A Nigerian pastor has sparked debate after describing church members who frequently complain about money and financial contributions as enemies of the church.
In a viral video, the pastor argued that members should understand their financial responsibilities and recognise the expenses involved in running a church, including rent, maintenance and staff salaries.
He maintained that although churches do not charge gate fees for worshippers to attend services, members should contribute towards the upkeep of their places of worship.
Pastor questions members’ financial commitment
Speaking about how to identify people he considers unsupportive of a church, the pastor said their reactions to discussions about money could reveal their attitude towards the ministry.
“You want to know the enemies of your church? When you talk about money, they’re angry. They always complain. Just know that they don’t love your church. They’re not interested in your church,” he said.
He also questioned why someone who had attended a church for a year would fail to consider their financial responsibilities towards the ministry.
According to him, the absence of an entrance fee does not mean worshippers have no financial obligations to support the church.
“There’s no gate fee in the church. Doesn’t mean that there’s no cost to you. Have some sense in your head. Ask yourself,” he added.
Pastor explains church expenses
The cleric further illustrated his argument by calculating how much a church could receive if members contributed ₦1,000 every Sunday.
He explained that a member giving ₦1,000 weekly would contribute approximately ₦4,000 monthly.
Using a hypothetical congregation of 1,000 members, he estimated that the church would receive ₦4 million monthly if everyone made the contribution.
However, he argued that such an amount would still have to cover several expenses, including the cost of the church premises, daily operations, maintenance and staff payments.
The pastor expressed frustration with members who, in his view, fail to appreciate these financial demands while criticising requests for contributions.
‘You are an enemy of the church’
The pastor ended his remarks with a strong warning to members who consistently oppose financial discussions and contributions.
“You are wicked. Very wicked. You are an enemy of the church. Enemy of the church. And it’s better you leave the church and get out,” he said.
Watch the video here…