The head preacher of Graceville Christian Center in Abuja, Pastor Tunde Ayeni, has issued a cautionary message to members of his congregation. In a sermon that has since gone viral, Ayeni warned that genuine platonic friendships between men and women are virtually impossible without the emergence of romantic or sexual feelings.
Various reactions to Ayeni’s sermon have surfaced online. One commenter, melanin_ruth, asserted that long-term friendships with the opposite sex can indeed remain purely platonic, citing personal experience. Another commenter, judahadeyemi, highlighted a key point from Ayeni’s sermon, emphasizing that maintaining friendship with an opposite-sex friend only becomes viable after processing any emotional hurt caused by their marital status.
However, napysure disagreed with Ayeni’s assertion, arguing that not everyone engages in promiscuous behavior, and individuals should refrain from using their own experiences as a standard for general behavior. Similarly, creativeoliver suggested that some women may overlook the complexities of male perspectives, leading to misunderstandings on this topic.
bubie_marie expressed frustration with the focus on personal opinions rather than the gospel itself, referencing biblical examples of platonic relationships between Jesus and women like Mary Magdalene. They criticized the notion that men are inherently sexually driven, urging for a broader understanding of male-female dynamics beyond mere sexual attraction.
