Nigerian Clergyman Urges Pastors to End False Hopes and Inspire Hard Work to Break Culture of Laziness in Churches

 

Venerable Iye Chukuka, a Nigerian-born Christian missionary based in Canada, has expressed deep concern over the type of messages being preached by many pastors in Nigeria, arguing that they are breeding a culture of idleness through promises that rarely align with biblical teachings.

Speaking during an exclusive conversation with Rudolf Okonkwo on the programme 90MinutesAfrica, Chukuka emphasised that numerous church leaders have conditioned congregants to depend solely on divine intervention while neglecting personal effort and diligence.

Chukuka, who serves in the Church of Nigeria and oversees hundreds of church planters in multiple nations, urged religious leaders to redirect their teachings toward a balanced life of faith and work. He referenced the Apostle Paul as a prime example of self-sufficiency, recalling how Paul made tents to support both himself and his ministry. According to the clergyman, this approach allowed Paul to preach without placing undue financial burdens on those he served.

"Jesus came so that His followers would enjoy life in abundance and so that the works of their hands would be blessed," Chukuka remarked. "Unfortunately, what we often tell people now is to pray all night and then spend the day sleeping instead of working or seeking employment. That is not the message Jesus brought. If someone is unemployed, telling them 'God shall provide' without urging them to take action is misleading."

He further recommended that pastors should consider earning a living through other means alongside their ministry, believing it would give them a firsthand understanding of the economic realities faced by ordinary members of their congregations. This, he argued, would also make their counsel more grounded and practical.

While stressing the need for a shift in mindset, the missionary called on Christians to stop falling for the allure of the prosperity gospel. He pointed out that the belief that everyone will become materially wealthy is neither realistic nor supported by scripture. Even Jesus, he noted, acknowledged that poverty would remain a reality for some people.

Chukuka described the prosperity gospel as the “gospel of the poor,” explaining that its core appeal lies in offering hope to those struggling to meet basic needs. However, he noted that this style of preaching rarely resonates in developed nations, where social systems already address many of the challenges that prosperity preachers highlight.

According to him, the messages from many Nigerian pastors tend to revolve around survival concerns such as protection from insecurity, healing from illness without medical access, and prayers for financial breakthroughs. While these resonate with those living in hardship, they hold little attraction for people in societies with functioning systems.

"In places like the United States or Canada, telling someone to pray for safety on the road sounds strange because the roads are well maintained, and security concerns are minimal," Chukuka explained. "You cannot convince an average Canadian to fast for hospital bills when healthcare is free and accessible to everyone."

The missionary observed that Nigerian churches in North America often struggle to attract members outside the immigrant community because the core of their messages does not address the realities of life in those countries. Many North Americans, he said, see little need for divine intervention in matters already handled efficiently by social infrastructure.

Chukuka’s remarks have sparked conversations about the future of the Nigerian church and the urgent need for leaders to balance spiritual encouragement with practical life skills. Supporters of his view believe that integrating work ethics and economic responsibility into religious teaching could help tackle unemployment and reduce dependency mindsets among Christians.

While some pastors have defended their focus on faith-based teachings, critics agree with Chukuka that without a shift, the church risks fostering a generation more inclined to wait for miracles than to create opportunities. The missionary insists that this cultural shift must begin from the pulpit, where the most influence is wielded.

By challenging the status quo, Venerable Iye Chukuka has added his voice to a growing movement of faith leaders calling for a blend of spirituality and practicality. For him, the true gospel is not one that traps believers in wishful thinking but one that equips them to thrive through both divine help and human effort. 

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