The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has explained why churches should remain closed despite the lifting if ban in worship places by some state governors as well as the mounting pressure in many quarters for their re-opening.
The Federal Government and State Governments have banned religious gathering since the outbreak of COVID 19 in Nigeria and recently some states have lifted the ban.
However there had been pressures from many church leaders and members for the reopening of churches.
One of such is coming from The President of The Living Faith Ministries Worldwide otherwise known as Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo who said the continuous closure of churches when markets and other public institutions were reopened was suspicious.
Another senior Pastor who holds same view is Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, of Christ Embassy Church saying there was a calculated attempt to weaken the growth of the church in Nigeria.
However, in an official statement, personally signed on Friday, by the CAN President, Rev Supo Ayokunle, he counselled that it was not yet time for churches to reopen.
He said the relaxation of lockdown had seen the country witness a spike in the number of cases of the coronavirus infection.
Ayokunle said: “The above relaxation has on the other hand increased the pressure mounted on us, church leaders, from our members for the churches and other places of worship to be opened.
“Champions for the reopening of worship centres argue that if people had contracted the virus in the markets and other places, closing the church from worshipping becomes unreasonable!. It is like using medicine after death! Furthermore, the church is more organised and a place of healing.” He said.
The CAN President urge “all churches to remain closed because the daily increasing infected people in Nigeria is dangerous for the survival of us all.”
He called for caution among churches for reopening, saying “the church needs to exercise restrain at this time so that we might not naively and overzealously plunge our members into regrettable destruction and sorrow.”
relaxing jazz music