Founder and president of Believers LoveWorld Incorporated alias Christ Embassy Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has criticised other clerics who refused to open their worship centres over the coronavirus pandemic.
Pastors Tunde Bakare, Sam Adeyemi and Paul Adefarasin are among those whose churches remain shut despite the go-ahead for re-opening by the Federal Government.
However, during his virtual midweek service, Oyakhilome said: “If you refuse to open church for fear of being infected, you were never a believer.
“This is a great concern because there were churches that were thought to be churches until recently. We find a lot of ministers who were thought to be advocates of the gospel advocating for shutting down the churches. (Because they cannot guarantee safety).
“It is pressure like this that reveals what is a church and what is not. Do they really believe in God, the same God of the patriarchs in the Bible?
“I have laid hands on some of the most infectious people on earth and had no fear of being infected. The Word of God guarantees life in Christ.
“When you get to that point where you are afraid of opening churches for fear of being infected, you have denied the faith. You never believed.”
Oyakhilome had repeated painted the picture of a conspiracy theory about the coronavirus pandemic.
He said he believed God allowed the churches to be shut down because God wanted to get the church’s attention.
“Usually there should be a separation of church and state. But different leaders started making rules about wearing masks before we worship,” he said.
Oyakhilome added: “These guys don’t have any research that shows that using a mask saves you from the COVID-19. On the contrary we have abundant research results that prove that the mask doesn’t save you: in fact it kills you slowly. So why the mask: it keeps you subject to them. It reminds them of their power over you.
“Don’t look at the USA because its not a good example for any country to follow right now. It’s been politicised. They are caving in to the protagonists of the left to reduce criticism. I tell you, after the elections, nobody will wear masks.”
