Baggo’s Sermon Order: A Way of Propagating the Gospel?
By Kehinde Isaac Arowosegbe
The recent pronouncement by Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, directing preachers in the state to submit their sermons to government authorities for vetting before delivery has sparked an intense wave of reactions. Across social media, church fellowships, and in the Christian community, particularly in Abuja and beyond, many voices have risen against the order, branding it an attack on religious liberty and a veiled attempt to silence the gospel.
As an unrepentant Christian myself, I understand these fears. However, as a critical thinker, I must resist the tendency to follow the crowd. Reading the Governor’s statement carefully, I saw no portion where Christians were singled out. Instead, the directive applied broadly to all religious preachers, Muslims delivering Friday sermons and Christian pastors alike. This matters greatly because much of the outrage assumes an exclusive attack on Christians when, in truth, the law is neutral in its wording and scope.
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What if, instead of seeing the order as witch-hunting, we considered the unexpected opportunities it might offer Christianity? What if, rather than shrinking back, we saw this as a providential platform to propagate the gospel more widely?
Sermon Preparation: A Familiar Christian Discipline
First, it is worth noting that most pastors already prepare their sermons in advance. In homiletics, the discipline of preaching, there are different approaches to sermon preparation. Some pastors practice manuscript preaching, where the sermon is fully written down before delivery. Others use expository preaching, where Scripture is studied in-depth, and detailed notes guide the exposition. Even those who adopt a more free-flowing or charismatic style often outline their points ahead of time.
In other words, sermon preparation is already standard practice. Submitting a prepared message to a government panel should not be alien to pastors who, for decades, have carefully crafted their notes, outlines, and manuscripts in order to edify their congregations. If anything, this new regulation simply externalizes what is already a routine practice.
An Unexpected Avenue for Evangelism
Now, let us consider the implications of the government’s review process. By design, someone within the state structure, who may not necessarily be a Christian, will read and evaluate the content of submitted sermons. Imagine the ripple effects of this.
Every week, hundreds of sermons filled with the life-changing Word of God will pass across the desks of civil servants, security officers, and perhaps committee members who may never step foot in a church service. These individuals, tasked with reading sermons for screening, will be exposed to the gospel repeatedly and consistently. They will encounter Christ in the very words they are meant to monitor.
Is this not evangelism in its purest, most unexpected form? The Apostle Paul once wrote, “The Word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). Even in chains, Paul rejoiced that Christ was preached. Likewise, even under the watchful eyes of government panels, the truth of the gospel will echo. The more they read, the deeper their understanding of Christ’s message of love, salvation, and hope.
This is no small advantage. Christianity thrives on the proclamation of the gospel, and here, an entire arm of government is compelled to become an unintended audience of that gospel week after week.
Why Pastors Need Not Fear
Another critical point is this: pastors have an inexhaustible well of messages in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures brim with lessons on faith, love, forgiveness, justice, peace, stewardship, family, leadership, and the hope of eternal life. A faithful preacher does not need to rely on political jabs or incendiary remarks to fill a pulpit.
Indeed, pastors are called to “preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). This mandate is spiritual, not political. As such, preachers who remain committed to teaching Christ and Him crucified will have no reason to fear government scrutiny. Their messages will be edifying, uplifting, and harmless to the peace of the state.
Of course, those who thrive on inciting sentiments, stoking divisions, or weaponizing the pulpit for partisan agendas may feel threatened. But should the pulpit ever have been reduced to such ends in the first place? If anything, this moment calls pastors back to the purity of gospel-centered preaching.
Benefits Tilted Toward Christianity
Let us be honest. Of the two dominant religions in Niger State, Christianity stands to benefit more from this process. Why? Because Christianity’s central message, the gospel of salvation through Christ, is inherently invitational, transformational, and universal.
When government officials repeatedly encounter sermons on grace, mercy, repentance, and eternal life, seeds are planted. The parables of Jesus, the teachings of Paul, and the Psalms of David all find their way into the hearts of men and women who otherwise might never hear them. Over time, exposure may give birth to conviction. Conviction may give birth to faith.
Thus, the law inadvertently turns the machinery of government into a channel for disseminating the gospel. Far from witch-hunting, this could accelerate the spread of Christ’s message in unlikely spaces.
A Call for Discernment, Not Defensiveness
Does this mean the law is perfect? Certainly not. Concerns about freedom of worship and constitutional rights should not be dismissed lightly. However, discernment requires us to separate genuine threats from exaggerated fears. The law does not ban preaching. It does not censor the Bible. It does not forbid evangelism. It simply introduces a review process aimed, rightly or wrongly, at curbing incitement.
As Christians, our calling is not to panic but to respond with wisdom. By ensuring our sermons remain grounded in Scripture, rich in truth, and free from needless provocation, we not only comply but also capitalize on the platform to spread the Word.
Conclusion
Governor Bago’s sermon order may be controversial, but it need not be catastrophic. Seen through the lens of faith and strategy, it presents an open door for the gospel rather than a closed gate. Sermon preparation is already a pastoral habit; government review only widens the circle of those exposed to the Word.
Pastors need not fear, for their treasure chest of messages is inexhaustible. The Bible offers more than enough to preach without descending into incitement. And as officials peruse sermon after sermon, they cannot escape the relentless truth of Christ.
In the end, what some perceive as witch-hunting could very well turn out to be a divine setup for evangelism. The Word of God, after all, is living and active. Even when scrutinized, it continues to save.
Kehinde Isaac Arowosegbe is a development worker and member of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Wordwide, Dakibiyu District, Kubwa Branch.