I never referred to any scriptures in the Bible as senseless and stupid – Otabil

The office of Dr. Mensa Otabil, Founder and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), has reacted to news circulating in the media which suggests him describing some scriptures in the bible as senseless and utterly stupid.

According to media reports, Pastor Otabil on Sunday while preaching to his congregants questioned some chapters of the bible making reference to Luke 6:29 which read “Do not seek repayment. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you”.

Citing it as one of the scriptures of the holy book that does not make sense to the human mind, Otabil asked his congregation “Why should the Bible say that if someone slaps you on the left, you should turn the right to the person as well. It doesn’t make sense, which of you can do that?

Based on the direct quotation above, some media portals reported Otabil as saying some portions of the bible make no sense.

But responding to the issue in a press release copied to Ghanaweb and signed by the General Secretary of the Church, Rev. Morris Appiah said Pastor Mensa Otabil never referred to any scripture of the bible as stupid and senseless.

According to him, Otabil’s preaching themed on “God’s nonsense is wiser than man’s sense” was taken out of context as he only sought to draw light on God’s mysterious works and wisdom which men cannot comprehend.

“We owe it as a responsibility to our publics to correct such significant misrepresentations. The headline and opening statement do not in any way reflect the viewpoint or the contents of the sermon preached by Pastor Otabil”, the statement clarified.

Basing his scripture on 1 Corinthians 1:25 which says “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men”, Rev. Morris Appiah said Otabil’s motive was to let his congregants know how God chooses people humans see as totally disqualified or useless.

“The central thesis of the message was that God often chooses foolish, weak, unimpressive and unsophisticated people and things to establish his purposes. Pastor Otabil cautioned that people should not get surprised when God chooses others they see as totally disqualified. He added that in most instances, if human beings were to make the same choices, they would disqualify the people themselves from consideration because God can use anyone in spite of their low estate”, part of the statement read.

Management of ICGC further stated that “As a church, every opportunity to throw light on God’s word is one that we would readily embrace. We therefore wish to rehash our position that Pastor Otabil did not and has not at any time referred to any portion of the scripture as senseless and stupid” and it is their hope that “anyone with feeling of inferiority or inadequacy who reads this will be inspired to rise up and aspire to the heights prescribed for them in the Holy Scriptures”.