Cape Coast: Pastor Dr Mensah Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has advised Christians against the creeping culture of idolizing pastors as so-called ‘church god,’ anointing oil, and altars in worship. He stressed that the one true God of all creation was universal and could not be localized in any particular church, idolized, or confined to any particular man, church, or human figure, labeling such practices as ‘false doctrine.’
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Otabil made these remarks during the consecration of the ICGC Exalted Temple at Abura in Cape Coast. He clarified the biblical meaning of the ‘God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,’ explaining that these titles referred to the one true God who made a covenant with the patriarchs based on faith and obedience. He criticized ministers of God or Christians seeking personal fame by likening themselves to these biblical figures without fulfilling the spiritual prerequisites, describing such actions as misleading and unfortunate.
Dr Otabil also noted the ‘strange’ practice in some churches where junior pastors give senior pastors a form of spiritual authority and grace that should belong only to God. He argued that this has led to the worship of human leaders instead of God, distorting true Christian faith and practice. He called on Christians to introspect and realign with biblical faith to avoid doctrinal errors or spiritual excesses, particularly questioning the notion of altars being treated as possessing special divine power.
Furthermore, he addressed the shift from the traditional biblical practice of anointing with a finger to pouring oil directly on people’s heads, questioning its biblical basis and suggesting it may lack scriptural support. Dr Otabil urged Christians to keep Christ at the center of their faith, reject outsourcing their spiritual lives, and avoid seeking spiritual power through money or intermediaries. Instead, believers should cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the sole source of true power, grace, and salvation, a mission central to ICGC’s vision of spiritual renewal across generations.
Reflecting on over 25 years of the church’s journey, Pastor Jepson Ahene, Resident Pastor of the Exalted Temple, cited Psalm 127:1 to emphasize that the Lord is the true builder of the church. He described the temple as a beacon of hope and a sanctuary for transformation, calling the congregation to rededicate their hearts to Christ’s mission. The vision for the Exalted Temple was conceived in 1998 by Pastor Kingsley Akwasi Prempeh, with initial services held in homes from 1999 until the acquisition of land and the start of constructing a 1,300-capacity auditorium with a basement in 2003. The basement was completed in 2006, and the congregation moved in while construction continued. Additional facilities were added over the years to support the growing ministry and membership, which currently includes 450 adults, 115 youth, and 150 children.