Charismatism Under Scrutiny: Evaluating Pastor Mensa Otabil’s “SWOT Analysis of the Charismatic Church in Africa”

Introduction

To think that African Christianity is now leading ahead of Europe and America is simply the work of God. One night, Nicodemus came to Jesus and admitted, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2, NKJV). Indeed, God is at work in Africa in a way that echoes across the world.

In 1910, the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh brought together over 1,200 representatives, yet only 18 came from the non-Western world. A century later, at the 2010 centenary celebration of Edinburgh 1910, the landscape of global Christianity had shifted dramatically. The center of gravity had moved towards Africa, with the continent and other parts of the non-Western world now hosting the majority of Christians. Today, Africa stands as the epicenter of global Christianity—a development that has both surprised and intrigued many missiologists.

Despite this remarkable growth, it is essential that African Christianity remains firmly rooted in the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). This is where the insights of Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) headquartered in Accra-Ghana, become crucial. He has been at the forefront of calling for introspection within the Charismatic movement, urging the church to realign with true biblical faith.

This article seeks to evaluate his SWOT analysis—examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats—of the Charismatic Church in Africa through the lens of Scripture.

Must the Church of Christ Be Assessed?

Is it biblical for the church to assess itself? The answer is a resounding yes. Throughout Scripture, God regularly evaluates His people. However, as the apostle Paul advises, this must always be done in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Here are some biblical examples of divine assessments:

1. Moses Evaluating Israel in the Wilderness – Moses consistently assessed the people according to God’s revealed Word, highlighting their shortcomings and calling them to obedience (Deuteronomy 1:26-33).
2. Prophets Holding Israel Accountable – In the Promised Land, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Hosea scrutinized Israel’s faithfulness to God’s covenant, calling for national repentance (Isaiah 1:18-20, Jeremiah 2:13).
3. Jesus Assessing the Jewish People – Christ frequently exposed the spiritual hypocrisy of the religious leaders and called them to genuine repentance (Matthew 23:27-28).
4. The Early Church in Jerusalem – The apostles deliberated on doctrinal purity and addressed church matters, ensuring alignment with Christ’s teachings (Acts 15:1-29).
5. Paul’s Assessments of the Churches – Paul often evaluated churches he had planted, such as the Corinthians, Galatians, and Ephesians, addressing theological and moral concerns (1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Galatians 3:1-5).
6. Jesus’ Messages to the Seven Churches in Revelation – In Revelation 2-3, Christ assessed each church, commending strengths, exposing weaknesses, and calling for repentance.
7. Martin Luther and the Reformation – Centuries later, Martin Luther assessed the Roman Catholic Church, found it straying from biblical teachings, and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Clearly, evaluating the church is a biblical mandate that ensures faithfulness to Christ.

Pastor Mensa Otabil’s Call for the Assessment of the Charismatic Church

For some time now, Pastor Otabil has passionately advocated for self-assessment within the African Charismatic Church. His concern is that, if unchecked, the movement could drift into doctrinal error and spiritual excesses.

At the Integrity Conference 2024 in the UK, he stated:

“One of the things that concerns me with Christianity is not that Christianity is bad or not doing well, but if we’re not careful, certain practices can derail what God wants to do in our lives. The Christian faith is not a recent faith… Christianity has been around for over 2,000 years. And if you include Judaism, it has existed for the larger part of human history.”

At the same event, he added:

“The most susceptible form of Christianity to deception is that which is being practiced in Africa and is being exported out of Africa to the rest of the world. That’s why I believe African Christians must go back to the foundation—especially the Protestant Reformation—and return to Christ alone.”

During the just ended Doulos Conference 2025, Pastor Otabil conducted a SWOT analysis of the Charismatic Church. He stressed that his critique was not to attack the movement but to self-correct and realign with biblical faith.

Strengths of the Charismatic Church

Pastor Otabil identified three key strengths of the Charismatic Church:

1. Spirituality – The movement fosters a deep hunger for God and an openness to the Holy Spirit.
2. Spontaneity – Worship and ministry are dynamic, making church services engaging and impactful.
3. Personalization – Sermons and ministry approaches are tailored to individual needs, making faith relatable.

These strengths have contributed to the movement’s rapid growth. In Scripture, Paul commended the Corinthians for their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5-7), and Christ acknowledged the strengths of each church in Revelation 2-3.

Weaknesses of the Charismatic Church

While strengths exist, Pastor Otabil highlighted three major weaknesses of the movement:

1. Doctrinal Fluidity – A lack of sound doctrine has led to theological confusion.
2. Lack of Order – The movement sometimes prioritizes experience over biblical structure.
3. Expediency – Pragmatism often overshadows biblical principles.

Paul warned against such weaknesses in 1 Corinthians 14:40, stating, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Opportunities of the Charismatic Church

Pastor Otabil outlined three key opportunities that the movement can harness to make more impact:

1. Catalyzing National Development – The church can influence ethical and economic transformation.
2. Providing Leadership for Global Christianity – Africa’s growing influence can shape global Christianity.
3. Becoming a Bulwark Against Secularism – The church must resist moral relativism and uphold biblical truth.

Jesus called His followers to be “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:14), an opportunity the African church must seize.

Threats to the Charismatic Church

According to Pastor Otabil, there are three primary threats that could derail the movement:

1. Syncretism – Mixing Christianity with unbiblical practices.
2. Skepticism – The rise of false teachings leads many to question genuine faith.
3. Secularism – Worldly influences can dilute Christian distinctiveness.

Paul warned that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3). Jesus also cautioned against spiritual complacency, warning that He would “remove your lampstand” if repentance did not occur (Revelation 2:5).

An Urgent Call for Repentance

Pastor Otabil has emphasized that failure to reform will result in the destruction of everything the Charismatic Church has built. He aligns with Paul’s vision of a pure church, “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27).

The Bible provides the way forward in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) when it said,

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Conclusion

Pastor Mensa Otabil’s call for introspection is a wake-up call for the African Charismatic Church.

The movement must retain its strengths while addressing its weaknesses. It must seize its opportunities while guarding against threats.

Above all, it must remain biblically faithful, ensuring that Africa’s role in global Christianity is one that glorifies Christ alone.

Eric Otchere, the writer, is an avid Christian blogger who writes daily on www.livingourbible.com and can be reached at otchereeric@gmail.com.

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