Pastor Adewale Giwa, Senior Pastor of The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, has strongly criticized contemporary religious leaders, asserting that they have transformed churches into "dens of robbers" by prioritizing prosperity messages and demanding excessive donations over spiritual salvation and prayer. Speaking to his congregation on Sunday in Akure, Ondo State, Pastor Giwa referenced Mark 11:17, where Jesus condemns the commercialization of the temple, to underscore his point.
Giwa argued that instead of fostering houses of fervent prayer, many churches have become centers for financial gain, with leaders promoting messages that promise wealth in exchange for donations. He specifically condemned advertisements suggesting that monetary contributions will lead to significant financial returns, stating, "We preach prosperity, we send prosperity messages out. If you bring N5,000 today, you will make one million tomorrow – he said no my house shouldn’t have been in that mess, it should have been a house of prayer but they have turned it den of robbers".
The clergyman lamented that the focus has shifted away from the redemption of souls, leading to practices where "money is stolen, taking money that is not meant for us, making people to donate money instead of making the House that of prayer". He called on congregants to turn to God and seek answers through direct prayer and repentance, rather than through financial transactions.
This critique from Pastor Giwa comes amidst broader concerns about crime and security in Nigeria. While Giwa's comments focus on the alleged financial exploitation within some religious institutions, other reports indicate actual instances of churches and pastors being targets of criminal activities, including armed robbery and abductions. Earlier, Pastor Giwa had also accused politicians of arming herders with AK-47 rifles, contributing to violence in states like Benue, further highlighting his concerns about systemic issues in Nigeria.