COVID-19: Social Distancing In The Church Is Blasphemous Infidelity and An Impeachment Of The Integrity Of The Word Of God – Pastor Chris Okotie Tutors CAN.

Chris Okotie & Samson Ayokunle.

The Pastor in charge of the Household of God and former Presidential candidate of the Fresh Party of Nigeria, Rev. Chris Okotie has over the weekend, come down very hard on the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN against what he called blasphemy against God for suggesting that Social Distancing would be observed as churches are opened across Nigeria.

You would recall that the Chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, Rev. Joseph Hayab had written to the state Governor, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai through the Covid-19 Committee Chair, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, asking for places of worship to be opened and suggested measures the church would put in place to ensure that services goes smoothly and one of those suggestions was Social Distancing.

According to Reverend Joseph Hayab, “Churches will provide alcohol based sanitizers, temperature readers, soaps, water in their premises, hand gloves by leaders, face mask and the big one, SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE OBSERVED IN THE SITTING ARRANGEMENTS WITH ONE-METER GAP BETWEEN TWO WORSHIPERS”.

In his response, the very eloquent preacher reached out to the President of CAN, Samson Ayokunle who also is in the know of the guidelines prepared by the association for onward forwarding to the President, Muhammadu Buhari and Governors across Nigeria and says: “Greetings. I am Rev Chris Okotie. I called earlier to discuss a report in today’s Sun Newspaper in which CAN recommended guide lines for the Opening of Churches”.

“Social distancing in the Church of Jesus Christ is tantamount to blasphemous infidelity and an impeachment of the integrity of the word of God. Healing is fundamental to the redemptive work of Jesus and to allow the Idol of Corona Virus to determine the scope of congregational worship in the house of God is an abomination of gargantuan proportions. No true minister of the gospel will succumb to such travesty of the faith. This is a summary of my objections. I have sent this message hoping that you would respond as one who bears the burden of the Cross of Jesus. I have restrained myself from making a public outcry of this desecration and profanation out of respect for you and the CAN hierarchy. But be assured that this position is transient”.

Reverend Chris Okotie’s very elaborate response is coming at the right time in support of Rev. Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy and Bishop David Oyedepo of Winners Chapel’s outcry condemning the closure of places of worship, especially the churches.