Bible teachers in Nigeria often argue that “money issue among brethren” is the greatest bane of the Nigerian Church. They also express concerns that Christians will continue to wash their dirty linen in public if the subject of money is not properly addressed by the church.
The concerns of these teachers are likely the reason why Paul – perhaps the greatest Apostle of Christ – said in First Timothy 6:10 that “the love of money is the root of all evil.”
Although many misinterpret the passage as meaning that money is evil, Paul’s statement actually establishes that it is not money itself that should earn opprobrium but the unhinged desire for it, or greed, that can lead to problems in the church.
Recently, some men of God have been venting their spleen on what they think is an anomaly in the house of God: gospel music ministers who charge their own churches “outrageous” amounts of money before they can perform rapturous and soul-lifting Christian songs in those churches.
Although the “abnormality” had been handled with kid gloves before now, the practice lingered long in the body of Christ because the church wanted to avoid fallout from it.
But opposition to it finally, or better still, officially spewed into the open after popular pastor and founder of Christ Embassy, Chris Oyakhilome, called out some musician-members of his church who were found to be culpable.
Surprisingly, the 61-year-old Edo State-born Pastor later parted ways with those gospel singers.
And without the pastor mentioning their names or revealing who the “guilty parties” were, Nigerians later found out that those affected make up a lineup of “superstars” who are admired in the sphere of gospel music.
They include Sinach, Eben, Joe Praize, Ada Ehi, Moses Bliss, Frank Edwards, and others from the church. There was, expectedly, disaffection in some quarters with Oyakhilome but the clergyman remained unfazed. He stuck to his guns.
“Everything changed,” Oyakhilome began as he explained why his relationship with his “children” went awry.
“The music in the church became worldly, and instead of worshipping God, they danced and celebrated themselves,” the cleric said somberly.
“How many of those singers were soul winners? They were not soul winners. They were professionals making money from the church, charging for their singing while pretending to minister to God.
“Many pastors didn’t realise that this was how the world was creeping into the church, and instead of stopping it, they helped to celebrate them.
“At first, I also celebrated them. But when I changed, they refused to change with me. I had to let them go because God was getting my attention, telling me this wasn’t the right path,” he added.
“Yet they charge $50,000 for one night. Those of them they call A-List gospel ministers – they charge that kind of amount. N10 million for one night? These are businessmen using the Bible as a meal ticket”
However, a controversial pastor, Abel Damina of The Abel Damina Ministries faulted churches that groom gospel music ministers. He also compared those music ministers to singers like Davido, Tiwa Savage and Burna Boy.
Damina said there was nothing like a gospel music minister in the Bible and lamented that the only thing the gospel music ministers do is to hype the congregation.
“Yet they charge $50,000 for one night. Those of them they call A-List gospel ministers – they charge that kind of amount. N10 million for one night? These are businessmen using the Bible as a meal ticket,” he added.
After Damina’s assessment of the situation, a handful of gospel music ministers replied by stating that they spend a lot of money on production, logistics and even make payments to band members.
Yet another pastor, Femi Lazarus of the Light Nation Church, also gave his take on the matter.
Lazarus said gospel music ministrations have become “performances.”
He also said even though gospel music ministers pay for the services of band members and miscellaneous expenses, they forget that God can supply their needs.
Lazarus said, “Worship meetings in Nigeria have now become performances. Someone has charged N5 million to come here to sing. He will roll on the floor and cry. He is doing his business.
“He will pay drummer, saxophonist. He will pay keyboardist. If he doesn’t charge (the church an amount of money), how will he pay them (band members)?
‘‘We have been so far from God’s presence that we don’t know he supplies needs. That question (about how gospel music ministers cope) is a question for somebody who doesn’t know God.
“The life we have been called to in ministry is of daily supply. We are to look up to God for the next supply,” Lazarus said.
Ironically, it was Lazarus’ position that struck a raw nerve the most with a number of celebrities and soon enough, the floodgates of reactions were opened.
Harrison Okiri, popularly known as Harrysong, argued that gospel music ministers charge a fee because of the “failure of the church.”
He was also unequivocal in saying that it is not a sin if churches pay music ministers the same way they pay pastors.
‘‘That some gospel artistes have monetized their gifts and collect huge amounts of money for ministration is the result of the failure of the church.
‘‘Some pastors/overseers are too selfish. If the church pays and takes care of you for preaching, why is it a sin for the church to pay me for singing?” Harrysong queried.
Popular singer-songwriter and music producer, Timi Dakolo, also weighed in on the matter.
He disagreed with Lazarus, stressing that music is an art as much as it is spiritual.
“You should be paid what you deserve. Studio sessions, production and promotion cost a lot. You have a family to feed, you have rent to pay, you have more songs to put out.
“We should stop all these attacks on people’s work, As much as it is spiritual, music is art,” he wrote.
Dakolo, who urged Lazarus to stop “gaslighting” gospel music ministers, advised Lazarus to focus on building his church choir and using choir members for events if he knew he couldn’t afford to pay popular gospel singers.
“If you can’t pay people, use your choir members and pay them what you would have given the guest artist,” Dakolo said.
A comedian, Otaghware Onodjayeke, aka I go save, took a pragmatic view in a veiled reference to Lazarus.
He said the only pastors who can “rant” about gospel music artists charging a fee in churches, are the ones, like Oyakhilome, who promote and invest in the talents in their churches.
“Only Pastor Chris or pastors who have promoted gospel musicians to limelight should rant about them having to charge churches
“Other pastors should promote and invest in the talents in their churches rather than looking for already blown gospel acts, made by others, to promote their churches for free.
“Gospel artists need to put food on their tables, too, like pastors on salaries from their churches,” he said.
A current affairs analyst, Ifiok Usanga, told The Point, “I observed that it is mainly those who are outside the church, I mean celebrities who do not identify as proper gospel music ministers that are hitting back at pastors who are antagonizing these gospel singers.
“But I don’t blame these quiet gospel musicians. If they speak out against the pastors that are criticizing them, they may never be called upon to minister in churches, hence, their silence.
“I believe that the desire to make more money is at the root of the problem. Either the pastor is greedy or the singers are greedy.”
A clergyman, Emeka Onwuachu, said, “I believe that gospel music ministers should be paid for their work. But the fees shouldn’t be outrageous.
“I think that the fees some of the singers charge their churches is what is really annoying some pastors. It is an outrageous amount and not that pastors don’t want to pay at all.
“Everyone must remember that the world is watching the church closely. If we mistreat or disrespect ourselves because of money wahala, we will look shamefaced when we tell people about Christ.”