In a thought-provoking sermon, Chinenye John Oluoma, widely known as Fada Oluoma, a revered Catholic priest, raised concerns about the escalating costs associated with religious worship. Specifically, he shed light on the exorbitant fees demanded by gospel musicians, with Mercy Chinwo, a popular gospel singer, reportedly charging a staggering N10 million for performances in churches. Fada Oluoma’s sermon sparked a discussion on the transformation of worship into entertainment and the ethical implications of such practices.
In his address to the congregation, Fada Oluoma pondered the reasons behind gospel musicians demanding astronomical fees for their appearances in places of worship. He emphasized that religious worship sessions have become increasingly expensive and likened them to entertainment spectacles. By referencing Mercy Chinwo, he highlighted the dilemma of whether it is appropriate to collect substantial sums from churchgoers to pay for the services of a renowned gospel artist.
Fada Oluoma voiced his concern over the rising costs associated with religious worship, questioning the affordability and purpose of engaging high-profile artists like Mercy Chinwo. He posed the rhetorical question of how much he would need to pay the acclaimed gospel singer to perform in his church.
Surprisingly, the figures quoted amounted to a staggering N10 million. Fada Oluoma used this example to illustrate the monetary expectations associated with gospel performances and expressed his reservations about the impact on worship.
Expressing his disappointment, Fada Oluoma lamented that worship sessions had transformed into entertainment events. He argued that the presence of a popular artist like Mercy Chinwo seemed to be an indispensable element for congregants to connect with their faith. This raised the question of whether the love of Jesus would only be truly felt if it was sung by Mercy Chinwo, or if any other artist could convey the same message. Fada Oluoma highlighted the discrepancy between the purpose of worship and the increasing trend of turning it into a form of entertainment.
The cleric addressed the controversy surrounding the payment of gospel artists. He acknowledged that if churches wished to invite these artists, it was only fair to compensate them for their services. However, he questioned whether such hefty sums were justified, considering the nature of worship and the message being conveyed. Fada Oluoma urged his congregation to reflect on the ethics of paying large sums to entertainers, emphasizing the need to preserve the sacredness and sincerity of religious worship.
On the way forward, Fada Oluoma emphasized the need for introspection and urged Christians to reconsider the path that modern Christianity had taken. He suggested that worship should prioritize the essence of faith and connection with the divine, rather than relying on high-profile artists for a meaningful experience.
Fada Oluoma urged the faithful to steer away from the world’s influence and rediscover the true spirit of worship.
His words read, “We have made religious worship expensive. If I have to bring Mercy Chinwo here to this church now you will like it. How much will I have to pay her? How much does a gospel artiste of Mercy Chinwo status charge to come to an event or a church? How much do you think she will collect? It has reached N10 million,” he said.
“So I will now collect money from you people. If Okojie sings ‘Jesus you love me too much o’, so Jesus no go love you too much until it is Mercy Chinwo that will sing it? Then I will have to collect the money from church members to pay her.
“These are the trajectories that we have turned Christianity into. An artiste will come to church and lead praise worship for N10 million, N5 million. So, if that particular artiste does not sing ‘Jesus you love me too much’ that means Jesus no love you too much?
“Some people are asking ‘Should they be paid? Why won’t you pay them? If you must bring them, you must pay them. What you are bringing them for is entertainment. We have turned worship into entertainment. We are copying the world.”
