By Our Reporter
Apostle Femi Lazarus has called for restraint and respectful disagreement among Christians following the controversy generated by a recent sermon delivered by fellow preacher, Apostle Arome Osayi.
Lazarus, while reacting to the criticism directed at Osayi, said preachers would not always be right and urged Christians to avoid personal attacks and mockery when they disagree with the views expressed by religious leaders.
“We will not always agree. Preachers will not always be right. Context matters, and we must learn to extend grace always,” Lazarus said in a social media post reported by Legit.ng.
He described Arome Osayi as “ours” and “a gift to the body,” while maintaining that disagreement among Christians should not become an excuse for tearing one another down.
According to Lazarus, Christians can disagree with one another while maintaining what he described as ethical boundaries.
“Apostle Arome is a gift; we can disagree honourably,” he stated.
Controversy Over Arome Osayi’s Sermon
The controversy followed a recent sermon by Osayi in which he spoke about Nigeria’s spiritual calling and the factors behind the country’s persistent challenges.
Reports on the sermon indicate that Osayi argued that Nigeria should not be defined solely by its economic and political difficulties, stressing that nations have distinctive purposes and spiritual identities.
His comments generated debate on social media, with some commentators questioning the emphasis placed on spiritual explanations for Nigeria’s challenges.
Among those who criticised aspects of the message was social media influencer and commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who questioned the influence of miracle-centred religious culture on innovation and technological development in Nigeria.
Another Social commentator Solomon Buchi also raised questions about the relationship between Nigeria’s large Christian population and challenges such as corruption and poor civic conduct.
Lazarus Calls for Grace
Against the backdrop of the criticism, Lazarus appealed for a more measured approach to disagreements among Christian leaders and their followers.
His intervention focused less on whether every aspect of Osayi’s sermon was correct and more on how Christians should respond when they disagree with a preacher.
The position, as reported, was that disagreement does not automatically justify ridicule, personal attacks or attempts to discredit another minister.
The development has again highlighted the growing public debate over the role of Christian preaching, spirituality and social responsibility in discussions about Nigeria’s national development.
Both Lazarus and Osayi are prominent voices within Nigeria’s contemporary Christian ministry space, with their teachings reaching large audiences through physical gatherings and digital platforms.
Vanguard has also reported on the increasing influence of Nigerian pastors and evangelists through social media platforms, livestreams and other digital channels.