Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has expressed deep concern over what he described as the increasing commercialization of religion in Nigeria, lamenting that many preachers now focus on material wealth rather than the true message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Speaking when he received the leadership of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Bayelsa District Coordinating Council, at the Government House in Yenagoa over the weekend, Senator Ewhrudjakpo said the trend has led to a proliferation of churches founded mainly for financial gain. He noted that while the number of Christian denominations continues to rise, the moral and spiritual fabric of society has weakened.
According to him, the gospel message has been reduced to a doctrine of prosperity, diverting believers from the core purpose of Christianity, righteousness and eternal salvation. He warned that the pulpit, once a sacred space for truth and repentance, is now increasingly used to promote materialism.
“When we were growing up, the only Pentecostal church we knew then was the Christ Apostolic Church,” Ewhrudjakpo said. “But today, because of what is called the commercialization of religion, Pentecostal churches are everywhere. Those genuinely called by God must return to the true gospel. Christ is not a message of prosperity but of salvation. When the pulpit turns into a platform for wealth messages, it leads people away from the faith and into materialism.”
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He urged ministers of the gospel to return to the scriptural foundation of Christianity, quoting the Bible verse, ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you’, stressing that the Church must prioritize spiritual growth above earthly success.
The Deputy Governor also pledged to support the Christ Apostolic Church in its ongoing building project for its state headquarters in Yenagoa, assuring the delegation that the government would provide assistance within available resources.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Overseer of CAC, Pastor Stephen Okachukwu, commended the Bayelsa State Government for its developmental strides, especially in human capital and infrastructure. He recalled previous occasions when the Deputy Governor personally supported the church and appealed for continued partnership in the construction of the CAC Cathedral at the district headquarters.
Pastor Okachukwu praised the Diri-led administration for maintaining peace and improving security across the state through deliberate and sustained investments in governance and public welfare.
The visit, according to church officials, was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between faith-based institutions and the state government in promoting moral values, peace, and unity among Bayelsans.
