Pastor Tunde Bakare, Senior pastor of Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC) has criticized Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome for demanding that churches re-open amid coronavirus pandemic.
Bishop David Oyedepo and Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, among others, have recently called for the re-opening of churches as Lagos and several other parts of the country begin the gradual re-opening of the economy.
Although, Bakare did not mention both men by name, he said on Sunday that it was wrong for church leaders to be criticising governments at this time.
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Bakare said: “I will like to react to the lamentation of some people within the church over closure of churches, that while markets and hospitals are allowed to open Churches are not allow to operate,
“I am so glad not only churches are prevented from congregating, the mosques also are locked down. The government ordered the markets to open and to operate for a few days to prevent hunger because the palliatives by the government cannot go to every citizens in their homes right now.
“Let the church live and support the government rather than condemning them in this arduous task. We should thank God that there is no distance in the spirit, lockdown or no lockdown and that the church is not the building but the body of Christ.”
Earlier on, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has criticized all church leaders who agreed with the governments directive to shut down churches, he regarded them as not being true Christians.
Also, Bishop Oyedepo of Living Faith Church international had condemned the government for closing churches and allowed markets to open.
Oyedepo said: “There should be opening of the churches around the world. Sir, there is something wrong for people to be allowed to be in the market for six hours and can’t be in Church for two hours.