Posts in category: Top Stories

INTRODUCTION

It appears that the universal church and other para-church organizations, in all their ministry outlets, have often abandoned celebrities when it comes to fulfilling the great commission in their past ministry efforts. Though the church is blessed to have a handful of celebrities among its members, a dedicated and organized ministry effort geared toward reaching out to celebrities has not yet been deployed.

The influx of celebritism, a distressing social disorder where a person seeks to achieve celebrity status without work, has been a concern. Faith communities, especially the church and other para-church organizations, must develop a robust outreach ministry toward winning celebrities.

The Church of Pentecost, the leading Classical Pentecostal church in Ghana, recently unveiled a ministry outlet toward reaching and winning celebrities for Christ Jesus in their new vision dubbed Vision 2028.

Reflecting prayerfully on the vision document of the church and the presentation made by Pastor Michael Laryea Jnr during the Global All Ministers and Wives Conference at the Pentecost Convention Centre, I chanced upon a passage from scripture in 1 Kings 10:1-13. I considered sharing the lessons I gleaned from the passage in this article.

This article will, therefore, attempt to give a brief background to the passage, providing some theological and personal reflections on the encounter between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. Proposed measures the Church of Pentecost and other faith communities must put in place to win and disciple these celebrities are interspersed within the article. In this piece, King Solomon represents the Church of Pentecost, and the Queen of Sheba represents the celebrity or celebrities.

A BRIEF BACKGROUND

Among all the queens in the Bible, none is as fascinating as the one who came from somewhere on the Persian Gulf to Jerusalem to prove for herself the profound wisdom of Solomon. What she heard from the king’s lips and saw of his wealth and power amazed her. We know nothing of her beauty, but she was certainly all that could be desired in this respect. While this queen’s name is not given in the Bible, Arab writers call her Balkis, and Ethiopian writers name her Makeda. The Abyssinians not only claim her as their ancient queen but also trace the descent of their present king from a son who, these traditions say, was born to her by Solomon. But such a contention is without any Biblical foundation. After her royal visit to Solomon, we read that she returned to “her own Country.”

WHAT SHE HEARD

From 1 Kings 10:1, the Bible says, “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relationship to the LORD, she came to test Solomon with hard questions.” She heard of the king’s fame and his relationship with God, prompting her to journey some 1,200 miles to hear and see him.

God used David to prepare the stage for Solomon’s reign, just as the forefathers of the Church of Pentecost prepared the grounds for possessing the nation’s agenda. Over the past five years, the church has equipped its members, deeming it appropriate to release the tremendous power inherent in the church (the members) to go and transform their world. This is the rationale behind the vision, “Possessing the Nations II” (Unleashing the Whole Church for the Transformation of the World with the Values and Principles of the Kingdom of God).

As members move beyond the frontiers of the church, they are expected to proclaim the good news through two means: their lifestyles (reflecting the values and principles of the kingdom of God) and their lips (via various forms of evangelism).

At the beginning of his reign, Solomon demonstrated the characteristics of an unleashed church. He developed a strong relationship with the Lord and showcased the values and principles of the kingdom of God through his lifestyle. These actions were so impactful, affirming the adage “actions speak louder than words.” The kingdom values and lifestyle of Solomon spread abroad, and many nations heard of his relationship with God. The Queen recognized the connection between Solomon’s wisdom and the God he served when she heard about his fame. Similarly, many nations have heard of the fame of the Church of Pentecost and its connection with the one true God.

However, Romans 10:14-15 states, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

According to the above scripture, the only means by which celebrities can hear the gospel is if the church prepares and goes to them in their world. Solomon’s fame reached the Queen because Sheba was a mercantile city, and Solomon had numerous ships doing business for him. As they engaged in commerce, they also preached about what the Lord was doing in Jerusalem through the wisdom of their king. As the church seeks to unleash its members into all spheres of life, members must be prepared to share the gospel, defend it with the values and principles of the kingdom of God, and proclaim the good news with their lips.

SHE CAME

When the Queen discovered the relationship between Solomon and God, she came to him. She arrived with a grand convoy of camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones. However, she brought more than material wealth—she also carried difficult questions.

Similarly, there are numerous celebrities visible on various social media platforms flaunting their wealth, estates, cars, and moving around town in convoys. They gather masses during their events, presenting a cheerful exterior, but deep wounds and voids often lie within them. They seek answers from different aspects of life.

It appears that the church had previously neglected some of these celebrities, leading some to join societies in search of solutions without success. The church is the only hope and answer for these struggling celebrities.

The Queen engaged in a meaningful conversation with Solomon, pouring out all that was in her heart. Solomon, in turn, provided answers to all her deepest questions, demonstrating that nothing was too difficult for the king to explain to her. It is my prayer that the Lord would endow the church (both clergy and laity) with the grace to answer and provide solutions to all the difficult questions and challenges the world and celebrities may present as we reach out to them with the gospel.

Furthermore, the church should establish strong roots in apologetics to effectively reach out to celebrities. Many celebrities have unanswered questions about evolution, Christology, heaven and hell, and the afterlife. Therefore, the church should intensify teachings on apologetics to equip members to provide answers when celebrities raise such questions.

Apostle Eric Nyamekye, in explaining the rationale for the 2024 theme, expressed that for the church to be attractive to the outside world, especially celebrities, and to be an effective force of change in the hands of God, “we have taught that the church must be credible — a glorious church. It must be beautiful to be looked upon by the watching world.” Thus, the church must be morally beautiful and doctrinally pure to attract the watching world.

Moreover, as most celebrities reside in urban centers, a unique approach to ministry in urban areas (the City Church concept) is essential. To stay relevant and make an impact in cities, the church must be willing to embrace change. Some practices of the church may need to be reviewed, as rural values that contributed to past success may prove counterproductive in an increasingly urbanized society.

King Solomon adapted to change by reviewing and improving upon most of the practices initiated by his father. This made his kingdom very attractive and popular. For the Church of Pentecost to forge ahead and be resilient in winning celebrities for Christ, some practices can be reviewed and improved upon to serve the current generation.

The Queen of Sheba witnessed many beautiful and admirable things during her visit to the king. The Church of Pentecost must leverage technology to promote Christian activities. Local assemblies, especially those in cities, should invest in technology to reach out to celebrities everywhere. Traditional methods of conducting services should be adjusted to reflect the tech-savvy orientation of people in the global village. The extensive use of the internet, social media platforms, online Bible schools, YouTube, overhead projectors, and more cannot be overemphasized in this era of unleashing the church to transform the world.

Additionally, due to the interconnectedness provided by PENSA International and various International Missions Blocks, the church must train members to the extent that every Christian (Church of Pentecost member) becomes a missionary wherever they find themselves. For example, well-trained members can reach out to their Facebook friends worldwide with the gospel, even in nations closed to the Christian faith.

The manifestation of God’s power at work in the church can also be an attractive tool to convert celebrities. The demonstration of God’s wisdom in Solomon attracted the Queen of Sheba. The clergy and elders must desire and yearn for the manifestation of the power of God in all their meetings. In its early stages, the Church of Pentecost became attractive to the outside world due to the demonstration of God’s power through miracles, divine healings, signs, and wonders. In Jesus’ ministry, the demonstration of God’s power through healing and various miraculous works drew crowds. If the church is to be attractive to onlookers, we must pray for the church to be filled with the manifestation of the power of God in all our meetings.

SHE SAW

Solomon’s wisdom excelled beyond that of the children of the east country. God added countless precious possessions, good administrative and organizational skills, and the magnificence of Jerusalem surpassed the Queen’s expectations. Solomon’s gorgeous palace, attended by servants, ministers, and cupbearers in splendid apparel, along with the beautiful house of the Lord adorned with gold, left the Queen almost speechless.

In the church’s pursuit of winning celebrities and cities for Christ, organizational and administrative lessons from Solomon can be invaluable. Celebrities, accustomed to a certain lifestyle due to their fame, require intentional preparation from the church. Designing and constructing churches to suit the post-modern generation, systematic seating arrangements, tidy facilities, rich sermons (uncompromised gospel), efficient ushering and protocol teams comparable to Solomon’s attendants, can attract and retain celebrities.

The overwhelming external wealth of Solomon left the Queen in awe, confessing that the reality surpassed the fame she had heard. Similarly, for the church to impress celebrities, state-of-the-art musical and audio-visual equipment, a dedicated choir, time management by church leadership, and professional protocol and ushering teams are crucial. Such efforts contribute to a positive experience for first-timers, including celebrities who may be church shopping.

Expressing gratitude for what she had witnessed, the Queen bestowed rare and costly gifts upon Solomon. The church, when well-positioned to reach out to celebrities, can recognize and utilize the inherent talents and gifts of celebrities. By bringing them on board, celebrities can impact their followers with the gospel message, transforming them for Christ.

If the church repositions itself effectively to reach out to celebrities, they, like the Queen of Sheba, carry talents and gifts that, when grounded in Christ, can be used to spread the message of Jesus Christ. These celebrities, with a significant following, have the potential to impact their followers with the beliefs of their newfound faith, leading them to transformation for Christ.

WHAT SHE RECEIVED AND HER TRANSFORMATION

The Queen’s gifts, though seemingly lavish, served as a tribute for what her ears had heard and her eyes had seen. Solomon, in his royal bounty, gave her all her desires, fulfilling her requests. While the material treasures he bestowed upon her were undoubtedly fabulous, the greatest treasure she took back was the spiritual and moral wisdom that God had instilled in Solomon’s heart.

Similarly, when celebrities are won for the Lord through the church, they too will come to the saving knowledge of Christ, becoming part of the family of God. The church, as a vessel of God, unveils His eternal intent and manifold wisdom to them. Celebrities receive salvation for their souls and, above all, the promise of eternal life.

Examining verse 9, one could argue that based on all the Queen saw and how Solomon answered her questions, she experienced transformation. Her proclamation, “Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel,” revealed a deep understanding of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord. While some theologians suggest her confession may only signify recognition of the Lord as Israel’s national God within the context of her polytheistic paganism, it’s plausible that she added Solomon’s God to her pantheon and gradually transformed her worship. Although scripture does not explicitly confirm her transformation, Jesus later commended her during His ministry, implying a transformation of sorts.

CONCLUSION

The visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon provides valuable lessons. Like the Queen heard of Solomon’s wisdom and his relationship with God, the world should recognize the Church not only for its magnificent buildings and social interventions but also for its unwavering relationship with the Lord God Almighty.

Solomon’s foresight in building his palace and the temple of God for the future serves as a lesson for the church. Building tomorrow’s church today with stateliness and excellence is essential for making a lasting impact. Continuous training, especially for the youth, on defending the Christian faith, maintaining hospitality excellence at church premises and members’ homes, and ensuring professionalism in the execution of tasks by protocol and ushering teams are crucial.

The clergy’s attention to music and sound in the church, as well as effective use of social media, is vital. Understanding, practicing, and reaching out to celebrities in their world empower the church to win them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Written by Pastor Emmanuel Opoku Mensah

The writer, Emmanuel Opoku Mensah is a Youth Pastor of The Church of Pentecost and is currently the Area Youth Pastor for La Area and the resident Pastor of Caprice Worship Centre. You may reach him through, emmanuelopokum1985@gmail.com or emmanuel.opoku-mensah@thecophq.org

Alas! Parliament has lived up to expectations by passing the mother of all Bills in the thirty-two-year history of the Fourth Republic of Ghana. On February 28, 2024, the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic passed the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill” (popularly called the Anti – LGBTQI+ Bill). The President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has to sign it (Presidential Assent) before it takes effect. This paper is intended to draw the attention of the President to the fact that over 98% of Ghanaians are expecting him to make the joy of Ghanaians full by giving his unequivocal and unflinching assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). The paper further accentuates that when the President boldly signs this Act, he will be remembered as one of the greatest leaders of Ghana for the following reasons:

#1. Delivering on Presidential Promises (Oseadeeyo)

His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo boldly signing this anti–LGBTQI+ Act will make him one of a few Presidents the world over who delivered on the major ground–breaking promises to their nations. On October 6, 2019, the President gave an assurance that “so long as he remains President, there is no way Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) will be introduced into the school curricula[2].” The President of the Republic cemented his stance on LGBTQ+ matters in Asante Mampong Anglican Church when he declared that “it will not be under the presidency of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that same-sex marriage will be legalised in Ghana; it will never happen in my time as president[3].” This statement made over 94.4% of Ghana’s population shout for joy, applauding the President for his bold stance. 94.4% of Ghanaians cheering on the President is such an overwhelming majority that no political party will ever gamble with them for any reason. Of course, the 94.4%[4] comprises 71.3% in the Christian community, 19.9% Muslims and 3.2% traditionalists conspicuously represented by our indefatigable chiefs and custodians of our culture. I believe that 4.5% of the population professing “Other Religions[5]” will support this Act, making it 98.9% of the Ghanaian population staring at the President earnestly expecting him to sign it. The remaining 1.1% are religiously unaffiliated population[6] who are known as religious “nones.”[7]

According to 2019 Pew Research Center survey, religiously unaffiliated adults – known as religious “nones” – are more likely to express accepting views of homosexuality. By this research finding[8], and by the legal maxim ex abundanti cautela, the 1.1% of Ghana’s population – religious “nones” – have been left out; otherwise, I would hold the view that 100% of the population of Ghana support the signing of the anti – LGBTQ Act. In any case, it will not be strange to declare that the whole country supports the signing of the anti–LGBTQ Act since Parliament (both Majority and Minority), representing the entire country, unanimously passed the Bill. Thus, our President should boldly proceed to sign the Act to make the joy of the Ghanaians complete.

#2. Meeting the Expectations of Ghanaians

Article 1(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that “[T]he Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised….”

Undoubtedly, the people of Ghana in whom sovereignty resides are represented by Parliament. In August 2023, when the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee presented the Bill to Parliament, all the 275 members[9] unanimously agreed that the Bill be accepted for consideration. It is not surprising that on February 28, 2024, the people’s representatives unanimously passed the Act. Indeed, the unanimity of Parliament on the anti–LGBTQ Act is an explicit statement to the President that almost every Ghanaian is keenly watching and waiting for the signing of the Act to make their joy complete. 

#3. Akin to the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society of the Gold Coast

History has an interesting way of repeating itself and vigilant leaders seize the opportunity for the advantage of their people. In the Gold Coast, the British cunningly attempted to usurp our land and natural resources, but the chiefs and our forefathers resisted. In 1894 and 1897[10], the British introduced the draft Land Bills[11] in the Gold Coast intended to vest ownership of unoccupied lands, minerals and forest resources in the Queen of England. I believe that the resistance by the chiefs gave impetus to some educated sons of our land to form the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society to resist the British annexation of the Gold Coast land. Men like John Mensah Sarbah (an astute lawyer like our President, Nana Addo), J. W. deGraft Johnson, Chief J. D. Abraham, J. P. Brown, J. W. Sey supported by Rev. S. R. B. Solomon rose to stop the British from usurping ownership of our land. But for the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society, Ghana’s land ownership would have ended up like South Africa and Zimbabwe. Today, we look back and celebrate those chiefs and members of the ARP Society. Furthermore, in the independence struggles, the “Big Six” led their compatriots to resist oppressors’ rule to gain political independence. Nana Akufo-Addo has this bright opportunity to join these gallant leaders and sons of the soil as saviours of our nation. Indeed, if the President boldly signed this Act, he would have resisted the invasion of our cherished culture by foreign lifestyle. One day, history will be written, and Nana Addo will join his father, ex-President William Akufo Addo, and his uncle, the Doyen Joseph Boakye Danquah, to form “the Big Seven” because he, the President, will have saved our culture from the cunning invaders. In the days of ARPS and independence struggles, the Gold Coast was a colony under British rule, yet our forefathers disregarded the obvious repercussions to save our land for posterity. Will Nana Addo be brave enough like the members of ARPS and the “Big Six” to sign this Act? We humbly pray the President to join the gallant men to save Ghana. 

#4. Taking a cue from Eminent Ghanaian Leaders

On November 27, 2023, our own revered Cardinal Peter Kwodwo Turkson granted an interview to the BBC HardTalk on the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, which many thought did not go well. However, the President is humbly invited to take a cue from his statement that “foreign lifestyle should not be imposed on our culture.” Additionally, the revered Cardinal Turkson issued a statement captioned: “Let us not criminalise people for who/what they are; let us criminalise people for what they do!” The Cardinal further stated that, “I thought, therefore, that there was the need for some education, first to properly understand the phenomenon and its diverse manifestations in people; and secondly, to distinguish between the phenomenon/tendency and its manifestation in homosexual acts. While the latter can be legislated and, thus, condemned or criminalised by a community or a State, the former, the phenomenon/tendency, may not be criminalised: there are no Acts/deeds to criminalise!” (Graphic Online published December 12, 2023).

In plain words, the revered Cardinal is saying that if people think or feel like homosexuals, then they cannot be criminalised, but if they decide to manifest or practise or display that thinking or feeling in the community, then the manifestation or practice or display of the homosexual acts must be criminalised. In simple terms, our dear Cardinal says – CRIMINALISE ACTS OF HOMOSEXUALITY, NOT THE HUMAN HOMOSEXUALS. This is an explicit approval of the anti–LGTBQ+ Act because the Act does not stop anybody from homosexual feelings, but the deeds of homosexuality and aiding and abetting same within the borders of Ghana are those the anti – LGBTQ+ Act seeks to proscribe. May I state categorically that the laws of Ghana do not criminalise any human being, but the laws criminalise undesirable deeds/actions. Indeed, Article 19(2) of the Constitution of Ghana 1992 provides, “A person charged with a criminal offence shall – (c) be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty.” Clearly, the Constitution does not allow any person to be called or treated as a criminal (even if caught red-handed) unless an action constituting a crime has been proven against that person in the competent courts of law. Besides, the anti-LGBTQ+ Act seeks to do precisely as our revered Cardinal Turkson advocates, “Let us not criminalise people for who/what they are; let us criminalise people for what they do!” However, to be able to criminalise what people do, there must be a legislation creating the offences and prescribing the penalties that go with them in satisfaction of article 19(5) of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992 “[A] person shall not be charged with or held to be guilty of a criminal offence which is founded on an Act or omission that did not at the time it took place constitute an offence.” The Catholic Bishops Conference also share this view by Cardinal Turkson in their communique dated 11/12/2023, “… we can state that the draft bill on “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 currently in Parliament is in the right direction, as it seeks to enact laws against criminal homosexual acts.”

Similarly, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), per their President, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has continually called upon the President and Parliamentarians to collaborate to make the anti-LGBTQ+ law a reality (Daily Graphic 18/12/2023). The Christian Council and the Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Traditional Leaders, and eminent persons concerned with the future of our dear nation have sounded the clarion call to HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to boldly sign the Act to make the joy of Ghanaians full!

#5. Shrugging off Foreign Interferences 

It is likely that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank may attempt to apply austere measures in their dealings with Ghana due to this Act. The IMF has issued a statement indicating that they are “watching recent developments in Ghana closely,”[12] adding that they “cannot comment on a bill that has not yet been signed into law and whose economic and financial implications we have yet to assess.”[13] 

In May 2023, Uganda passed their anti–LGBTQ+ Act. In December 2023, The New York Times reported that the anti–LGBTQ law was hurting the economy of Uganda because travel and trade restrictions were imposed against Uganda after passing the anti–LGBTQ+ Act[14]. The same can happen to Ghana.

 In fact, it is reported that following the passing of the Act by Parliament, Ghana’s “dollar bonds experienced a decline, ranking as the second-worst performers in a Bloomberg index.”[15] We cannot ignore the possible financial stress on our economy, but we need to be balanced in our arguments. The United States of America, leading campaigns for LGBTQ, has numerous anti–LGBTQ laws, so why is Ghana being portrayed as having done the worst?

CNN reports that “at least 510 anti – LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures across the United States in 2023.”[16] Nana Addo should be bold enough to shrug off the pressure from the United States because while the USA has introduced 510 anti – LGBTQ+ laws, we are modest to introduce only one. Indeed, it is on record that the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed the “Don’t Say Gay” law that restricts teaching and discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom[17]. In 2022, twenty states in the USA enacted anti-LGBTQ laws restricting instructions and discussion of LGBTQ in schools[18]. The United States is so confused about LGBTQ matters, as captured in Pew Research finding that “Americans’ views on gender identity and transgender issues are complex and nuanced”[19]. We need to shrug off LGBTQ and related problems. The USA is unable to resolve them in their own country and should not seek to impose them on Ghana. For this and other grounds afore-mentioned, our President should be bold enough to make the joy of Ghanaians full by signing the Act.

In conclusion, history beckons our President to leave the most incredible legacy of his Presidency in that no matter how many Ghanaian youth receive free education, no matter the length of roads constructed, no matter the amount of aid from the IMF, and so on, if our culture and moral values are eroded, we cease to be Ghanaians. His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is the President of Ghana, a nation with a unique cultural identity. May our President cause us to remain Ghanaians and to make our joy complete by signing the Human Sexual and Family Values Act passed unanimously by the representatives of Ghanaians.

 By Pastor Daniel Essuman Koomson, Esq. (dekoomson@pentvars.edu.gh)

References

Amenumey, D.E.K. (2018). Ghana A Concise History from Pre-Colonial Times to the 20th Century. Accra: Woeli Publishing Services 

Choi, A. CNN. (2024) Record numbers of anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in 2023. edition.cnn.com accessed 29/02/2024   

Cole, D. & Burnside, T. CNN. (2022). DeSantis signs controversial bill restricting certain LGBTQ topics in the classroom. www.cnn.com/2022/03/28  

Kenu, D. Graphic Online 07/10/2019 www.graphic.com.gh 29/02/2024  

Connaughton, A. Pew Research Center. (2020). Religion & LGBTQ Acceptance, Religiously unaffiliated people more likely than those with a religion to lean left, accept homosexuality. Washington DC. USA 

Hurst, K. Pew Research Center. (2022). Gender & LGBTQ, Q&A: How and why we surveyed Americans about their views on gender identity. www.pewresearch.org accessed on 01/03/2024

2021 Population and Housing Census Report www.census2021.statsghana.gov.gh accessed 28/12/2023

www.ghanaweb.com 28/12/2023

www.myjoyonline.com accessed 13/01/2024

www.norvanreports.com accessed on 01/03/2024

www.reuters.com accessed on 01/03/2024

Graphic Business. www.graphic.com accessed on 01/03/2024

[2] Reported by Daniel Kenu, Graphic Online 07/10/2019 www.graphic.com.gh 27/12/2023 

[3] www.ghanaweb.com 28/12/2023   

[4] 2021 Population and Housing Census Report www.census2021.statsghana.gov.gh accessed 28/12/2023

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Pew Research Center. www.pewcenter.org  

[8] Aidan Connaughton. (2020). www.pewresearch.org accessed 01/03/2024

[9] www.myjoyonline.com accessed 13/02/2024

[10] Amenumey (2018). History of Ghana

[11] Ibid.

[12] www.norvanreports.com accessed on 01/03/2024

[13] Ibid.

[14] www.reuters.com accessed on 01/03/2024

[15] Graphic Business. www.graphic.com

[16] Annette Choi. CNN. www.edition.cnn.com accessed on 29/02/2024

[17] Devan Cole and Tina Burnside. CNN Reporters. www.cnn.com/2022/03/28 accessed 29/02/2024

[18] www.cnn.com

[19] Hurst, K. Pew Research Center (2022). Gender & LGBTQ (interview of Anna Brown) accessed 01/03/2024

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Genesis 3:17

“To Adam, he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate the fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ Curse is the ground because of you; through painful toil, you will eat food from it all the days of your life.'”

The genesis of human struggles is evident in Genesis 3:7, where the Creator’s pronouncement, “Because you listened to your wife,” led to Adam’s downfall.

In Genesis 3:1-17, Adam had a clear opportunity to avoid Eve’s disobedience but chose to comply with her.

A careful analysis of the verse reveals God’s quest to understand Adam and Eve’s intent, while already judging the serpent.

Adam squarely blamed Eve, stating, “The woman you put here with me,” and Eve pointed to the serpent, saying, “The serpent deceived me.”

God highlighted Adam’s error but simply pronounced judgment on Eve and the serpent. Was God expecting Adam to act differently from Eve? Yes.

“Because you listened to your wife…” This statement from God suggests Adam erred in his final judgment.

Adam, as the head, had the chance to correct Eve’s wrong but sided with her, failing his role as God’s representative.

Patience could have spared Adam from the fall; they knew God was accessible, yet they acted impulsively.

Men, guided by divine patience, should make decisions reverently. Women, more sensitive, act swiftly, influenced by their environment.

The discourse between Eve and the serpent influenced her decision, altering human history. Communing with God could have averted disaster.

While men have weaknesses, they’re designed to commune with their Creator, missing out on critical decisions without divine consultation.

Married men must listen and reason with their wives, yet the final decision rests with the man, in reverence to God’s authority.

Consulting God in family or work decisions is vital; accountability and responsibility lie with men, acknowledging God as the ultimate authority.

Submissiveness in marriage doesn’t suppress women’s rights but fosters humility and maturity.Finally, the Bible states that God is the witness between the man and his wife (Malachi 2:14). This implies that marriage is a union with God as the judge and witness.

Therefore, I encourage wives to consistently pray for their husbands. This prayer is aimed at granting them a sound sense of judgment, enabling them to make decisions aligned with the will of God, free from any external influence, whether alone or amidst the masses. All of this is in the pursuit of glorifying God as the ultimate Head.

Written by Joseph Zoot