“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?'” – Daniel 4:35

August 6, 2025, will be remembered across Ghana as “Black Wednesday.” Social media platforms overflowed with grief as news broke that a helicopter carrying high-ranking government officials had crashed in the Sikaman Forest of the Adansi South District, Ashanti Region. The officials were travelling on official business to support the government’s anti-illegal mining efforts under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme.

This tragedy plunged the nation into profound discussions about safety, divine providence, and the role of prophecy in national affairs. While investigations into the crash commenced and condolences poured in from across the nation, the government announced an unprecedented response: the creation of a desk within the Office of the Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations to receive “prophecies that bother on national security.” According to the Presidential Envoy, this initiative aims to ensure “responsibility, discernment, and stewardship over the nation’s destiny.”

Although I can understand the rationale behind this strange move by the government, I am convinced that this is a dangerous path to take and one that is not grounded in sound biblical thinking. It is my goal in this article to show why this meddling of the government in matters of faith is a dangerous precedent both for the country and the Christian community.

The Biblical Foundation: How God Rules the World

The Comprehensive Scope of Divine Providence

Scripture consistently testifies to God’s active governance over all creation. The biblical witness reveals that divine providence extends to every realm of existence, from the cosmic to the personal. Wayne Grudem reflects in Chapter 16 of his Systematic Theology that “God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfil his purposes.”

The Old Testament establishes this foundation clearly. Psalm 135:6 declares the universal extent of God’s authority: “Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” This comprehensive dominion encompasses both visible and invisible realms, as Proverbs 15:3 confirms: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Daniel’s prophecy further illuminates God’s control over human history: “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:21–22).

New Testament Affirmations

The New Testament continues this theme with equal clarity. Paul declares in Acts 17:24–28 that “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything… for ‘in him we live and move and have our being.'” The author of Hebrews adds that God the Son “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

This collective biblical witness establishes that God maintains active control over all aspects of heaven and earth—not as a distant observer, but as the sovereign ruler whose purposes cannot be thwarted.

Historic Christian Teaching on Divine Providence

Centuries before our present circumstances, the church engaged in deep theological reflection about how God rules the world. The 1689 London Baptist Confession and the Westminster Confession of Faith—both reliable summaries of historic Christianity—begin Article 3 with this profound declaration:

“God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass…”

These confessions capture the biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty, asserting that God is never caught off guard by any event in human history. Nothing occurs outside His wise and holy counsel. In theological terms, He ordains everything that comes to pass.

Implications for National Tragedy

The implication is that the calamity that happened on the 6th of August did not take God by surprise; he was in complete control. From a biblical perspective, the helicopter crash occurred within God’s sovereign will. Isaiah affirms this principle when he quotes the Lord: “I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).

This truth provides profound comfort: the universe operates not by random chance or human foresight, but according to God’s unshakable decree. While this may challenge our natural inclinations during times of grief, it offers the solid foundation that nothing—not even tragedy—falls outside God’s ultimate control.

The Relationship Between Divine Decree and Human Responsibility

Importantly, the Confessions do not render prayer or human action meaningless. They teach something far more nuanced: God ordains both ends and means. Prayer, wise planning, and protective measures remain meaningful precisely because God employs them as instruments through which His will is accomplished.

Acts 27 provides a compelling illustration. During Paul’s storm-tossed voyage to Rome, God promised safety for all aboard (Acts 27:23-25). Yet this divine assurance coexisted with human effort—the crew’s diligent work and wise navigation did not avert the eventual shipwreck. The ship’s ultimate loss and the passengers’ preservation both fulfilled God’s decree, accomplished through ordinary means.

This understanding means that when tragedy occurs, it is not because we “missed” a prophetic warning. Similarly, when disaster is averted, it is not because a prophet intercepted God’s plan, but because God decreed prevention through whatever means He chose.

Why Institutionalising Prophecy Threatens Biblical Faith

While the government’s desire to prevent future tragedies is understandable, establishing a national prophecy desk poses significant theological and practical dangers.

Replacing Divine Sovereignty with Human Mysticism

The first danger lies in making God’s purposes contingent on human visions. This approach risks reducing the Almighty to a genie to pull out of the lamp whose plans depend on prophetic insight. Scripture teaches the opposite: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Job declares with confidence: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

This theological confusion reflects a broader misunderstanding of God’s sovereignty within Ghana’s Christian landscape. While acknowledging the deep grief of families affected by the tragedy, biblical truth compels us to recognise that the helicopter crash occurred according to God’s will, accomplished through secondary causes. No amount of prophetic warning or spiritual intervention could have altered what God decreed. As the Psalmist affirms: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

This reality may raise difficult questions about suffering and divine justice. Yet biblical faith calls us to worship the God whose “kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19) and who numbers even “the hairs of your head” (Matthew 10:29-30). God’s governance of creation is perfect, and no situation—regardless of its magnitude or suddenness—occurs outside His knowledge or control.

The doctrine of divine sovereignty affirms that complete authority and absolute right to govern all creation, including human beings and their actions, rests solely with God. Not even Satan can alter what God has decreed.

Creating Chaos Instead of Clarity

The second major concern involves the inevitable confusion that results from institutionalising prophecy. Competing and contradictory “prophecies” will naturally arise, forcing government officials to make impossible determinations about divine communication.

Early reports suggest this problem has already emerged. In less than two weeks after the desk’s creation, over 200 prophecies were reportedly submitted, with only a few deemed credible. This raises critical questions: Who determines authenticity? By what criteria? What constitutes credible versus incredible prophecy? Such subjective determinations represent a problematic waste of government resources and administrative energy.

Biblical prophecy operated under vastly different standards. Moses established the test for authentic prophecy: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken” (Deuteronomy 18:22). True biblical prophets delivered specific, accurate predictions without confusion, for “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

The current chaotic landscape of competing prophetic voices contrasts sharply with biblical examples, where “the word of the LORD is right and true” (Psalm 33:4). The authentication process becomes both theologically problematic and practically unworkable, creating a slippery slope that could undermine rational governance.

Scripture warns extensively about false prophets (Jeremiah 23:16, Matthew 24:11). Moreover, even genuine biblical prophets were never intended to serve as security consultants for the state. Their role typically involved confronting rulers with divine truth rather than integration into administrative machinery.

A Biblical Path Forward

Combining Faith with Responsibility

The proper response to national tragedy involves neither fatalistic resignation nor frantic pursuit of mystical insights. Instead, Scripture calls for combining unwavering faith in God’s sovereignty with diligent human responsibility.

The Westminster Confession reminds us that God “orders [events] to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.” This means we cannot excuse negligence or policy failure by appealing to divine decree. Similarly, we cannot imagine that prophetic hotlines will secure our nation’s future.

True national security emerges from trusting the God who “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11) while faithfully executing our earthly responsibilities. Leaders and citizens must work diligently and wisely in the duties God has entrusted to them. 

Where Real Security Is Found

If Ghana’s future is to be secure, it will not be because a prophecy desk predicted danger, but because both leaders and citizens take seriously the truth that is revealed in his word, that God’s decree is unshakable. Real peace comes not from collecting confusing prophecies, but from biblical faith combined with responsible governance.

As a wise friend of mine recently observed, “God has left His mind in the Bible. Let’s go after it.” Rather than seeking divine guidance through subjective prophetic claims, we should diligently study the written revelation God has already provided in Holy Scripture.

Conclusion

The August 6th tragedy that claimed the lives of dedicated public servants deserves thoughtful reflection rather than reactionary policies. While the government’s desire to prevent future disasters is commendable, the path of institutionalized prophecy leads away from both biblical truth and effective governance.

Scripture offers a better way: trusting in the sovereign God who declares, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (Isaiah 46:10), while faithfully fulfilling our human responsibilities. This approach honours both divine sovereignty and human accountability without descending into confusion or superstition.

Ghana’s security and prosperity depend not on collecting competing prophetic visions, but on leaders and citizens who embrace both the comfort of divine sovereignty and the call to responsible stewardship. In times of national grief and uncertainty, may we find our anchor not in human predictions, but in the unchanging character of the God who governs all things according to His perfect will.

“For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” – Isaiah 46:9-11

God bless our homeland, Ghana, and make it great and strong!

The post Divine Providence and National Security: Reflections on Ghana’s Response to Tragedy appeared first on TGN.

It is an encouragement and a source of great pride whenever I hear about the growth and advance of the gospel across the continent. All over the world, Africa is touted as the continent with the fastest-growing number of Christian converts. I praythat this growth will be accompanied by growth in personal holiness and depth of understanding of God’s Word.

I address this letter to you, saints, for two reasons. First, it is the pattern we see in Scripture. The apostle Paul, in almost all his letters, did not address the pastors or overseers in the churches, but the members of the church. He believed that the members were the true guardians of the truth and purity of the church.That is why in Galatians 1:6-9, his frustration was not with the false teachers but the members of the church:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

The second reason why I have addressed this letter to you, saints of the church in Ghana and across Africa, is because false teachers have crept into the church. In the early days of the rise of ‘one-man’ churches—independent churches planted by individuals—around the 1970s, there was much speculation about whether these teachers were intentionally spreading false teachings or if their errors were simply a result of ignorance.Over the years, it has become increasingly evident that these false teachers are not ignorant of the truth but willfully deceiving others for their own gain. Paul spoke of such people in Romans 16:18, “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” It is futile to address them since they have no desire to change their ways. It is incumbent on us to grow in our discernment as believers, to recognise and avoid these harmful teachings that undermine our faith and bring disrepute to the name of Christ.

The Bible teaches that on the last day, everyone will give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14:12). This will be an individual affair, which means each of us must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). The more reason why we cannot leave our faith in the hands of others, especially pastors who care more about the “seed” we sow into their ministries and the size of their congregations than where we will spend eternity.

As we work out our salvation, we must bear three key principlesin mind. 

Don’t Assume Your Faith

According to Paul, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). It is very clear from these verses that no one is born a Christian, and neither can the faith be inherited. Christianity is not like Islam, where one is born into the faith. Each of us must individually repent and put our faith in Christ Jesus.

As a people, we are so religious that there is a tendency and temptation to assume the Christian faith. Unfortunately, many of our pastors contribute to this confusion. I was once part of a church for two years, and throughout my time there, no pastor spoke to me about how I came to faith and the fruit I had borne after that. I remember one Sunday after the church service, all visitors who wanted to join the church were invited to remain behind. One of the ministry leaders spoke briefly about the process of becoming a member. Our photos were taken, and ID cards were issued. That is how I became a member of that church. No questions asked if I knew the gospel, believed it or was baptised as a believer. It didn’t matter which church I had attended and why I had left it. Perhaps, it may have been because I was disciplined. But none of that mattered.

This starkly contrasts what we read about Jesus in John 10:14, where he said, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” The Greek word, poimen, translated as pastor,can also mean shepherd. Therefore, every pastor is an under-shepherd of Christ (1 Peter 5:2). They are representatives of Christ in their shepherding responsibilities. This means Pastors must know their members, and their members must likewise know them. Sadly, in most mega churches today, the shepherds do not know who the sheep are; the sheep have never interacted with the shepherds. Therefore, it is unclear how these shepherds intend to give account for the sheep they don’t even know (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17).

Moreover, the New Testament makes it clear the church comprises people who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-37). To that end, it is the duty of the pastors or elders of a church to act as the doorkeepers and lead the congregation in ensuring that whoever enters the local church has a credible profession of faith. Unfortunately, not many churches exercise this watchfulness. As a result, many churches in Africa are filled with people who are not saved. It is no wonder there are so many people in the church, yet the continent is known for corruption and all kinds of ungodliness. Some of our churches are more anti-gospel outposts than the pillar and buttress of truth they are meant to be (1 Timothy 3:15).

If you are part of a church where no pastor has ever spoken to you about your faith or how you came to know Jesus Christ; and the fruit you have borne subsequently, you are likely not in a healthy church. And in the case throughout your Christian life, your profession of faith has never been examined by any church, you should approach the pastors of your current church and ask them why no one has ever asked you about your faith. In any case, Paul’s advice to you would be to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourself” (2 Corinthians 13:5). I strongly recommend you read this article on God’s love; it will help you in your examining process.

Your Allegiance Should Not be to Your Pastor or His Churchbut to Christ.

When Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He meant it, and he is doing that all across the world. From Asia to Europe, Americas to Africa, wherever the gospel has been preached, it has borne fruit and the church of Christ is being built. This universal church, the Bible teaches, is the body of Christ.

Sadly, in Ghana and across Africa, churches have become personal properties of Pastors. It is their pictures that are on the signboards. In many places, the personal brand of the pastor is more popular than the name of Christ. If you are in a church where the preacher’s name is more known than the name of Christ, you should know you are in an unhealthy church; and leave as quickly as you can.

Over the years, many Christians in Africa have become more discerning and are beginning to ask questions. However, I continue to hear stories where members feel they have no alternatives, so they stick it out in these unhealthy churches. In other cases, members feel so loyal to the “Man of God” that even though they know something is not right, they feel they cannot leave because they would be branded as disloyal.

One truth we should firmly hold on to as Christians is that the church belongs to Christ; therefore, our loyalty must be to himand not to any particular individual. If you discover that your church is unhealthy and you cannot effect any change, you should strongly consider leaving. By God’s grace, there are many relatively healthy churches springing up. We should fervently pray that God, in his kindness, will raise more of such churches. However, even in cases where there are no viable options, you should pray for the courage to start a gospel-centred Bible fellowship which could eventually covenant as a church,

In Ephesians 3:10, Paul said, “Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” This means inasmuch as a true and healthy church is a powerful gospel witness, a bad church has a powerful destructive effect on the advance of the kingdom of God. As a matter of truth, some churches in Ghana and across Africa must close for the advance of God’s kingdom and his glory. Therefore, being part of a bad, unhealthy, anti-gospel church may display loyalty to a human being, but in the long run, you are doing damage to the advance of God’s kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Examine Yourself to See If You’re Bearing Fruit

In John 15:16, Jesus told his disciples and, by extension, all his followers, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” As Christians, we are in the fruit-bearing business. According to Jesus, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:19-20).

As Christians in Ghana and across Africa, we must constantly examine ourselves to see if we are bearing fruit and what kind.Each of us – not the usual pointing at the other person, must look ourselves in the eye and ask whether we are bearing abiding fruits; because it is illogical that the continent with the highest rate of Christian numerical growth would also have the highest level of corruption. In Ghana, for example, more than 70% of the population professes to be Christian, with the majority of this number in church every Sunday, yet the country is plagued with thick darkness.

In Galatians 5:22-23, apostle Paul lists “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” as the nine-part character traits produced by the Holy Spirit in every Christian. The effects of these fruit are not confined to the four walls of a church building. As we live our lives in the public square, evidence of these fruits would be seen in how we work, study, lead our families and raise our children as Christians (James 2:14-17).

It is not loving or faithful for a Christian politician entrusted with a public office to take for themselves resources belongingto the state. It is not kind, good, or faithful for a civil servant to take bribes irrespective of whether their pay is adequate. It is not a display of love that, as a trader, your goods are priced to take advantage of unsuspecting customers. The sad irony is that many corrupt officials and business people profess to be Christians and regularly attend church.

The state of Christianity on our continent is a colossal anti-gospel witness. One of the most striking truths in physics is that regardless of the thickness of the darkness, a single matchstick can dispel it. Therefore, if Christians are the light of the world as described by Jesus in Matthew 5:14, how is it that our continent is languishing in so much darkness when the majority of us claim to be Christian, unless it is the case that many of us hold an appearance of godliness, but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5)?Even though Africa is touted as the continent with the fastest Christian growth rate, sadly, the growth is cancerous. As Jesus rightly said, “You will recognize them by their fruits.” The fruits many of us are bearing indicate we do not belong to Christ, andthe warnings of Jesus in Revelation 3:1-2 is timely for all of us, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”

Having said all this, I am also convinced there are many faithful saints on the continent because God always leaves himself a remnant (Romans 11:4-5). It is because of them the continent is not consumed. It is my prayer that “our God may make you [the remnant] worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

The post To The Saints of God in Ghana and Across Africa appeared first on TGN.