Learn to accommodate criticisms – Duncan-Williams to Ghanaians

Presiding Archbishop and General Overseer of Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM), Nicholas Duncan-Williams has urged Ghanaians to be more accommodating of public criticisms and sentiments, as it is impossible for one to be totally accepted by all.

The archbishop in his Palm Sunday celebration message to his congregation maintains it is more important for one to be at peace with himself and God, than to worry about criticisms from the public.

Using biblical characters like David and Joseph, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-William said no matter how right one is in his dealings with others, he will always be implicated in scandals by detractors.

Palm Sunday, an occasion marked on the Christian calendar, is set aside to celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, which subsequently led to his death through crucifixion.

The event has over the years generated heated debate among bible scholars with many arguing that, it was the same people who chanted “Hossana, Hossana” as Jesus passed by, that shouted “Crucify him, Crucify him” when Pontius Pilate wanted to release Jesus.

But cautioning his people, the archbishop said it was important that as people learn to accommodate criticism, they do not end up being the cause of destruction or falling of another man.

“You have to come to a place in your walk with God where you create an attitude of I want to please only God. You have to stop trying to please everybody or being in everybody’s good book because people will not like you just because you are you. We must also know that the challenges that we go through is because of the favor and blessing of God upon our lives. When you see people who don’t have any problems or challenges and they are not going anywhere, just know they don’t have the favor or blessing that you have. David was quick to judge when The Prophet Nathan told him a story about a rich man who has stolen from a poor man, what he didn’t know was that the story was about him, and he ended up with four of his children dying,” he stated.

The archbishop also beseeched them to pray for endurance to overcome such struggles and situations.

“When I was young I used to ask God to give me patience and I didn’t know I was inviting trouble. Don’t pray for patience, rather ask God to give you grace to endure because the bible says tribulation brings patience. So when you ask God to give you patience, He will send you trouble. Suffering also produces obedience. So you have to ask for endurance so you can overcome,” he advised.