Senior Pastor of True Holiness Christian Bible Church, Lagos, warns against sinful Easter celebrations

Delivering a powerful sermon titled “He Has Risen” during Easter Sunday service, Pastor Afam emphasized that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were not mere historical events, but divine acts to restore man’s holiness and dominion over sin.

LAGOS, Nigeria – The Senior Pastor of The True Holiness Christian Bible Church, Lagos, Pastor Afam Okafor, has urged Christians around the world to return to the true spirit of Easter by celebrating in holiness, righteousness, and purity—just as the early Church did.

Quoting 1 Thessalonians 4:7, he said, “For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” He explained that Jesus died without sin and rose again without sin, so believers must not commemorate His resurrection with unholy acts.

“The early Church celebrated Easter in a holy and righteous manner over 3,000 years ago,” Pastor Afam stated. “Their celebrations pleased God, and He honored them because they understood the purpose and power of the resurrection.”

He referenced several Bible verses to support this claim:

Acts 2:46-47: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple… praising God…”

Acts 4:33-34: “With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection… and great grace was upon them all.”

Romans 6:4: “As Christ was raised… we also should walk in newness of life.”

1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Christ our Passover is sacrificed… let us keep the feast… with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Easter Celebration Misunderstood Today

Pastor Afam lamented that today’s Easter celebrations have lost their sacred meaning, becoming instead a season of indulgence and sin.

“Today, hotels are fully booked not for rest, but for fornication and adultery. Shrines are busy with rituals. Homes are flooded with alcohol and reckless partying. Some drink to death or die in accidents, all in the name of Easter,” he said.

He expressed deep concern over how Easter has been turned into a season of immorality, violence, and even criminal activity—especially among the youth. “Many girls end up with unwanted pregnancies. Some people commit crimes just to celebrate Easter. This shows a complete lack of understanding of the resurrection covenant.”

A Warning to the Modern Church

The clergyman warned that the modern Church has contributed to this problem by watering down the true gospel.

“Easter should not bring pain to the heart of God,” he emphasized. “It should not remind Him of the suffering He endured to save us from sin—only to see us return to it. Easter should bring joy to God when He sees His children walking in righteousness.”

Pastor Afam also warned Christians against defiling their bodies with unholy food and drink during Easter.

“Do not defile yourself by eating and drinking unholy things this Easter. If you do, you have defiled the resurrection of Christ. Your celebration must reflect the purity of the One who rose without sin.”

A Call for a Holy Celebration

He concluded by calling for a genuine revival of holiness in this season of resurrection:

“Jesus is calling us to a holy celebration. Let our Easter this year and beyond be clean, pure, and holy. That is what the resurrection demands.”

Pastor Afam’s message serves as a strong call to the global body of Christ to return to the original purpose of Easter—a time not for fleshly indulgence, but for spiritual renewal and holy living.

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By Pastor Afam Okafor
Pastor Afam Okafor is a journalist and publisher of SpringsNewsNG Media Limited. He also serves as the Senior Pastor of The True Holiness Christian Bible Church, Lagos, Nigeria.