At the consecration ceremony of the ICGC Exalted Temple in Cape Coast, renowned preacher and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr Mensa Otabil, used the moment to caution Christians against increasingly popular church practices that border on idolatry.
Dr Otabil raised concern over how some believers have begun treating pastors, church altars, and anointing oil with reverence that should be reserved for God alone. According to him, these practices do not align with the core of Christian doctrine and instead reflect dangerous shifts in focus from divine worship to human-centered rituals.
Referencing the biblical title “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” Dr Otabil explained that this phrase points to a covenant relationship rooted in faith and obedience—not status or lineage. He criticised the way some ministers today invoke these titles to claim divine authority for themselves without living out the spiritual foundations they represent.
Of particular concern to him is how some pastors have been elevated by their followers to a status that blurs the line between spiritual leadership and worship. He warned that granting spiritual powers to church leaders as if they hold God’s authority is not only misleading but corrupts the purity of Christian faith.
The use of altars and anointing oil also came under scrutiny. Dr Otabil questioned why modern-day church practices have shifted from the biblical approach of applying oil with a finger to the extravagant act of pouring oil over people’s heads. He argued that such deviations from scriptural instruction may signal a misunderstanding of the symbolism behind anointing.
Likewise, he challenged the overemphasis on physical altars, stating that while altars may hold symbolic significance, they do not possess any inherent spiritual power. Treating them as sacred objects capable of bestowing miracles, he said, borders on superstition rather than true faith.
Calling on Christians to re-evaluate their faith journey, Dr Otabil encouraged believers to stop outsourcing their spirituality to others—be it pastors or religious objects—and instead cultivate a direct, personal relationship with Christ. He stressed that true spiritual power comes from Jesus alone, not from intermediaries or material offerings.
This message aligns with ICGC’s broader mission to inspire authentic spiritual renewal and challenge distorted doctrines that have taken root in sections of the modern church.
GNA
