JEGEDE SOKOYA BEHIND THE PULPIT

By Akin Ojumu

Let’s talk about professional pulpiteers, duly represented by Jegede Sokoya, a character from the New Masquerade, a Nigerian sitcom that aired on the Nigerian Television Authority network during the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s.

Full of arrogance and incessantly in pursuit of physical health, material wealth, and earthly success, Jegede Sokoya is the epitome of modern-day preachers. 

In Jegede Sokoya is all the ugliness and hideousness of charlatanry dwell bodily. Endowed with an unusual gift of garb, he is a smooth-talking wily fellow who uses charm, persuasive speech, insincere flattery, and spiritual hokey-pokey to deceive and manipulate his victims for personal gain and enrichment.

2 Peter 2:3

“And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Romans 16:18

“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Jegede Sokoya offers motivational talks disguised as sermons. He swaps the preaching of the pure and unadulterated Gospel, full-strength and straight-up, for a trendy cocktail of pop psychology, self-help hints and tips, and spiritualized self-expression and self-actualization with a very wafer-thin Christian veneer. 

Rather than calling people to genuine repentance and saving faith in Christ Jesus early and often, Jegede Sokoya peddles a false gospel of a golden calf of a god who simply wants you to unlock your creativity and personal potential. His messages are heavy on worldly wisdom but feather light on Biblical Law and the Gospel. With Bible verses sprinkled in here and there, he dishes out generous helpings of ponderous platitudes to satiate the rapacious appetite of the reprobate minds that follow him.

Colossians 2:8

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

While the Bible warns us not to be taken captive by empty philosophies, Jegede Sokoya seems to gladly hand out the rusty wrist-chafing handcuffs of secular success, personal empowerment, self-esteem, and worldly achievements lightly dusted with a Christianized powdered sugar coating. 

Quintessentially, Jegede Sokoya mostly teaches a feel good, ear-tickling theology that skips over sin, repentance, and the cross like a small flat and smooth stone that skips when thrown over the water of a calm lake. The only problem is that those things Jegede Sokoya skips are what Christianity is all about. 

Disturbingly, most of what Jegede Sokoya passes off as Christianity is far out in left field, on the other side of the foul line, out where the grass hits the warning track. In short, his teachings aren’t just off the mark, they are actually spiritually dangerous. Yet, legions of his uninformed followers eagerly and sheepishly swallow it all up hook, line, and sinker.

Jegede Sokoya promises a cheesy Christianity without the Cross. The Gospel huckster pushes a Christianity emptied of Christ. Nevertheless, with his smooth-talk and suave manner, he manages to sell this spiritual bill of goods to his admirers. For some reason, the conman is able to brainwash his devotees into believing that what they are buying is the true Biblical historical Christianity. 

1 Timothy 6:5-6

“…And constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain…”

To anyone who is reading this, here is the clarion call. Ignore the razzmatazz. Turn Off the razzle-dazzle. Disregard the stature and prestige of Jegede Sokoya. Don’t let his fame and popularity as a man of God silence the voice of doubt ringing in your ears. Be a Berean. Compare what he says in the name of God to the Word of God.

Galatians 1:8

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Reject the Jegede Sokoyas of the Church who come to you claiming to be renowned life coaches, award-winning authors, and artists. Renounce individuals who claim to be New York Times Best Sellers with over one million in book sales and who captivate audiences in packed stadiums across seventy countries on five continents. Shun individuals who claim to have creative expertise and consulting Fortune 500 organizations.

Have nothing to do with the Jegede Sokoyas who claim to advise CEOs, athletes, celebrities, and billion-dollar companies, helping these poor unfortunate souls overcome their limitations and unlock their personal genius. 

You must especially mark and avoid individuals like Jegede Sokoya who claim all these varied talents and…ohh…by the way also claim to be a Christian pastor as well.

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Adapted from: BEZELT3 YouTube channel video titled, “Did the Human Soul of Jesus Got to Hell After He Died.”