Singer and pastor Olubankole Wellington aka Banky W, has weighed in on the growing criticism of church teachings on wealth, cautioning against sweeping generalisations while condemning abuses in some religious circles.

Speaking during a recent discussion, the music executive said conversations around the “prosperity gospel” have become deeply polarised, with many Nigerians assuming that the failings of a few represent the entire church.

“I don’t think it’s fair to make general statements that because I have seen evidence of this here it means everybody is guilty of this thing,” he said.

Banky W noted that both extremes — the prosperity gospel and the poverty gospel — distort the core of Christian teaching.

“The prosperity gospel is false and corrupted, the poverty gospel is also false and corrupted,” he said. “What the gospel said is that God will provide all of your needs and bless you enough for you to be a blessing.”

He added that popular expectations that Christians must either attain billionaire status or embrace lack are also misguided.

“That is the promise — the promise is not that we are all meant to be Dangote and Otedola and it’s also not that we are meant to sleep under the bridge,” he said.

While acknowledging that a segment of the church has misused these teachings, Banky W urged Nigerians not to paint all churches with the same brush.

“There’s a segment of the church that has taken that and abused it and those allegations are true and I don’t like them either,” he said.