Prof. Asamoah-Gyadu
Professor J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu has said African Christianity has the potential to determine the dynamics of global Christianity as a whole.
He said as a result of its unique characteristics and rules, it is important for one to appreciate and comprehend the dynamics of African Christianity.
Prof Asamoah-Gyadu, who is also the Baeta-Grau Professor of Contemporary African Christianity and Pentecostal/Charismatic Studies of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, said this during his inaugural lecture at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The lecture, which saw several prominent Ghanaian personalities in attendance, was divided into various sections where insightful analysis of various themes including: Religious presupposition of prophetic religion; contemporary prophetism and public sphere; evolution of prophetic Christianity; prophetic sacramentalism; prophetic word; mediating power through media; prohetism, worldview and the African public sphere; and interrogating the merits of the prophetic; amongst others were discussed.
Under the chairmanship of Prof Emerita Mrs Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf, a Vice Chair of the Academy, Prof Asamoah-Gyadu delivered his lecture on the topic: Channels of prayer, prophecy and power: contemporary religion, new media and transformation of the public sphere in Africa.
He said prophetic oracles are part of the oracles of God and it accomplishes certain pastoral roles as stated in 1Corinthians 14:3 adding that prophetic ministries in the African society operate within a philosophical thought of causality and religious intervention.
Prof Asamoah-Gyadu said contemporary prophetic religious phenomena, however, are reinvented sensations in Africans as they have been around for at least two decades.
He said the use of the media (in print, electronic and sacramental forms) to spread the prophetic religious phenomena is prominent in contemporary times.
Prof Asamoah-Gyadu said prophetic Christianity deserved attention because the spread of this phenomena has transformed the African religious environment.
He said such prophetic ministries among others thrive and function within a worldview of spiritual warfare; charismatic religious figures are presumed to be custodians of religious power and can disseminate interventions for the benefit of their clients; such religious personalities can access divine secrets and provide solutions to one’s life.
Prof Asamoah-Gyadu said the abuse of such prophetic dispensations should be avoided and cited various instances where some pastors, both in Ghana and abroad, including Joshua Talina and Obinim among others abused the privilege.
He said in some instances too, the utterances by some prophets “challenged the sovereignty of God in human life”.
The god, Prof Asamoah-Gyadu said, “who asks for monetary compensation whether in tithes, offerings or whatever means before responding to the needs of the people cannot be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
