Apostle Emmanuel Iren has urged Christians not to feel ashamed of expressing their faith, questioning why passionate displays of emotion at entertainment events are often accepted while similar expressions of devotion in church attract ridicule.
The founder and senior pastor of Celebration Church International made the remarks during a sermon in which he challenged what he described as the double standards surrounding public expressions of devotion, using music concerts and football fandom to illustrate his point.
Recalling a video of a man crying during a performance by American singer Beyoncé, Iren questioned why such an emotional reaction could be celebrated in an entertainment setting while Christians who sing, dance or praise God passionately are sometimes mocked.
“As a man, why are you crying when Beyoncé is singing? As a man, you are a joker if they find you in church singing and praising the Lord. They call you a fool for it,” he said.
The preacher argued that the contrast raises questions about how society perceives religious devotion compared with enthusiasm for celebrities, sports and other interests. He cited football supporters who purchase season tickets to attend multiple matches, noting that the same people who consider such spending acceptable may question Christians who contribute financially to support their churches.
Iren also compared the display of religious and sporting memorabilia, asking why a framed photograph of a pastor in someone’s home might appear unusual to some people, while a picture of Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, popularly known as CR7, would attract little criticism.
According to him, people often devote considerable time, resources and emotional energy to the things they value, yet may regard similar commitment to Christianity as excessive. Building on his comparison between religious commitment and secular interests, Iren maintained that human beings naturally direct their devotion towards something, arguing that rejecting the worship of God does not necessarily mean living without other objects of devotion.
“Every human being is created to worship, and the ones who don’t worship God are worshipping something,” he said.
Despite challenging the ridicule directed at Christians, Iren cautioned believers to examine their practices against the teachings of Scripture rather than dismissing every criticism of religious expression.
The distinction is significant because the Bible encourages passionate worship while also emphasising sincerity, humility and spiritual maturity.
Iren nevertheless maintained that Christians should not allow the fear of public ridicule to prevent them from expressing their love for Jesus or supporting the spread of the gospel. He urged believers to remain confident in their faith and generosity, declaring: “Don’t apologise for loving Jesus. Don’t apologise for being generous to the course of the gospel. Don’t apologise.”