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Ghanaian Marriage Counsellor Charlotte Oduro, once a vocal critic of cosmetics, has stirred significant discussion following a dramatic reversal of her stance, prompting questions about the nature of “divine revelation” and its alignment with personal circumstance.
Oduro, who previously condemned make-up as “instruments of demons” and “pigments of perdition,” has reportedly embraced cosmetics herself after the collapse of her marriage, now advocating for them as “empowering” for women.
For years, Oduro’s sermons, widely disseminated across pulpits and social media, exhorted women to shun facial adornments, warning that such practices “desecrated their divine image.” Her fervent pronouncements garnered both strong support, with some hailing her as a modern-day prophetess, and apprehension among her followers.
However, the spiritual landscape shifted following the widely reported collapse of her marriage. Observers note a marked transformation in Oduro’s public appearance, now frequently seen adorned with make-up – rouged cheeks, darkened lashes – a stark contrast to her earlier evangelical exhortations. Her current message now champions make-up, with Oduro reportedly deriding those who “refuse to change their mind” as foolish.
Theological Critique: Human Inspiration vs. Divine Truth
This dramatic ideological pivot has not gone unnoticed, drawing sharp theological critique. Rev. Emmanuel Boachie, Country Director of Awesome Bible College, President of the Centre for Biblical-Historical Christianity Defence, and Head Pastor of Souls’ Pasture Church Kumasi, Ghana, has publicly questioned the authenticity of Oduro’s initial claims.
“When ‘divine revelation’ adjusts itself to personal circumstance, its inspiration must be human, not heavenly,” Rev. Boachie asserted in a statement released by his organizations, implicitly referencing Oduro’s situation without naming her directly. He argued that such contradictions unveil “a grave malady of our age—the reckless invocation of divine authority to sanctify mere opinion.”
Rev. Boachie emphasized that “God’s truth does not oscillate with emotion nor mutate with fashion. The Spirit of truth is consistent, coherent, and changeless as the nature of God Himself,” quoting 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” He further cautioned that “when prophecy becomes an instrument of self-promotion, it ceases to be prophetic and becomes blasphemy cloaked in charisma.”
The Biblical View on Beauty and Adornment
Addressing the issue of make-up itself, Rev. Boachie clarified that while cleanliness or elegance is not outlawed by the Bible, it “elevates beauty to a higher plane.” He cited 1 Peter 3:3-4, which speaks of “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price,” emphasizing that “genuine beauty is not painted on the skin but cultivated in the soul; it is the moral lustre of inner virtue, not the glitter of vanity’s mirror.”
He also referenced the Apostle Paul’s command to believers to dwell on “whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report” (Phil. 4:8), suggesting that “every cosmetic choice must be judged at this tribunal of purity.” Furthermore, he evoked the fiery sentinel of early Christianity, Tertullian, who “thundered: ‘Let women paint their souls, not their cheeks.'”
A Call for Spiritual Radiance
Concluding his commentary, Rev. Boachie issued a passionate appeal for spiritual transformation over superficial adornment. “O daughter of Eve, do not barter immortal splendour for temporal shimmer. The mirror may flatter, but only the Cross can transform,” he urged.
He continued, “No foundation can conceal sin; no powder can mask guilt. Come to Christ, the Bridegroom of souls, who adorns the repentant with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. His Spirit is Heaven’s own artisan, crafting beauty from ashes and glory from grace. Seek Him now, and your countenance shall shine—not with the dust of cosmetics, but with the eternal light of His glory.”
The unfolding narrative of Charlotte Oduro’s evolving views on make-up, coupled with Rev. Boachie’s theological counter-narrative, underscores an ongoing debate within spiritual communities regarding the authority of personal revelations versus established scriptural principles, challenging adherents to discern the source and sincerity of proclaimed divine truths.
