Pastor Tomiwa Emmanuel’s Marriage Advice Sparks Debate
Pastor Tomiwa Emmanuel, the resident pastor of Celebration Church Ibadan, recently stirred conversations on social media with his views on Christian marriages. In a viral post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the young pastor advised Christian women against marrying men who are just beginning their faith journey.
According to Pastor Tomiwa, many devoted Christian women have been deceived by men who do not share their faith but manage to appear religious for a short period. He emphasised that some women fall for men who merely “start going to church” but have not genuinely developed a personal relationship with God.
“It takes time for intentions to be tested. Many men reveal their true colour after the wedding has happened,” he wrote.
Pastor Tomiwa further explained that marriage is a significant commitment that requires spiritual maturity and the help of the Holy Spirit. He stressed that a man must be fully submitted to Christ before he can lead a home spiritually. This submission, he noted, should be evident through consistent church fellowship, personal devotion, and discipleship under a pastor.
The pastor urged women to observe a man’s spiritual growth before making marriage decisions. “If he hasn’t gotten to that point yet, let him stay in church and marinate. If time tests his faith and he is found to be genuine and there’s still interest, you can do what your heart desires,” he advised. He warned that church attendance alone should not be used as a measure of faith, encouraging women to look for deeper signs of a genuine relationship with God.
Furthermore, Pastor Tomiwa addressed men, urging them to take their spiritual life seriously. He challenged them to be spiritual leaders in their homes, setting examples for their families through daily prayers, Bible study, fasting, and regular church attendance. “What will you show your kids? What will they learn by observing you?” he asked.
His comments have sparked mixed reactions among Christians. Some agree with his counsel, seeing it as a necessary warning, while others argue that it unfairly excludes men who are still growing in their faith.
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One user, Ufot Ubon, questioned Pastor Tomiwa’s stance, asking:
“Hi Pastor Tomiwa, Your tweet may imply that a wife submitting to her own husband, even though she is ‘spiritually more sensitive’ than he is, are mutually exclusive. What if the wife is the one with a calling and not the husband; will she not still submit to her own husband?”
In response, Pastor Tomiwa clarified:
“I’m speaking about the acts of devotion that show understanding and commitment to spiritual growth. A call to ministry doesn’t necessarily impact this. Someone who isn’t called can be more spiritually consistent than someone who is.”
Another user, @thesolomonn, raised a different perspective:
“So far the commitment to going to church is genuine; what’s wrong with someone being a disciple and a husband?”
Pastor Tomiwa responded:
“It’s about the spiritual leadership of a husband. A man who is just starting his commitment to God in going to church is not ready to lead spiritually.”
However, not all reactions were supportive. Some critics dismissed his views, arguing that Christian marriages should not be solely based on church activities. One comment read:
“The same church girls do all sorts of indecent acts. Lmao. Pastors should calm down. The idea of a Christian-based marriage is not sustainable. Do your vetting properly and stop making marriage decisions based on church activities.”
Despite differing opinions, Pastor Tomiwa’s post has ignited an important discussion on faith, marriage, and spiritual leadership, prompting many to reflect on their relationship choices.
Content Credit| Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola
Image Credit | https://x.com/TomiwaImmanuel/status/
