Worship Without Walls: Is Church Still Necessary? The Rise of Spiritual Individualism Among Nigerians [OPINION]

 

Nigerians Are Finding God — Just Not in Church

Across Nigeria, a quiet but noticeable transformation is unfolding in how people practice their faith. More and more citizens — especially young adults — are declaring their belief in God and commitment to moral living, but without any ties to religious institutions. It’s becoming a familiar sentiment in many conversations: “I love God, I do good, but I don’t go to church.”

For a country known globally for its deep religiosity and sprawling churches — from Pentecostal megastructures in Lagos to age-old cathedrals in Enugu — this shift feels almost unthinkable. Yet it’s happening. People are walking away from denomination-based worship, not out of atheism or rebellion, but in pursuit of something more personal and, in their words, more real.

This new category of believers has no formal label, but many refer to themselves as “spiritual, not religious.” They reject church politics, pulpit celebrity culture, and perceived hypocrisy in some religious circles, while still holding firm to prayer, scripture, fasting, and personal ethics rooted in faith.

“I stopped attending church services five years ago,” says 29-year-old Chidi Nwankwo, a software developer based in Abuja. “But I talk to God daily. I read the Bible. I give to the needy. I live consciously. I just don’t want to be part of a system that sometimes feels more like business than worship.”

This sentiment is not isolated. Social media platforms are filled with young Nigerians sharing messages about God, gratitude, and grace — all while rejecting traditional church environments. From YouTube devotionals to Instagram-based prayer groups, they’re building digital altars where spiritual connection is fostered without formal pastors or doctrines.

Religious leaders across the country are grappling with the trend. Pastor Emmanuel Udeh of a popular Pentecostal church in Port Harcourt is concerned. “This generation wants God without responsibility,” he says. “You cannot claim to be a child of God without devotion. Church is not perfect, but it is God’s institution for building His people. Spiritual independence sounds good, but it often leads to spiritual confusion.”

Still, others within the religious space acknowledge that the institutional church in Nigeria has, at times, pushed people away. Scandals involving church leaders, the commercialization of faith, and the prioritisation of wealth over holiness have left many disillusioned.

“We must admit that some churches have failed to live up to their calling,” says Reverend Sister Joy Ibe, a Catholic nun and community organizer in Owerri. “But the answer is not total disconnection. It is reform, humility, and recommitment. God still uses the Church, with all its flaws, to reach His people.”

Critics of the “spiritual but not religious” trend argue that without structure and accountability, faith becomes dangerously shallow. Dr. Bamidele Afolayan, a lecturer in religious studies at the University of Ibadan, warns that spiritual individualism can easily drift into self-made theology. “When everyone becomes their own pastor, you lose the wisdom of tradition, the discipline of community, and the richness of shared belief,” he says.

But for those like Blessing Akintola, a 32-year-old entrepreneur in Lagos, structure is not the problem — control is. “I once attended a church where people were told who to vote for, how to dress, and even how to manage their marriages,” she recalls. “That’s not spiritual leadership; that’s manipulation. I still believe in Jesus. I just choose to follow Him directly.”

Interestingly, this movement doesn’t always lead to abandonment of all religious practices. Many still pray regularly, fast, read religious texts, and participate in charity. What they’re rejecting is not faith, but formality.

As the debate continues, one question lingers in the hearts of many Nigerians: Can a person truly claim to love God and live righteously without devotion to a church?

Pastor Udeh responds with a challenge: “Ask yourself — if you truly love someone, won’t you want to be where they dwell? The Church is where the body gathers. You can’t love the head and ignore the body.”

But for Chidi and Blessing, their quiet walks with God are enough — at least for now.

Perhaps the future of Nigerian faith lies not in choosing sides between church and solitude, but in building a space where honesty, reverence, and accountability can co-exist. Whether inside cathedrals or under the quiet glow of a phone screen, one truth remains: the search for God continues.

*written by DGT!