The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, has called on Presbyterians and the wider Christian community to stand firmly against false doctrines and teachings that are contrary to the Word of God.
“Heresy is not of God,” the Moderator stated, warning that the spread of wrong doctrine continues to threaten the Church. He therefore urged Christians, particularly church leaders, to remain firmly grounded in Scripture and courageous in defending the truth of the Gospel.
The Moderator made the call while preaching on the significance of Reformation Day at the Emmanuel Congregation, Akyem Oda, during the induction service of the Chairperson of the West Akyem Presbytery, Rev. Charles Baah Ankrah.
Providing historical context for his admonition, the Moderator traced the development of the Christian Church from the apostolic era, noting that Christianity spread through centres such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome and Constantinople. He explained that these centres became influential hubs of Christian leadership as the Church grew beyond its earliest congregations.
According to the Moderator, debates over leadership and authority gradually created divisions within the Church, eventually resulting in the separation of the Eastern and Western traditions. While the Eastern Church became associated with Constantinople, the Western Church aligned itself with Rome.
He explained that by the late medieval period, several practices had emerged within the Church that drew widespread criticism. Among these were simony, the buying and selling of ecclesiastical offices and the sale of indulgences, which were promoted as certificates granting pardon for sins. These practices, he noted, shifted attention away from the central message of salvation through Christ.
He added that reform-minded Christians became deeply troubled by these developments, provoking reformers including Martin Luther, who challenged teachings and practices that lacked biblical foundation. According to the Moderator, Luther’s actions and those of other reformers marked a turning point in the history of Christianity.
Their insistence on the authority of Scripture gave rise to the Protestant Reformation, a development that profoundly reshaped the Christian Church and laid the foundations for traditions such as Presbyterianism.
“The church was being spoilt, but God used men to stand up against these things,” the Moderator said, noting that the reformers demonstrated remarkable courage by confronting error despite fierce opposition. The Moderator urged Christians not to be passive when confronted with teachings that distort the Gospel.
By Jerome Otchere
