Mary Njoku Touch Not My Anointed Message: Pastors Urged to Own Their Words
Nollywood actress and filmmaker Mary Njoku has stirred conversation online with a message to pastors about the way a popular biblical phrase is used. She told pastors to take responsibility for their words and actions instead of invoking “Touch not my anointed” when they face criticism.
What She Said
Njoku made the statement in a post on her social media page, saying the phrase should apply when someone is falsely accusing, lying against or deliberately trying to harm a pastor. In other words, she believes the warning is meant to protect religious leaders from malicious attacks, not to shield them from scrutiny of what they have said or done.
She argued that the biblical warning should not be used to silence people who offer legitimate criticism. She added that pastors should not blame people who accurately recount what they have said or done publicly when those accounts attract criticism. In her view, the real issue in such cases is not the person telling the story but the original words or actions.
A Call for Accountability
Njoku urged pastors to own their words and actions, reflect on them, apologise if necessary, explain themselves if there is context, and move on. The approach she describes is simple: accept responsibility, clarify where needed, and avoid turning scripture into a defence against facts.
She also reportedly stressed that the phrase does not apply when a person brings consequences upon themselves through their own statements or conduct. According to her, using scripture against the truth can backfire.
Reminder That Nobody Is Perfect
Njoku also addressed the idea that religious leaders are beyond error. She stressed that religious leaders and other public figures are human and therefore capable of making mistakes. She urged Christians to take responsibility, apologise when necessary and show grace to others. Her message suggested that extending forgiveness and understanding to others should go hand in hand with admitting one’s own faults.
Follow-Up Message to Clergy
The actress has since shared another message aimed at clergy. She admonished pastors to stop offering spiritual solutions to problems that require practical action. She noted that some pastors still use their platforms to encourage responsibility, action and positive change, and urged the public to celebrate and amplify them. The follow-up suggests her comments are not a blanket attack on the clergy but a push for leaders to use their influence constructively.
Who Is Mary Njoku?
Njoku is widely known as the boss of ROK, one of Africa’s best-known Nollywood film and television brands. She is a prominent voice in the Nigerian entertainment industry and regularly shares opinions on faith, life and business with her large social media following. Her latest remarks have drawn attention largely because they touch on a sensitive and often debated subject in Nigerian society: how far religious leaders should be shielded from public criticism.
Reactions
Her post has generated discussion online, with several entertainment outlets picking up the story. Some social media users appear to support her call for accountability, while others may feel the phrase carries a spiritual weight that should not be questioned. At the time of reporting, her posts did not name any specific pastor, and she did not link the message to a particular incident.
As the conversation continues, the Mary Njoku touch not my anointed debate is likely to keep drawing opinions from both church members and the wider public.
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