A generation of young Christians may grow up knowing which preacher called another a false prophet, a wizard or an agent of darkness, yet remain uncertain about what Christ taught concerning love, truth and forgiveness. This is the danger when religious leaders turn the pulpit into a battlefield: the noise of spiritual rivalry begins to drown out the message of the gospel.
The controversy surrounding the late Prophet T.B. Joshua exposes this troubling contradiction. Pastor Chris Okotie publicly described him as the “Wizard at Endor,” invoking the biblical account of King Saul consulting a medium. Controversial remarks attributed to Apostle Arome Osayi have also fuelled debate about Joshua and the language ministers use when challenging one another’s spiritual claims. These disputes raise a question that transcends personalities: when Christian leaders publicly condemn fellow ministers, what kind of legacy are they building for the Church?
Accuracy must come before outrage. In July 2021, Dr. Paul Enenche’s office denied that he authored a controversial article about Joshua that had circulated under his name. The clarification illustrates how easily religious controversies can be distorted by false attribution. A preacher who demands truth from others must also uphold it when discussing them. No minister should be condemned for words he did not speak, and no allegation should become a verdict merely because it is repeated from one platform to another.
Meanwhile, the Synagogue Church of All Nations continues to attract followers after Joshua’s death in June 2021. The ministry’s continuing public presence, including anniversary commemorations, demonstrates that criticism has not erased its influence. That fact neither establishes the truth of Joshua’s teachings nor disproves his critics’ allegations. It does, however, challenge the assumption that public denunciation alone resolves religious disputes. If the objective is to defend the faith, what has actually been achieved when accusations multiply but the underlying questions remain contested?
This is not a defence of any preacher against legitimate scrutiny. Religious authority must never place anyone beyond accountability. Where credible evidence of abuse, deception or doctrinal error exists, it should be examined openly and responsibly. But there is a fundamental difference between exposing demonstrable wrongdoing and using inflammatory labels to discredit another person. The former can protect believers; the latter can replace investigation with spectacle. Spiritual discernment requires more than confidence, volume or a commanding pulpit.
The people most likely to suffer from this confusion are young Christians searching for a stable foundation for their faith. They hear one minister dismiss another, encounter competing claims of divine authority and watch supporters turn theological disagreements into personal warfare. Without guidance, they may begin to measure Christianity by the reputations of celebrated preachers rather than by the teachings of Jesus. Some may follow personalities unquestioningly; others may retreat into cynicism. Neither outcome serves the Church’s mission.
Christ’s instruction in John 13:35 remains a demanding standard: His disciples would be recognised by their love for one another. Love does not forbid correction, and unity does not require silence about wrongdoing. It does require honesty, restraint and a willingness to distinguish evidence from suspicion. Ministers who challenge one another should be able to explain their disagreements through Scripture, facts and reason without turning public humiliation into a substitute for spiritual leadership. The truth does not become stronger simply because it is delivered with contempt.
The legacy question, therefore, belongs to every pulpit in Nigeria. Will future generations remember Christian leaders chiefly for their sermons, service, integrity and compassion, or for the insults they exchanged with fellow ministers? Will our churches produce believers equipped to think critically, practise mercy and stand for truth, or followers trained to defend personalities and repeat accusations? The answers will be written not only in books and recordings but in the character of the young people watching us today.
The debate over T.B. Joshua, Arome Osayi, Chris Okotie and other ministers should not be reduced to a contest over who can pronounce the harshest spiritual judgment. Specific claims must be assessed on their evidence and merits. The more urgent concern is whether the Church’s public conduct directs people towards Christ or distracts them with endless battles over religious supremacy. If our young people inherit the names of the preachers we attacked but lose sight of the Christ we were commissioned to preach, then the pulpit may have won its arguments while the Church has lost its message.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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