God Did Not Give You Brain For Decoration — Philip Ojealo Warns Christians Against Over-Spirituality

Clergyman Philip Ojealo has reacted to Apostle Arome Osayi’s assertion that Nigeria has a divine calling to prayer and is experiencing a prayer revival, urging Christians to combine their spiritual lives with the practical use of their knowledge and abilities.

In a video circulating online, Ojealo said he was not against prayer but expressed concern about what he described as an excessive approach to spirituality that could discourage believers from applying their intellect, education and professional skills to solving problems.

He argued that Christians working in different professions should recognise that their knowledge and creativity can also be useful in addressing challenges, rather than assuming that every problem must be resolved solely through prayer.

Ojealo pointed to professionals such as doctors and pharmacists, saying they could use their expertise to develop solutions while also relying on divine inspiration.

“Am I against prayer? No. But am I against prayer that pours your brain? God did not give you brain for decoration. He gave you brain to also man over,” he said.

He further argued that excessive emphasis on prayer could result in believers becoming spiritually focused while neglecting practical and material responsibilities.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Ojealo also weighed in on disagreements within the Christian community, calling for religious debates to focus on issues rather than personal attacks.

He condemned the practice of mocking or insulting people because of physical conditions or other personal characteristics, stressing that disagreements should be handled respectfully.

“For me, you don’t abuse people with their deformity. That’s rather too harsh. Let’s argue on issues,” he said.

Ojealo also criticised the practice of some ministers publicly labelling other pastors as fake or dishonest. He said such statements could deepen divisions within Christianity and create unnecessary hostility among believers.

He particularly condemned attacks against the late Prophet TB Joshua, questioning the wisdom of continuing to disparage a deceased minister and the possible impact such comments could have on his family.

Ojealo described what he called “selective holiness and selective backup” as another problem within the Christian community. According to him, some people defend certain ministers while remaining silent when other religious figures face similar criticism.

He urged Christians to exercise humility and avoid assuming the role of judges over other believers.

“When you say, I am a custom officer, I’m called to check the body of Christ, who made you a judge? That’s wrong,” he said.

The clergyman maintained that Christians should not tear down fellow believers simply because they do not understand their ministry or agree with their methods. He encouraged believers to recognise that different people may have different assignments within Christianity.

Ojealo also called for private correction rather than public condemnation, arguing that anyone who believes a minister has acted wrongly should approach the individual directly instead of using public platforms to destroy their reputation.

“Leave God to judge people. If you want to correct any man of God, meet them, correct them. Don’t go to the public and tear them down,” he said.

He further criticised the use of people’s struggles, pain and personal circumstances as a means of building one’s spiritual reputation. According to him, ministers should be careful not to publicly declare that another Christian is not born again, righteous or genuinely serving God.

Ojealo also urged Christians to respect older ministers and those who had laboured in the faith before some of their critics became believers. He said publicly attacking established religious figures could hurt their families and deepen divisions within the Christian community.

He maintained that the disagreement should not be viewed through tribal, denominational or clique-based loyalties, insisting that Jesus Christ should remain the central figure of Christianity.

“This is not about tribalism. It’s not about clique,” he said, adding that Christians belong to the same spiritual family through their faith in Christ.

Ojealo also warned against using criticism of other ministers as a strategy to portray oneself as the only genuine man or woman of God. He said such behaviour could create unnecessary competition and undermine the unity of believers.

He encouraged Christians to acknowledge that they may not fully understand another person’s calling or assignment, stressing the need for humility and tolerance within the faith.

“We know in part and we prophesy in part,” he said.

Ojealo further cautioned against selective support, noting that some Christians condemn certain practices when associated with particular ministers but praise the same practices when carried out by people they support.

He urged believers to apply the same standards consistently and avoid allowing personal loyalty to determine who they defend or criticise.

The clergyman concluded by encouraging Christians to leave judgment to God and focus on building one another up rather than tearing fellow believers down. He also suggested that those who spend their time condemning others could eventually be surprised to find the same people in God’s kingdom.

“Kingdom is sweet. Heaven is sweet, but tearing people down is wrong,” he said.