President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, has called on Christians to embrace politics and work for the common good of people in the country.
Rev Naameh revealed that Christians often shy away from engaging in politics because of the tag associated with it, which makes people arrive at the conclusion that “politics is a dirty game”. He indicated that there are some Christians who are afraid to “muddy themselves”. However, he noted that Jesus’ death and resurrection actually mean, it is the “power of God to resist the temptation to be selfish” and not care only about one’s family and friends.
Speaking on The Probe on the relevance of the Easter to nation-building, Rev Philip Naameh noted that the kind of politics practiced in Ghana currently, has been criticised due to the fact that politicians have not pursued the good of society. To address the situation, he encouraged Christians to venture into politics and pursue the interest of all.
“So, I think it’s still possible that Christians should embrace politics and work for the common good and not shy away from it and then try to criticize those who make mistakes because they do not have the values of nation-building, which I believe Christians in the doctrine about social teaching, all have. Christ’s resurrection after resisting all the temptations of the devil is actually telling Christians to commit ourselves to the common good. If you have a responsibility in politics, you should try to live out this responsibility in such a way that not only people of your ethnic group or political section benefit from it but all Ghanaians”.
Most Rev. Philip Naameh
Rev Naameh posited that if Christians of all denominations will have the vision of the resurrection, it means that whatever “corruption there is, you will not be part of it”. He however noted that such an individual would want to exercise the responsibility the President has given him in a way that everybody in Ghana can benefit.
Importance of Easter celebrations
On his part, the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, lamented the way some Christians have turned Easter into an event of festivities. He explained that Easter is the time for repentance, prayer and introspection. As such, it is imperative that every Christian treats it as it deserves.
“It is an insult to the Christian faith, particularly during the passion week, where we intensify our prayers and fasting, then people are just dancing and doing all those kinds of things. It does not speak well of us at all”.
Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante
Rev Mante emphasized that despite the fact that some Christians observe milestones in Easter religiously, others have disregarded these practices. Considering this, he expressed that it is crucial for people to change their attitude towards the Easter celebrations.
He highlighted during the easter celebration, there are about six significant parts of the celebration. They include: Lent, where people fast and pray for 40 days, Passion Week, a time for introspection, reflection and repentance where Christians identify more with the suffering of Jesus Christ and Good Friday, where people remember what Jesus did. Additionally, he emphasized the others as Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday also known as Imanus Day where people celebrate and remember the resurrection of Christ.
Rev Mante noted that there is the need for a “good Christian” to follow all these six steps, indicating that some Christians do take them seriously.
“… Then we have noted that there are other people for whom the whole Easter has become another holiday. I am grateful to God that there are Christians who really understand this aspect of Easter, but then still we will always have some who don’t care about this”.
Reverend Professor Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante
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