Joshua Iginla, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Champion Royal Assembly in Abuja, has pleaded with Christians to be gentle with church leaders whose marriages are in turmoil.
He also cautioned those who rejoice over their pastors’ weaknesses to refrain from doing so.
​He gave the warning in a sponsored Facebook video message, during which he also took a swipe at some unnamed men of God whom he accused of covering up their immoral lifestyles.
​In the 10-minute message monitored by Church Times , Iginla noted that marital issues have been a part of the human race since the time of Adam.
He stated, “God was the one who gave Adam his wife. Yet, it was the woman God gave Adam who led him to sin. Can you imagine that the wife God provided caused the fall of man? Joseph was also on the verge of separating from Mary until an angel made him realize that what she was carrying was of the Holy Ghost. So, there have always been issues with marriage from time immemorial.”
​According to Iginla, the fact that a man has a good marriage is no reason to gloat or put down others facing challenges. “If you have been married for 50 years and your marriage is trouble-free, we should celebrate you and thank God for your patience and perseverance. We should congratulate you.
“But we should not condemn those having issues. Rather, we should encourage them and understand they are going through peculiar situations. Having a good marriage is not a ticket to heaven.”
​Iginla was apparently reacting to the rising number of failed marriages among top church leaders. He cited the case of Benny Hinn, who faced marital issues some years ago, as well as Archbishop Duncan Williams and others.
​It will be recalled that Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Chris Okotie, and Chris Okafor have also faced marital challenges. Okafor recently remarried and has been embroiled in controversy over a previous relationship that turned sour.
​Iginla, who has also experienced a failed marriage, stated that rather than making a jest of these leaders, people should pray for them. “Pray for marriages that are in trouble; don’t condemn them,” he pleaded.
​However, he pointed out that he does not encourage anyone to stay in a marriage that threatens their life. “Any marriage that will take your life, don’t die in it. Let people call you names. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
“There is no place in the Bible where it says a good marriage takes you to heaven; it is the blood that Jesus shed on the cross that atones for our sins. One person must not take another’s life in the name of marriage. It is better to get out of a toxic relationship.”
​He cited the case of gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, who died in her marriage, and Sammy Okposo, who passed away following months of depression due to the backlash from his marital troubles. “You cannot throw the baby out with the bathwater. We hate sin, but we do not hate the sinner.”
​Iginla concluded by noting that some pastors are hypocrites. “A man commits adultery, and people refuse to forgive him, yet those same people have wives everywhere. When a brother is overtaken in a fault, let those who are spiritual restore him. Can you call your brother and restore him? Sin is sin, but eating one another is cannibalistic witchcraft. There are pastors’ daughters flown abroad for abortions. There are pastors who have children out of wedlock but cover it up while condemning others. As you try to preach righteousness, clean your own toilet first.”
