Archbishop Dr Charles Agyinasare has called for a return to civility in public discourse, particularly on social media, arguing that Ghanaians must learn to speak the truth without resorting to insults, humiliation and personal attacks.
According to the founder and leader of Perez Chapel International, the widespread access to social media has given almost everyone a platform to broadcast their views, but has also created an environment where abusive and degrading language is increasingly normalised.
“We must recover civility without suppressing truth,” Archbishop Agyinasare said in a sermon on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
“You can disagree without being disagreeable. You can criticise without dehumanising. You can expose wrongdoing without insulting. You can correct somebody without destroying their dignity.”
Preaching on the theme “Watch Your Words: The Power and Responsibility of Speech,” with Colossians 4:6 as his main text, Archbishop Agyinasare said the ability to communicate instantly through smartphones and the internet had increased both the opportunities and the dangers associated with speech.
He observed that political opponents are sometimes treated as enemies, while elderly people, chiefs, pastors, priests, public officials, journalists and ordinary citizens are subjected to degrading language.
Archbishop Agyinasare also criticised the use of disabilities, physical appearance, ethnicity, family circumstances and other personal characteristics as weapons of insult.
‘Respect does not mean agreement’
The Archbishop said disagreement should not be confused with disrespect, stressing that Christians are called to maintain the dignity of others even when they strongly disagree with them.
Citing 1 Peter 2:17 — “Honour all men” — he said respect does not require agreement or endorsement. “Civility does not require silence in the face of wrongdoing,” he said, adding: “You can tell somebody, ‘What you have done is wrong,’ without saying, ‘You are worthless.’”
He urged politicians and other public figures to model a culture of vigorous but respectful disagreement rather than personal attacks.
He said the growing tendency to insult political opponents and public figures must not be allowed to become an accepted feature of Ghanaian public life.
Referring to political discourse over the years, he cited what he described as insults directed at former President John Evans Atta Mills, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Dramani Mahama, including threats and insults directed at Mr Mahama’s wife.
“This cannot continue,” he said.
Archbishop Agyinasare further cited Acts 23:5, in which Paul says, “You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people,” and urged public figures and their supporters to avoid language that undermines the dignity of opponents.
‘Don’t be harsh or verbally abusive’
The Archbishop also drew attention to the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy on how to relate to different groups of people.
Referencing 1 Timothy 5:1-2, he said the biblical instruction to avoid harsh or verbally abusive treatment of older men and instead appeal to them as fathers provides a principle for respectful engagement across generations.
He said the principle should extend to political leaders, elders, chiefs, clergy, professionals and ordinary citizens.
Words can reveal the heart
Archbishop Agyinasare said the problem of abusive speech is ultimately deeper than the words themselves, arguing that speech often reveals what is stored in a person’s heart.
Quoting Jesus in Matthew 12:34 — “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” — he said people may control their speech temporarily, but anger, disappointment or provocation can expose what has accumulated within them.
He, therefore, described control of the tongue as an important indication of spiritual maturity.
“Before your tongue reveals your anger, make sure it first reveals your character,” he said.
He also cautioned against comparisons, sarcasm and innuendo, saying such forms of communication can damage people’s dignity and reputations even when presented as jokes or harmless comments.
He urged spouses and parents, for example, to avoid comparisons that make people feel inadequate, saying correction should help people grow rather than make them feel worthless.
‘Truth does not require brutality’
The Archbishop rejected the argument that harsh language is justified simply because a person is speaking the truth.
“Some people defend cruelty by saying, ‘But I was only telling the truth,’” he said.
“Truth does not require brutality.”
He cited Ephesians 4:15, which calls believers to speak “the truth in love”, and encouraged Christians to consider the effect their words may have on those who hear them.
Insults can cause lasting damage
Archbishop Agyinasare warned that words can inflict wounds that may last long after the incident itself.
Referring to John 9:28, where religious leaders hurled insults at the man healed by Jesus, he said insults often emerge when people can no longer sustain an argument.
“When arguments run out, insults often begin,” he said.
He cited Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” — and other biblical passages comparing destructive speech to swords, arrows and poison.
According to him, children can remember hurtful names given to them by their parents, spouses can carry the memory of words spoken during heated arguments, and employees and public figures can remain affected by public humiliation.
The sermon therefore urged Christians to recognise that speech carries consequences beyond the moment in which words are spoken.
As social media continues to give individuals unprecedented power to publish opinions and commentary, Archbishop Agyinasare’s central message was that freedom of expression should be accompanied by responsibility.
For him, the challenge is not to silence disagreement, criticism or legitimate public scrutiny, but to ensure that the pursuit of truth does not become an excuse for stripping others of their dignity.
