Pastor Chris and Others Criticize Nigerian Pastor’s Approach to Overcoming Porn Addiction

Conservative Christians are criticizing Dr. Abel Damina, the well-known Nigerian Pastor and creator of Abel Damina Ministries International, for his remarks regarding the solution to pornography addiction.

These came after a video circulated on social media on Thursday, May 2, 2024, depicting the pastor being questioned about how an individual grappling with porn addiction could halt or eliminate the habit.

The man of God suggested that those struggling with porn addiction should refrain from pressuring themselves to quit, but instead continue engaging with pornographic content while also listening to the teachings of the Word of God.

However, Damina’s suggestion received backlash from some Nigerians on social media, particularly conservative Christians, who interpreted his statement as an endorsement for people to persist in sinful behavior.

Renowned televangelist Pastor Chris Oyakhilome shared his perspective on the issue by referencing Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 15, emphasizing that pornography is a sin that must be entirely avoided.

Pastor Chris emphasized that God views nakedness with a sense of shame, and he delved into the linguistic origins of pornography, tracing it back to the Greek word “porneia,” which refers to prostitution.

“The indication is that once nakedness is being made public, it is a shame when you’re not a child. As far as God is concerned, that is a shame.

“It started from Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden apple. Their eyes were open and they found that they were naked and then covered themselves with leaves and hid from God. Christians desist from it. Those who believe in Jesus should not do it,” Pastor Chris said.

Another notable Pastor, Gideon Odoma from the Fortress Ministry, similarly opposed Damina’s stance, affirming that pornography is indeed a perversion.

“Christians have trivialised sexcapades. The things God call iniquities, we must never call it flexing.

“The Damina and Suleman terms are wrong. It as if their only objective in life is to derail believers so they have a lot of time on their hands and they find different creative ways to say the same useless things — Your sin does not matter — they find all sorts of ways to discredit as it were,” he argued.