A worrying trend has crept into Ghanaian Christianity, Pastors pronouncing curses on others. By virtue of their work, Pastors wield influence on society and are to be it’s moral compass. Therefore, when Pastors engage in cursing others, a clear biblical teaching has been violated.
The Bible is not silent on the subject. James in his letter wrote about the poisonous nature of the human tongue and the harm it causes when not bridled and tamed. He calls for the taming of the tongue: a metaphor signifying controlled speech and words. He expressed astonishment about using the same tongue to bless and to curse.
With it [tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be (James 3:9-10).
“These things ought not to be so” must give pause to any Pastor who engages in the practice of hurling curses from the pulpit. It is unchristian, unbiblical and sinful.
A video of a famous Pastor in Ghana recently surfaced online with statements that can be akin to cursing. Here is a transcript of the words of the Pastor:
I saw a viral video…and a woman was addressing her bishops because her bishop was teaching on tithes and offerings and then quoted Malachi 3…. so he just said anyone who doesn’t pay God tithe and doesn’t give to God what God required the person is an armed robber… then the woman raised her hand and… said me the tithe I can pay but I choose not to pay because of what you people use the tithe for … All of you from bottom to head you are all armed robbers…. I was praying for her and I said ah, this woman has brought trouble on herself and her children by telling men of God that you’re all thieves bcos he is preaching tithe.
The Context
The Pastor’s comments was in response to another viral video of a heated exchange that took place in a branch of one of the established Christian denominations in Ghana between a congregant and her Pastor over disagreements on tithe.
Now the Pastor’s pronouncement over the matter caught my attention because in 2017, a similar pronouncement of curses was made against a community in Ghana over the killing of a Major in the Ghana Armed forces for mistaken identity. Commenting on that incident, this same Pastor pronounced a curse on the youth in the community: no youth will go past 33 years in the town – the age of Maj. Mahama when he was murdered…there will be no leader in the town, having killed a commander of an army.¹ He later clarified his pronouncement saying he was bringing “to the attention of the community and the nation what is biblically true;that in life we do reap what we sow”²
When I saw this present video, I asked myself “What is it about curses with this Pastor?”
A Culture of Intimidation
This is not an isolated incident. It is ubiquitous in Ghanaian Christianity with some Pastors cursing without hesitation. This stems from a culture of intimidation with some Pastors portraying themselves as beyond criticism. And most often, any criticism of Pastors is deemed to be speaking against God’s anointed: “touch not my anointed, do my prophets no harm” Psalm 105:15.
While I admit the woman in question erred in her tone and language in her exchange with her Pastor, I don’t see any justification that she has brought trouble upon herself and her children. That statement comes from a place of non-existent power and authority that some preachers have arrogated to themselves.
A Distorted View Of Biblical Teaching
Some Ghanaian Pastors still preach curses passed on from ancestral lineage in the life of believers. There is a common belief also propagated by some Pastors that Christians can bring curses on themselves based on their words and actions. I believe it is this distorted view of biblical teachings underguirding curses on pulpits. The reasoning then is that if you speak against a preacher a misfortune will happen to you.
Blessed In Christ
Do we truly appreciate the status of a believer in Christ? In Galatians, Paul writing to instruct the Galatians on their status in Christ through faith, reminded them that “Christ redeemed [them] from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for [them]—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14).
What Christ has accomplished for the believer is the blessing of salvation and freedom from any curse or pronouncement against the believer. The believer can join with Balaam whose attempt to curse God’s people turned into a blessing and say: “For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,‘What has God wrought!’” (Numbers 23:23)
Dear believer, nobody can pronounce a curse or misfortune on you. You are in Christ; safe and secured:
…If God is for us, who can be against us…Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies (Romans 8:31;33)
Notes
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