… Says wearing of masks has spiritual implications
Former Presidential aspirant and cleric, Reverend Chris Okotie has instructed his members at his Household of God Ministries, Lagos, to refrain from resuming Church services this coming Sunday, as wearing of masks inside the church is not acceptable to him.
The Church leader said that all other Covid-19 regulations as enlisted by the city’s government, for churches, was okay with him, except wearing of masks.
In a 28-minute broadcast sent via Whatsapp to his church members, Okotie cited reasons which he claimed to be backed by biblical teaching.
According to the trained lawyer, Christians are not to wear any type of mask or face shield to church, because it would be akin to reintroducing the veil which was torn at the moment Jesus Christ died on the cross.
He alleged that with the tearing of the veil, there was no longer separation between God and his people, warning that wearing of masks would reverse the order, which was unacceptable.
He said he did not initially discuss the mask in his recent broadcast on the COVID-19 mystery, because he was waiting for its full manifestation.
He noted that wearing of the face mask stipulated by the World Health Organisation as part of Covid-19 preventions, is the same as the “veil”.
He said, “When a man is standing before God in church wearing a shield or mask, he is denying the finished work of the cross.”
Recall that the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that worship centres would re-open from Friday, August 7 and Sunday, August 9, as worshippers are expected to observe all standard safety guidelines, including social distancing, wearing of face masks or shield and washing of hands.
He also listed the attendance at 50 per cent capacity for each worship centre.
