By Chidinma Ufomadu
Reverend Chris Okotie says online church service, which is now a common practice among Christians due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is unscriptural.
The Pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries in the Oregun area of Lagos State, Reverend Chris Okotie, maintains that for Christians to be able to worship God properly, they must gather physically.
“COVID-19 is a satanic plot to question the ability of God by keeping Christians away from church,” Pastor Chris put forth in a sermon titled, ‘The COVID-19 Mystery’.
“We are dealing with one of the most sinister conspiracies in human history. What we call the online church is absolutely untrue, because for you to be in church, you have to be ecclesia, which is translated from the Greek word, ‘ec’; which is out, and the word ‘caleo’, called out.” He said.
“You cannot gather unto God until you are called out. That’s why Israel was called out of the world. So, this thing, this phenomenon that we are talking about, the internet and cyber churches, is totally unscriptural.
“God knows where you are; if He was not interested in the assembly, you don’t need to come to church; you can pray in your house. I pray in my house. You praise in your house. I praise in my house. He can see all of us. He doesn’t need computers. But that denies Him who He is; so, we must – that’s why the bible puts that verse as an imperative – you must not forsake the assembly of yourselves together.” He stressed.
Pastor Chris had formerly challenged the government’s COVID-19 social distancing guidelines for churches, suggesting that the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria is a “modern-day Pharisees bereft of any authority to speak on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ.”
