COVID-19: Okotie Blasts CAN, Says Guidelines For Church Reopening Are Blasphemous

By Daniel Dafe

The President of the Household of God Church, Lagos, Nigeria, Rev. Chris Okotie, has disagreed with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the guidelines adopted by the umbrella body for Chrsitians in the country to enable churches reopen, saying that “social distancing in the Church of Jesus Christ is tantamount to blasphemous infidelity and an impeachment of the integrity of the Word of God.”
The Federal Government and states recently banned religious worship as one of the measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
In an open letter to the President of CAN posted on his Facebook page, Okotie disclosed that he called the president to discuss a report in today’s Sun Newspaper in which CAN recommended guidelines for the opening of churches.
He continued: “Healing is fundamental to the redemptive work of Jesus. To allow the idol of Corona Virus to determine the scope of congregational worship in the house of God is an abomination of gargantuan proportions. “No true minister of the gospel will succumb to such travesty of the faith. This is a summary of my objections.
“I have sent this message hoping that you would respond as one who bears the burden of the Cross of Jesus. I have restrained myself from making a public outcry of this desecration and profanation out of respect for you and the CAN hierarchy. But be assured that this position is transient.”
Guidelines endorsed by CAN as a condition to allow worship services to hold include social distance, face masks, alcoholic sanitisers, temperature readers, soap and water in their premises.
A restriction was also placed on the total number of worshippers permitted at a time in worship centres.
Meanwhile, while many states have eased up the ban on religious worship, the Federal Government has said that Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States will still observe the lockdown, as religious worship remains banned.