On the 19th of April, 2020, my notice was drawn to a submit on a colleague journalist’s timeline that read through “Just in: Ghanaian preacher Evangelist Emmanuel Kwaku Apraku popularly recognized as ‘Apraku My Daughter’ kicks the bucket”.
I was amazed so I questioned my Arts and Tourism Writers Association of Ghana (ATWAG) customers if they had listened to or could verify the tale, and the response I got was detrimental. I was relieved that the news was not accurate.
About a month just after that, I noticed a online video on an old university WhatsApp system about the late Pastor Apraku. In that video clip, he was intoxicated and questioned whoever was getting the video of him to put a prevent to it. I could not deliver myself to view the online video to the conclusion because I assumed, how did this person of God conclusion this way?
About twenty minutes soon after this online video was shared on that platform, some remarks arrived in. One such comment read through, “He has often been a drunkard. I hosted him a several times on Nkwa FM in Assin Fosu and he normally had Castle Bridge in his car and took some photographs prior to getting into the studio to preach”. Another comment mentioned that he had reaped what he sowed, quoting Galatians 6:7-8. However a different read through “by their fruits you shall know them”.
As I browse all these reviews I questioned “Is it our spot to decide a man of God”? The Bible, in Matthew 7:1-5, explicitly talks about not judging others and further more warns us to clear away the speck of log in our eyes in advance of executing so for other folks. Luke 6:13 also warns believers not to judge and condemn other individuals. Romans 2:1-3, explicitly reminds us as believers that for the lots of who choose other people, you are condemning yourselves.
As I searched the Bible, my awareness was drawn to a verse in James 1:26 that read “Those who take into account on their own religious and but do not maintain a restricted rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their faith is worthless”.
The warning in James 4:11-12 also caught my notice. The verse 12 stressed “There is only just one Lawgiver and Decide, the one who is able to preserve and damage. But you-who are you to decide your neighbour?” .So then again, I ask who are we to choose the late pastor?
Exhibiting Like, Care and Compassion
Dana Arcuri, in a 50- working day devotional titled Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously by Adversity mentioned that “Our occupation on earth is not to criticize, reject, or choose. Our function is to supply a aiding hand, compassion, and mercy. We are to do unto other individuals as we hope they would do unto us.”
As a Christian, I can just sum up her quotation and say we are to adore our neighbours as ourselves as the Holy Guide teaches us in Matthew 22:34-40, and in all the 8 other moments this phrase is outlined in the Bible.
In a entire world where by most persons hurriedly video clip sensitive incidents without having deep considered about the effect on other men and women, let’s request ourselves if we are exhibiting like by our steps. Is it to embarrass, trigger suffering or simply call for enable or justice for these men and women.
Viewing the video, one could hear laughter in the background. The pleasure in the voice of the particular person who took the video clip, in taunting the late pastor was plain. The man or woman claimed, “I am having a video clip of you to submit on social media (Fb)”.
Most likely, the saddest instant for me was when the late pastor a lot more or significantly less pleaded with the person to stop getting a movie of him. Can we inquire ourselves in which the love is?
I ought to say I am humbled that Dr Sonnie Badu contacted me and my other colleague to verify on the late pastor. I am satisfied to have spoken to his daughter to uncover out about the condition of the late pastor and even inspired her to check out on him and notify me (the group). I am satisfied to be a element of the Sonnie Badu workforce that wants to emulate Christ by displaying appreciate.
Fellow colleagues, friends and acquaintances, let us master to emulate Christ by obeying the best commandant in the Bible which is to “Love your neighbour as yourself”. Let’s understand to display this really like to people in their lifetimes and not when they are useless and no much more. Like these days, I was surprised at the quite a few effectively-wishers and neighbours who stepped out to the late pastor’s property to see his remains all in the name of showing appreciate.
Then all over again, I questioned did the late pastor not have neighbours or relatives to present appreciate or care for him? Why was everyone when he plunged into drinking?
Do we even know why he took up ingesting? Did the show of like have to arrive just after his loss of life? Let’s re-consider our Christianity and in accomplishing so let’s recall the words in Galatians 6:2 “Carry every other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the regulation of Christ”.
The author is a Freelance Journalist and a PR specialist
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