A United Kingdom-based pastor has incurred the wrath of some social media users over his damning verdict on instrumentalists who get paid for playing in church.
Pastor David Antwi of Kharis Church in UK had said in a sermon in his church that those who collect money for playing church instruments are thieves and Satan’s cousins.
A video of his comment has since gone viral on social media riling up many users.
Popular Nigerian Gospel singer, Sammie Okposo is prominent among those who have taken the cleric to the cleaners over his comment.
Okposo took to his verified IG page to address the pastor’s comment in the viral video.
He explained that many instrumentalists voluntarily play instrument in their “home church” and are paid by other churches that require service.
The singer faulted the pastor’s comment and said professional musicians who work in church and earn a living with their skills do not deserve to be called thieves.
He wondered what pastors who collect honourarium after ministering at other churches should be called.
He wrote:
“Who is this oh my goodness oh my God who is this please which church is this, who is this pastor why why why how can you be making such uninformed and misguided statements????
“I don’t know who you are and I dont know what you said before and after this clip but this clip right here is wrong on every level.
“I have no personal beef with you im not against you I’m against this statement and the mindset behind it.
“Some muscians serve as volunteers in thier home churches but the ones who decide that they want to get paid cos they do it full time as their main source of livelihood should be paid.
“Why are you insulting and publicly shaming professional musicians who work in church and earn a living with their skill calling them thieves???? And they are satan’s first cousin???
“Please sir what bible school did you attend that you were taught what you are saying?
“Who ordained you??? Which bible verse/verses can you use to back up what you are saying?
“Ok let’s just assume this your theory is correct you that preach in church and collect church money, honourarium, ove offering etc “WHAT ARE YOU”???Smmmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”
Also reacting to Antwi’s comment, Nigerian singer Nikki Laoye wrote:
“Really sad to see and hear this. We are all different parts of one body that make up the church experience in different ways. And many musicians actually do music full time for a living.
“If anyone decides to serve for free, that’s their personal decision but anyone who decides to work full time and be paid, that decision should be respected as well.
“They are professionals who went through training to harness their skills and not hungry boys who have no work so they play in church (which is the way some ppl look at musicians)”
