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.
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.”
Source: Sunday Punch
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Society