By Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi
Shouldn’t a pastor’s words exalt Christ rather than diminish His glory? Few examples better illustrate the danger of false equivalence than the controversial comparison drawn by Benin City-based Pastor Charles Osazuwa between the resurrection of Lazarus and the invention of the aeroplane. Human innovation has undoubtedly transformed civilisation and driven economic growth, but no achievement should ever be presented in a way that diminishes the miracles or person of Jesus Christ.
For context, here is an excerpt from Pastor Charles’s remarks:
“When we are talking about Lazarus, we only talk about him as reference. In 1907, the Wright Brothers manufactured aircraft. That is what helped me to come here in six hours. If you don’t think that’s a miracle, something is wrong. The only thing we talk about Lazarus is reference, to show God’s ability but the Wright Brothers did not only bring aircraft, it has been modified. It has been upgraded. It has helped humanity more than the testimony of Lazarus. The testimony of Lazarus cannot affect GDP. Raising Lazarus from the dead cannot affect GDP, cannot affect the World Bank forecast. It can’t affect some of those market forces and indices that control the economy. But because of the Wright Brothers, I can leave here and in a few hours be in London.”
Granted, many might have been more forgiving had Pastor Charles been referring to the Lazarus in Jesus’s parable recorded in Luke 16:19-31. Instead, he referred to Lazarus of Bethany, whose resurrection is one of the most profound miracles recorded in Scripture. Lazarus was not an insignificant figure. The Gospel account suggests he came from a household capable of hosting Jesus and His disciples, cared for his sisters, and occupied a respected place within his community. The large number of mourners at his funeral further points to a man whose life and death carried social significance. That raises an obvious question: what exactly was Pastor Charles trying to convey?
Public reaction was swift. Many commentators criticised Pastor Osazuwa’s remarks as another example of how excessive emphasis on prosperity can distort the Church’s message. Prosperity preaching becomes a slippery slope when material success overshadows Christ Himself. It is therefore instructive to recall the Apostle Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” as well as his declaration in 1 Corinthians 1:23 that the apostolic message centres on Christ, not material possessions.
Not setting out to disparage Pastor Charles or his ministry, this column would nevertheless be remiss if it failed to point out that Scripture consistently presents God as unwilling to share His glory with anyone. The account of Lazarus’s death and resurrection was never intended as a mere reference point. It was recorded to reveal Jesus as “the resurrection and the life.” Reducing that miracle to a simple illustration overlooks the very purpose for which Christ delayed His arrival, namely, that God’s glory might be revealed through it (John 11:4, 6, 15).
While drawing the comparison, Pastor Charles appeared to reduce Christ’s miraculous work to its economic impact. Yet Jesus Himself declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), making it clear that His works cannot be measured by the same standards used to evaluate human inventions, institutions, or economic systems.
Moreover, is the pastor suggesting that Jesus lacked the wisdom or power to bring about the technological advancements we celebrate today? Scripture points in the opposite direction. As 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The pastor was right in saying that the testimony of Lazarus pointed to God’s ability. However, his argument creates the impression that divine power has somehow become less relevant in the face of modern civilisation. Scripture presents a very different picture. The psalmist describes the Lord as “beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth” (Psalm 48:2). The question was never whether Jesus possessed the power to influence economies or technological progress. Rather, it is whether such realities would have served God’s purpose for that particular generation. As Jesus Himself said in John 16:12, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
The implication is that God’s revelation has always been perfectly suited to humanity’s capacity at every point in history.
I recommend we continue with the rest of the article in this same style. The Wright Brothers section in particular can be significantly tightened while preserving Ugochukwu’s argument, making the finished article much stronger without losing his voice.
