'We are not angels'

A church overseer, Apostle Paul Oko Hackman, of the International Deliverance and Prayer Ministry (IDPM) at Abelemkpe, has suggested a scriptural revolution against what he called “provocative young women whose sense of fashion has caused the downfall of some Men of God.”
He said the method of harassment such women adopt is to wear skimpy dresses that expose their breasts, navel and undergarments and sit in the front pews during sermons to seduce pastors with suggestive body language. “They wear shorts, tight skirts and blouses and skirts with long slits on the side, all of which are inconsistent with Christian modesty and the spirit of humility which should adorn Christians,” he concluded. Giving his personal example, Apostle Hackman said he has had to interrupt his preachings on a few occasions to ask some of the young women in the front row of his congregation to sit up and close their legs.
“Pastors are not angels; they have feelings as any other person and women must know this and not dress provocatively to church”, he admonished. He rejected the view that some of the women prefered short dresses because they are more convenient and said “everyone knows that loose-fitting clothes, which are less revealing, are far more comfortable.”
He observed that Western culture is seriously affecting the dress code in many churches but pointed out that even in those societies, modesty is still valued, so Christians should dress decently. Apostle Oko shared these comments at a seven-day revival on the theme: “Back to Sender Part 2”, a programme organised by the church which ended last Sunday on the church premises at Abelemkpe in Accra.
According to him, a similar programme was organised last year, and it went down well with many people, hence the need to repeat it. He added that the number of church members increased to over three thousand during the programme and that their primary aim was to destroy and send back everything given to them by the devil.
The speakers at the programme included Apostle Sam Benner, Apostle De-Graft Osei Kwame and Prophet Kwaku Nii Okai. He said the dress code of some Christian women today had overshadowed the typical Christian attire and that such dress codes could lead to immorality and sexual promiscuity.
He pointed out that although some ministers in churches were preaching and doing their best to reverse the situation, it was still difficult because the canker had sunk deep into some of the adherents. Apostle Oko Hackman said it is time for Christians to appreciate that the God they are serving is holy, and therefore they should always dress decently to church.
He appealed to all ministers to organise programmes that will educate women to stop dressing in “apuskeleke” style which only elicit derogatory remarks and demean womanhood in their churches. Apostle Hackman acknowledged that Christianity is based on free will and that women have the right to dress any way they like when they go to church. He however noted that some women had taken undue advantage of that provision and dress indecently to church.