It is remarkably undesirable to sometimes see people exhibit sheer ignorance and also express passionate comments about certain things that, to their best of knowledge, they deem appropriate. I have scrutinized and tolerated several disparaging remarks that some top officials in government utter from their mouths but this particular remark from a distinguished persona in the office of the President is very repugnant.
As I drew nearer to the radio "Peace fm" for the updates about the affairs of this noble country, the host of the morning show played a voice which has its roots emanating from the mouth of Honourable Tony Aidoo, the Director of policy monitoring and evaluation at the presidency. According to this Honourable, Christians who speak in tongues are "mad" and therefore serve the "Devil". As a member of the Christendom, I guess it's my duty to educate this Honourable about the things he seems to be very ignorant of. Mr. Aidoo had the guts to classify Christians who believe in the speaking of tongues as mad people, forgetting that his actions are tantamount to blasphemy. No wonder he is believed to be an Atheist, but is it right for me to say that all Atheists are mad and stupid because they have their own belief? The answer is "No" because we all need to respect one another's views and beliefs.
He was preaching about brotherhood but his hypocritical nature proved that he, himself, is not a big fan of brotherhood. I really want to sound very mild in order not to offend him. If really this advocate of brotherhood is indeed who he is, do you think he would make such inimical statements about Christians? My dear Kwasi Pratt and other ace commentators of the administration of Ghana tried to vindicate him by explaining all sorts of things. I always believe in Mr. Kwasi Pratt for his judicious comments but he was trying to do damage control, in order to exonerate the Honourable. It is absolutely true that the constitution endorses freedom of speech. But should that freedom overstep its boundary? I would like Mr. Pratt to give me a definite answer, if I decide to insult him in this article, would he accept that as my opinion?
I do not understand why some people would go every length to defend the indefensible. Christianity has nothing to do with politics and this is why I can't just keep silent over this issue. Calling Christians who speak in tongues as "Descendants of the devil and mad people" is equivalent to tarnishing the sanctity of the gospel of God. No matter the position of the Director of policy monitoring and evaluation in the belief of some Christians, it doesn't give him the mandate to utter such words. If he had exercised some level of restraint, I think he would have expressed his opinions in an appropriate way. This therefore shows that some of our elders have become wiser than they are and as a result, can not sift what they say or do. I doubt their credibility to live exemplary lives for the youngsters.
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 14:2 that "Those who speak in strange tongues do not speak to others but to God, because no one understands them. They are speaking secret truths by the power of the Spirit." (GNB). This therefore proves that speaking in tongues is entrenched in the constitution of God. So, it is not something which is manufactured by man but it stems from the parliament of God. Mad men do not speak in tongues and worshippers of the devil are not activists of speaking in tongues.
Therefore if Mr. Tony Aidoo does not see the magnitude of his speech, then, I will help him to realize that the Almighty God is not mad to have given us the ability to speak in tongues as written in 1 Corinthians 12:10, "…To one person he gives the ability to speak in tongues,…" (GNB).A distinguished personality like him should have known better about how to communicate effectively. His nonsensical talk causes fear and panic in the public domain. He should have also known better that despite our religious inclination and differences, we all live as one people. For the fact that a person who I presume to be a Christian has pissed him off,doesn't authorize him to say anything he thinks his mind supports.
To close the chapter of this article, I would entreat Honourable Tony Aidoo, Director of policy monitoring and evaluation at the presidency, to sometimes restrain himself from making careless remarks since he might entangle himself and consequently, lose his hard-earned credibility. Take note: Proverbs 13:3 says "Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself." (GNB)
