I’m often asked to assess what others teach. I do not do this lightly, but it is necessary. Before reading this page, or any of the pages about specific people, I recommend that you read What is a False Teacher?, which explains what the Bible says about false teachers, and why I would bother to research who they are and what they say. You may also want to check out a list of Bible Teachers I Can Recommend.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is the president of LoveWorld Incorporated, also known as Christ Embassy, based in Lagos, Nigeria. He holds conferences around the world with a specific focus on healing. He operates an “International School of Healing,” and is undoubtedly a false teacher.
Like so many others in the Word of Faith movement, “Pastor Chris” Oyakhilome twists Scripture, makes unbiblical claims about the nature of God, the nature of humans, faith, sickness, and more.
God’s class of divine beings
Oyakhilome’s website contains “Divine Health Confessions.” These display again and again the unbiblical ideas taught by many in the Word of Faith movement. For example:
I live above the elements of this world. I live above sickness, disease, and death. I’m immune to anything that ravages the lives of men; I belong to God’s class of divine beings. I am a partaker of the divine nature; my body is sustained by a force that the ordinary man cannot perceive. My kidneys, lungs, heart, all tissues and every organ in my body function properly. I am alive! Hallelujah!
These ‘confessions’ are designed to activate the ‘law of faith.’ That is, of course, the idea that we speak into existence the things we want, and avoid speaking of things we don’t want. By repeating these confessions, so we’re told, we manifest reality through faith. Time will tell if Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is ‘above death,’ but I’d suggest his chance of not dying at some point is near zero.
Take note of the phrase “God’s class of divine beings.” This is the same nonsense taught by false teacher Kenneth Hagin, who famously taught this:
Man… was created on terms of equality with God, and he could stand in God’s presence without any consciousness of inferiority… He made us the same class of being that He is Himself.
This is, of course, entirely unbiblical. We are not in the same class as God. Don’t take my word for it… here’s what God Himself has to say about it:
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
Isaiah 46:9
Like other false teachers, Oyakhilome takes familiar phrases from Scripture and re-uses them to say something else. In Colossians 2, Paul wrote that “in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” What does Pastor Chris say?
The fullness of the Godhead dwells in me bodily, making me impregnable to sickness, disease, death, and the devil.
No, the fullness of the Godhead does not dwell in him bodily. The Father is in Heaven, and Christ is with Him. Jesus will return one day, but that day has not come… so the only one that could be dwelling in us bodily is the Holy Spirit, who indwells all believers. I don’t know whether Oyakhilome has been born again or not, so I can’t say whether the Holy Spirit dwells in him.
No sickness
Like so many others, “Pastor Chris” focuses heavily on healing. After all, he runs an international school of healing, so that makes sense. Also like so many others, he makes unbiblical claims about what God will and won’t do… and what Christians can expect with regard to health:
The Word of God quickens my mortal body; this is my vital experience! My health flourishes daily because the power of Jesus Christ continually works in me. I do not get sick; no infirmity can thrive in my body because the Spirit of the Lord lives in me. Hallelujah!
Perhaps Timothy, pastor in Ephesus, needed the apostle Paul to explain this to him. Instead, Paul told him to take a little wine for his stomach. We also see in Galatians 4 that Paul was sick. Maybe he didn’t know about positive confession. Had he known what Word of Faith teachers would say 2000 years later, maybe he wouldn’t have left Trophimus sick in Miletus, but schooled him in the supernatural ways of divine healing.
Again and again, Oyakhilome claims that no Christian should ever be sick.
I am born, not of corruptible seed, but of the incorruptible and ‘uninfectable’ seed – the Word of God which lives and abides forever. I am immune to sickness and my body neutralizes anything that is contrary to the Word of God, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
I have the divine life that flourishes with health, prosperity, success, peace, and joy unspeakable. The Word of God is life to my body and it cleanses my blood and makes me perfect and whole.
The very life and nature of God are operational in me, making it impossible for me to contract any disease or infection.
When we consider Oyakhilome’s own words, it’s clear that he is a false teacher. Of course, even false teachers say many true things… that’s not the issue. The issue is that the New Testament tells us again and again to not put up with those who teach falsely. Regardless of how one feels about a teacher, we should always be willing to compare their words with God’s words. Only those who teach the same gospel that Jesus handed down are true teachers.
Disclaimer
Don’t bother commenting or emailing me about how I’m just wrong. It’s a waste of your time and mine. If you have something to say, include Scripture. I am far from perfect, and I can be wrong… so I don’t do any of this lightly, and I’m open to correction.
Don’t bother telling me how this person or that person helped you. It’s a waste of your time and mine. Nobody teaches lies and falsehoods all the time. In researching these topics, I’ve heard a LOT that I appreciated, and have been inspired by even those who are otherwise far from the truth. The number of times someone is right is irrelevant to the question of whether they also teach false things. We should appreciate anyone who teaches us the truth, but that doesn’t mean we should uncritically follow them when we see significant problems in their lives, in their ministries, and in their teaching. Neither your opinion nor mine matter here. What matters is what the Bible teaches, and whether those who preach and teach in Jesus’ name are teaching falsely.
If you can provide evidence that one of these people has recanted their false teaching, please let me know. I would love to amend their article to show that they have changed what they teach.
Finally: we who follow Jesus should not consider false teachers our enemies. If they’re not saved, we should pray for their salvation. If they are saved, we should pray that God will lead them to teach only the truth.
See also: a list of Bible Teachers I Can Recommend
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Thank you for this article, I received a Bible devotional from Chris Oyakhilome in the post for free and was wondering if his theology was sound. I was sceptical and the name of the devotional is called “Rhapsody of Realities”. It’s a shame I assumed his teachings were false when seeing he was a pastor from Nigeria. May God protect his flock that live there from the false teachers that run rampant
May God bless you richly for your work, I’ll be sure to check out more of your site.
– Nicholas.
Nicholas:
I’m happy to have been helpful. I understand your initial reaction. It’s not without reason. In my experience, the (false) prosperity gospel is really, really popular in Nigeria. Virtually every teacher I’ve seen there falls into that category. I have no doubt there are faithful, biblical teachers there… but the truth is that I haven’t seen one yet. Let me know if you have any questions, or there’s anything more I can do for you. Have a great day!
I find your search to expose false teachings very interesting, especially in how you perceive it to others, almost in a sense of mockery. With all due respect, you are mistaken. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome is not a false teacher. He is in fact, a born-again Christian and he is also filled with the Holy Spirit. You would have known this if you did your research as claimed in your text. The Bible says “And these signs shall follow those who believe in my name..” They shall speak in other tongues, they shall heal the sick and they shall cast out devils….” We will always see Pastor Chris praying in other tongues and the laying on of hands and healing of the sick is all evidence that he is Spirit-filled. Your reference to equality with God in Isaiah 46;9 is incorrect, God was speaking to His people that there is no other God and that He is the only God whom they must worship. All of His teachings have Scripture references for proofreading. Most importantly we all know that The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit are one (The Trinity) so it goes without further explaining that Christ/God/The Holy Spirit is within us. Reading through your whole text brought to light the many signs of the antichrist and I pray that your purpose to lead people astray will be defeated. God bless!
Dear “anonymous.” You seem to have misunderstood. I’m sorry for writing so poorly.
Tell me, “anonymous,” do you agree with this statement: The fullness of the Godhead dwells in me bodily, making me impregnable to sickness, disease, death, and the devil? That’s what he said. Do you really believe that Chris Oyakhilome is impregnable to death? If so, why?
You see, it’s one thing to defend someone and another to admit that you like them, that they may be saved, and that they have taught false things. I have nothing against Chris Oyakhilome. I hope he is my brother in Christ. I’m praying for him, that God will help him teach only the truth we find in Scripture. I hope you too are my brother in Christ… and I hope you tell me whether you agree that Chris Oyakhilome will never die.
I have never understood why man would ask another man or spiritual leader about other Bible teachers. Why not get in your secret closet and ask God and/or Holy Spirit?
Ann:
How about both? Certainly the Holy Spirit will guide us… but why would ANY person who’s been born again believe anything that isn’t true? If all we needed was the Holy Spirit, we wouldn’t need the Bible, or preaching or teaching of any kind. Obviously that’s not how God wants things to work. God has chosen to use people to help people. That’s what the New Testament is for, of course.
Because He chooses to use us, we should be faithful to do what He’s laid out in the New Testament for us to do. One of those things is to watch our doctrine closely, silence those in local churches who teach falsely, and even name names of those who should be avoided.
Would you have me do otherwise?
I have been listening to most of the men listed as false teachers. I tell you, there was something in my spirit that told me somethings were not sounding right or making sense according to what was written in the scriptures. I am so blessed to have come across your articles. I am going to continue testing the spirit according to scriptures. Thank you very much for helping me. Indeed God is using people to help people. God bless you.
Thanks, Joe… that’s great to hear. For me, this is the best part: I am going to continue testing the spirit according to scriptures. Let me know if I can be helpful in any way!