According to report, Renowned pastor and founder of Christ Embassy, Chris Oyakhilome, has finally addressed the departure of several gospel musicians from his church, attributing their exit to a shift in priorities from genuine worship to personal fame and financial gain.
Oyakhilome, known for his firm stance on spiritual matters, lamented that music within the church had become increasingly worldly and self-centered, straying from its original purpose of glorifying God.
The pastor criticized the musicians for prioritizing performances over prayer, noting that while they were active during praise and worship sessions, they often absented themselves from moments of deep spiritual engagement.
According to him, many of these singers began charging fees for their services, viewing their involvement in church activities as a means of income rather than a platform for ministry.
"Why did it happen? The church was turned into a party place, not a prayer place where God's word was truly celebrated...they were not soul winners; they led praise in church, and when it was time for prayers, they were gone," Oyakhilome remarked.
He revealed that he initially celebrated the musicians and their contributions but later realized that they were drifting in a direction that compromised the sanctity of worship.
When he attempted to correct them and steer them back towards true worship, they resisted the change and ultimately chose to leave Christ Embassy.
According to Oyakhilome, their decision was influenced significantly by their increasing financial success and fame.
"The church lost its way of worship, everything changed, the music in the church became worldly, they danced for themselves, celebrated themselves, not God. They charged for their singing, they became professionals making money from the church... and many pastors didn't know that this was the world coming into the church," he explained.
Expressing disappointment, the pastor noted that the lure of money, even in small amounts, had blinded these musicians to their true calling. However, he maintained hope that they would one day recognize their mistakes and return to serving God with sincerity.
"I did at the beginning and celebrated them, but when I changed, they refused to change with me, so I had to let them go. God was getting my attention and saying this is not the way. I told them the Lord wanted us to do the right thing... they had become too popular, and because they were making even little money... do they know what big money is? The little money they were making was too attractive to them, so they didn't want to follow me, so they made a detour... I hope they all repent... they are not worship leaders," Oyakhilome stated.
His remarks have generated debates in the religious and gospel music communities, with some people endorsing his viewpoint and others contending that artists ought to get just compensation for their labor.
Oyakhilome is unwavering in his belief that genuine worship ought to be focused on God's glory rather than selfish aspirations, even in the face of opposition.
Comments