or places such as “the God of this altar, the God of this house”- implies a flawed understanding that God is more present or effective in one location over another.
Calling for greater introspection among Christians, he urged the faithful to return to a Christ-centred doctrine and to build personal relationships with God rather than seeking spiritual shortcuts through intermediaries or material acts.
In his welcome address, Resident Pastor Jepson Ahene, reflected on the church’s growth over the past 25 years.
He described the Exalted Temple as a sanctuary of transformation and called on the congregation to renew their commitment to God’s mission.
“My very heart desire is that as we dedicate this temple to the Lord, we will dedicate our lives greatly unto the Lord that this place shall become a place where the Lord’s prayer and the character, everything that goes with Jesus, shall be present in this house. That this house should become a house of salvation and a house where God is centred.”
The church’s journey began in 1998, with early services held in members’ homes. A permanent structure followed, culminating in the current 1,300-seat auditorium, now home to a vibrant congregation of more than 700 members across age groups.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
