THE CHURCH IS NOT AGAINST SINNERS BUT SIN—–REVEREND RANSFORD OBENG AFFIRMS.
The Chairman of Kumasi Ministers Fellowship, Reverend Ransford Obeng says the church of God will never persecute persons whose sexual orientation or make up is contrary to the acceptable patterns in the Bible.
He, however, noted that the church will not condone or accept the practices and behavior of homosexuals or the LGBTQ group since that would be in contravention of the teachings of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Addressing some media persons in Kumasi at their monthly meeting at the Maranatha Evangelistic Ministries about the rights some homosexual groups are seeking, Rev Obeng said the church just like God Almighty loves sinners but hates sin.
He therefore appealed to persons who may be in such lifestyles to be open about it to Pastors or counselors and by thus seeking support to deal with such sub-standard lifestyles as described by the Bible.
‘’As ministers of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus and as people whose lives are governed by the Bible we stop where they Bible urges us to and if the Bible is against the practice of homosexuals we are also against it but we love sinners just as Christ loves them and wants them to repent’’, Rev Obeng firmly stated.
SCRIPTURAL BACKING:
Reading portions of the scriptures from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible to back his arguments, Rev Obeng who is also the General Overseer of Calvary Charismatic Center, (CCC) said nothing backs the practice of homosexuality in act or deed.
He posited that Leviticus 18:22 says “do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable’’.
Rev Obeng added that Leviticus 20:13 says “if a man has sex with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death and their blood will be on their own heads”.
Buttressing his points with a quotation from the New Testament too, the Chairman of the Kumasi Ministers Fellowship said, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 reads “or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God”.
‘’From all the scriptures above it is clear that the actions and behaviors of gays and lesbians are an abomination to the Lord God and so nothing should be made to make them look as if their practices are acceptable because in actual sense they are detestable’’, the Chairman noted.
COMMENDATION OF PREZ AKUFO-ADDO:
The Chairman on behalf of the Ministers of the Gospel in Kumasi commended the President for the bold declaration against the gay movement.
Rev Obeng noted that such a firm stance on the matter would put some fear into the LGBTQ lobbyists whose desire is to push for legislation in countries where their lifestyles which many see as substandard are not accepted.
He noted that the church of Ghana especially those in Kumasi were happy that as a Christian the President had come out to reject what the Bible rejects.
Rev Obeng rallied the church to pray for the President to lead the nation well and to have the confidence and conviction to take bold decisions that would help preserve both the religious and cultural values of Ghanaians as a people.
‘’It is always good to have the nation’s leader bring finality to matters of national debate and for him as a Christian to say he has no plans of seeking legislation or leading a move to make the acts of LGBTQIA legal is heartwarming’’, Rev Obeng applauded.
