Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Bishop Okonkwo condemns Nigerian mega-churches without societal impact
Bishop Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) has condemned the Nigerian mega churches without visible impact on societal values and morals.
According to him, the proliferation of mega-churches has failed to curb the nation’s deep-seated corruption and moral decay.
Bishop Okonkwo, who spoke at a conference in Lagos, challenged the notion that large auditoriums equate to spiritual success, pointing to the country’s ongoing struggles as evidence of a flawed message.
“We have built the largest auditoriums in the world, yet our society remains broken. If this is the gospel, where is the impact?” 80-year-old Okonkwo questioned.
He urged the church to confront this uncomfortable truth, stating, “If our message isn’t transforming society, then we must humbly admit that something is wrong.”
Okonkwo, who admitted to once promoting a legalistic doctrine, revealed that a personal revelation led him to champion a gospel of grace over rules and religion.
He confessed to formerly imposing strict rules on his congregation, such as forbidding women from wearing makeup, which he now sees as binding people rather than freeing them.
“I got tired of religion, teaching people to behave first so they could become Christians. That is not the gospel. The gospel says believe first, and then your behavior follows,” he explained.
Addressing critics who claim grace promotes sin, he retorted, “Does building a hospital make people sick? Grace doesn’t promote sin, it empowers holiness.”
His new message centers on freedom and identity in Christ. “Christianity is not an exam hall, it is a graduation ceremony. Our journey begins at the finishing line. Jesus paid it all,” he told the audience.
He concluded with a challenge to young ministers to prioritize scripture over tradition, saying, “Respect elders, but don’t mistake longevity for revelation… This is your time, stand boldly for the gospel of grace.”
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