The General Overseer of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, has come under strong criticism from Nigerians on social media over his religious views on marriage sermon – gender equality.
A Facebook post on the official page of the church’s online ministry, last Sunday, cited an excerpt of the clergyman’s message titled ‘Who is a husband and what is his role?’, in which husbands were defined as “masters” as opposed to “male partners.”
Oyakhilome’s ex-wife, Anita, had on February 8, finalized her divorce from the pastor and dropped his last name for “Obhodaghe.”
Her lawyers confirmed the divorce earlier this year, following months of speculation that there was trouble in their marriage.
Anita, who had cited irreconcilable differences while filing for divorce, also severed ties with the church.
But Oyakhilome, in his message on Facebook, said the reason for most problems in Christian marriages was a refusal of God’s definition of marriage by women.
He said; They believe they are equal partners. (But) ‘Husband’ does not mean the male partner in a marriage, husband means master.
“The Bible says the man is the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3) so when you marry him, you come under his authority. You are not authority sharers, even though you are both heirs to the kingdom of God.”
According to the pastor, when one decides not to subject oneself to that authority, one becomes a rebel.
“God is not going to accept what you are doing because you are not functioning correctly. Why did God make the woman? If most women had fathers bold enough to talk to them, they would be very successful in their marriage and they would be very happy people.
