Pastors have made Nigerians lazy by giving false hopes, cleric claims

Iyke Chukuka, a Nigerian-Canadian preacher, says pastors in the country are encouraging laziness by feeding their congregants with false hopes.

Speaking during an interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, Chukuka said many Nigerians now believe prayer is a substitute for work.

“Jesus came so that Christians will have life to the fullest and that the works of their hands will be blessed,” he said.

“But we’ve been telling our people that they have to stay all night and pray, and in the morning, instead of going out to look for jobs, they are at home sleeping because they prayed all night.”

Chukuka, who also leads Emblaze Ministries, advised Nigerian pastors to follow the example of Paul, the apostle, who worked as a tentmaker to support his ministry.

He said pastors should experience what their members go through by engaging in work and not relying solely on offerings and donations.

“Jesus came so that Christians will have life to the fullest and that the works of their hands will be blessed. But we’ve been telling our people that they have to stay all night and pray, and in the morning, instead of going out to look for jobs, they are at home sleeping because they prayed all night,” Chukuka said.

“We have given people false hopes. You know that somebody needs a job and has not gone out to look for one, but you are telling him that God shall provide. That’s not the God of the Bible. We are not teaching what Jesus taught.”

The cleric also criticised the spread of the prosperity gospel, warning that not everyone will become materially rich.

He described it as the “gospel of the poor”, noting that it doesn’t resonate in developed societies where people’s basic needs are already met.