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General News of Saturday, 8 August 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

COVID-19: Top pastors give reasons why their church won't reopen

Okotie, Bakare, Adeyemi and Adeboye Okotie, Bakare, Adeyemi and Adeboye

Top pastors in Nigeria have said that they will not reopen their church despite an order by the Lagos State Government which permits worship centers to reopen.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced that worship centers can resume activities as from August 7 after months of being on lockdown due to COVID-19.

The development was well received by Pastor E.A Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, who advised his church members to return to church for fellowship.

“I encourage you all to go back to church for fellowship and begin to enjoy the benefits of corporate prayers again. The Almighty God in Hebrews 10 vs 25 said that we should not forsake the assembly of one another", Adeboye said.

He also revealed that some people will try to discourage Christians from gathering in church on grounds that God can still hear their prayers when said at home.

“Yes, I agree. Anywhere you cry unto Him, He will answer. But He says specifically in Matthew 21 vs 13 that His house is called the House of Prayers.

“He himself designated the House of God as a place where you will pray and the answer will come fast. That is the reason why David says in Psalm 122 vs 1 that I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord because He knows that when you go to the house of the Lord, you will be in his presence where there is fullness of joy,” Adeboye said.

Adeboye's stance on church reopening is not supported by Pastor Sam Adeyemi who said that Daystar Christian Center will stick to online services for now.

According to a statement issued, the church will resume when there's a safe environment.

On his own part, Prophet TB Joshua said that his Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, won't reopen until he hears from God.

The pastor who has been conducting virtual COVID-19 healings said, "as soon as we hear from God, we will inform you when our services will resume".

Reverend Chris Okotie of Household of God Church kicked against the guidelines given to churches which requires members to wear a face mask or face shield in church.

“When a man is standing before God in church wearing a shield or mask, he is denying the finished work of the cross,” he said.

This he gave as the reason why his church will not reopen for fellowship as from August 9 when Christians are permitted to start to conduct services while Muslims started on August 7.

Okotie also disagreed with idea of online services which Daystar Christian Center said it will continue with till a safe environment is assured of.

He said, “We are dealing with one of the most sinister conspiracies in human history. What we call the online church is absolutely untrue, because for you to be in church, you have to be ecclesia, which is translated from the Greek word, ec, which is out, and the word caleo, called out.

“You cannot gather unto God until you are called out. That’s why Israel was called out of the world. So, this thing, this phenomenon that we are talking about, the Internet and cyber churches, is totally unscriptural".

Pastor Tunde Bakare of Citadel Global Community Church, CGCC, not only made it clear that his church won't reopen, he also spoke against the reopening of any worship center.

He said: “I have to appeal to you once again, please keep safe and do your best to stay alive. Do not let anyone, whether religious leader or governmental leader, to drive you like a sheep to the slaughter.

“If they (the government and the disease control authorities) said that the month of August is going to be the peak of the infection, why should they ask people to rush in (re-open the churches) again?", he asked.