Bishop Oyedepo Declares Politics Outside His Calling, Emphasizes Church’s Mandate to Rule
Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo, has unequivocally stated that politics does not fall within the scope of his divine calling. He asserted that even an offer of one billion dollars would not sway him to enter the political arena. This firm declaration was made during a sermon delivered on Saturday, titled “The Last Days Are Ordained the Groundbreaking Days of the Church of Christ,” as part of the impartation service at the church’s annual convention, Shiloh 2025.
The six-day convention, held at Canaanland in Ota, Ogun State, carries the overarching theme of “Breaking New Grounds.” Addressing a vast congregation, Bishop Oyedepo clarified the Church’s mandate to “rule,” cautioning against misinterpreting this as a pursuit of political power or elective office.
Redefining “Ruling” for the Church
“The idea of ‘ruling’ ascribed to the Church should not be mistaken for holding political office,” Bishop Oyedepo emphasized. He elaborated that true influence and leadership extend far beyond the confines of government positions, encompassing critical spheres such as business, entrepreneurship, and various other domains of human endeavor.
He highlighted that many members of the church are already embodying this mandate of “ruling” by successfully employing thousands of individuals and steering thriving organizations. This, he explained, demonstrates that authority and impact are not solely defined by roles like local government chairmen or elected officials.
Economic Empowerment as a Catalyst for Influence
The cleric further posited that economic empowerment is a fundamental key to societal influence. He explained that God is actively enriching believers to equip them to assume leading roles within their respective professions and fields of expertise.
“Jesus will not come until the church is ruling in the midst of its enemies,” Bishop Oyedepo stated. He then directly addressed potential anxieties within political circles, asserting, “I don’t want politicians to be jittery—we are not talking about political leadership; that is inclusive, but ruling. At my small level, I have the privilege of a president welcoming me to his nation at the port. If you give me a billion dollars, I won’t move near politics. It is off my calling.”
He reiterated his personal stance: “I’m not in politics, and I have never been in politics, but I’m ruling now, am I not? Are there no businessmen in this church who are ruling with thousands of labourers or workforce working for them? That is ruling. It is not that you are a local government chairman then you are ruling—that is not what we are talking about.”
Citing biblical principles, he added, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender, so God is enriching the church for enthronement in their various areas of engagement.”
Navigating the Political Landscape
Bishop Oyedepo acknowledged that while some individuals possess a genuine calling into politics and are destined to excel in that realm, those who venture into it without such a divine mandate risk compromising their dignity and public respect.
“There are those who are called in there, He will decorate them there. There are those who are not called there—they will lose their dignity and respect because they dabbled in there,” he cautioned.
Strategic Silence and Focus on Productivity
Furthermore, the cleric addressed the matter of criticisms and reports that have circulated about him. He explained his deliberate strategy of avoiding responses to such narratives, emphasizing that he prefers to conserve his energy for more productive pursuits.
“The energy I need to reply to you is the same energy I need to make progress,” Bishop Oyedepo remarked. He concluded by underscoring his preference for channeling his strength into positive growth and development rather than engaging in public discourse or confrontations.
