The General Overseer of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has come under strong criticism from Nigerians on social media over his religious views on gender equality.
 |
| Pastor Chris and his ex-wife |
A Facebook post on the official page of the church’s online ministry, last Sunday, cited an excerpt of the clergyman’s message titled ‘Who is a husband and what is his role?’, in which husbands were defined as “masters” as opposed to “male partners.”
Oyakhilome’s ex-wife, Anita, had on February 8, finalised her divorce from the pastor and dropped his last name for “Obhodaghe.”
Her lawyers confirmed the divorce earlier this year, following months of speculation that there was trouble in their marriage.
Anita, who had cited irreconcilable differences while filing for divorce, also severed ties with the church.
But Oyakhilome, in his message on Facebook, said the reason for most problems in Christian marriages was a refusal of God’s definition of marriage by women.
He said, “They believe they are equal partners. (But) ‘husband’ does not mean the male partner in a marriage, husband means master.
“The Bible says the man is the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3) so when you marry him, you come under his authority. You are not authority sharers, even though you are both heirs to the kingdom of God.”
According to the pastor, when one decides not to subject oneself to that authority, one becomes a rebel.
“God is not going to accept what you are doing because you are not functioning correctly. Why did God make the woman? If most women had fathers bold enough to talk to them, they would be very successful in their marriage and they would be very happy people.
“Most women have never been taught by their parents, their fathers particularly and that’s their biggest problem because they don’t know who a man is. They think he is another woman,” he said.
The message went viral on many platforms.
Oyakhilome’s stance received backlash from some Nigerians, who expressed their disagreement in the comments section of the post.
Blessing Meteke said, “Unfortunately, this is the type of preaching that millions of Nigerians listen to. ‘Making a woman was not God’s original plan. When a husband is angry, the wife is the victim.’
“This is what men adhere to and they make their wives and daughters-in-law slaves in their own homes. Misogyny has eaten deep into several Nigerians and they use the Bible as a cover-up. This is not only disheartening but exasperating.”
Babalola Olusegun added, “Can the pastor explain Genesis 1:27, because looking at the passage, God put women in His plan even before creating them. The man should remember that the woman is removed from his ribs, which means the man is not complete without the woman.”
Jane Onyejiaka also said, “Some points in this sermon are flawed, with all due respect. I will never teach my sons that a woman is an afterthought. God doesn’t do things for doing sake. Anyway, he is a pastor, not God. I always sieve what I read and I take the good and leave the rest.”
Similarly, Ekaette Essien said, “I didn’t see any advice for men here. Making a successful home should not be a one-sided thing. It should not rest on the shoulder of only the women. A man who loves his wife will surely earn respect from such a wife.
“If you are a boss-type husband, surely rebellion awaits you. Let’s be real, please. Even God who created us does not act like a boss to us. He loves us; that’s why His children have to obey and respect Him.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Guys this Pastor was right in this sermon.
ReplyDeleteThe media does not know the interpretation of scriptures.
He spoke the truth...it is the scripture.
Genesis 3:16
Unto the woman he said,...........; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Must the woman be a slave to the man? Woman are meant to assist the man to grow in every area of his life. Not to be a slave and nod her head over all the man said.
DeleteChris is perfectly right. we shouldn't miss understand him. God gave woman to man as the man's helper. this is while st. Paul said the man is the head of the woman. let's not be misled by the western culture.
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to say God bless the men more than women? All because the women are helper. God know the man is not complete without the woman. Hence he created the woman to be part of the man's life. To be there for him as a friend, sister, mother and partner in good and bad time. Men are meant to treat women with love, care with much understanding. Not to be an authoritarian over her.
DeleteEuropean Cultural influence on Christianity has shaped the thoughts and behaviours of most Christians. Bible teachings should remain the standard reference for clergy and the lay.e.g. polygamy, man as head in a family etc are unequivocal documentations in the Bible and are authentic African traditions.
ReplyDeleteThis is correct pls leave the man of God alone.
ReplyDeleteRight pastor! But when a man failed to answer his name properly during the midnight ministration with his wife it can lead to problem. In that case it will be very difficult for even a man of God to raise it openly. If NEPA usually takes light at the peak of their praise worship it can also be frustrating for them. May God guide and help us all.
ReplyDeleteFrom biblical standpoint, a woman is not equal to the man.Remember'the head of the woman is the man'according to the scripture. If you equate the woman with the man,you aren't following biblical injunction. This isn't and shouldn't be an issue because the bible is very precise about it.
ReplyDeleteGive your bible verse where it's states that women are slave to the man. Or where God bless the men more than women because they don't have equal blessing from him? Don't get it twisted with our so called men of God. Many are no longer with God. But dwell in politics and things of the world.
DeleteThe pastor is talking from his experience, men should be men and women remain women as instructed by the Bible. This is not about human right, its about Goldy right
ReplyDeleteBible verse please!!!
DeleteA pastor who could go to the unbiblical extent of divorcing his own wife is certainly an anti-Christ. Yet people still patronize his church. Where is CAN in all these?
ReplyDeleteBless you brother. I am not trying to judge him but the truth be said. What marriage counselling will he give his church members if he can't pray over his marriage from collapsing? He should live by example and a pastor.
DeleteSorry o, if I read correctly, the article said she divorced him on the grounds of "irreconcilable differences". He didn't divorce her. There's a difference.
DeleteNow about who's head and who's not between HUSBANDS and WIVES (not men and women, like some of us are going on about), my take on the matter is that God as stated in the Holy Bible through the Apostle Paul, placed the Husband over the Wife. Now using the human body as an analogy, that doesn't mean the head can behave anyhow or treat the rest of the body as if they are not important or to take them for granted.
A body having a head and no toes or even finger nails or hair on the body, knows how incomplete and uncomfortable it is.
Imagine the head taking the kidneys or lungs (that are not visible) for granted, and doesn't feed or take care of them well, it won't be long before that head and the rest of the body suffers for it.
I believe God's intention for stating the things He did as He did in the Bible is to inform the wife that her OWN husband takes the lead in matters that concern them and their nuclear family. Two drivers can't drive the same car at the same time - UNLESS they're in agreement and even then, one must take the lead and that RESPONSIBILITY (for its more a responsibility than an honor), fall to the husband. The wife in turn is to respect him and honor him for "driving" family well and in the right direction.
Remember this same Bible in Ephesians 5:25 (MSG version) admonishes the husbands to go all out in love for their wives not in seeking to get anything but in a "giving" kind of love. That's the husbands role.
So his "driving" "taking the lead" should be in a selfless way, first considering his relationship with Christ then his wife and rest of his family ABOVE his own personal needs.
Take it from me, I am a man that learnt this the hard way. But thank God I've learned.
God bless us all.
When a man failed to handle his family issues he is not worthy to be called a pastor not to talk of calling him G.O.
ReplyDeletePastor Chris Oyakhilome said on marriage of a male and a female is the bitter truth. Take it or leave. If I were a lady with understanding I would not have any hard feelings. I understood all he pointed out because he was talking about marriage as an institution of GOD not as a mundane union. Thank you.
ReplyDelete