Renowned Nigerian rapper Vector Tha Viper has opened up about why he rarely attends church, making it clear that his spirituality does not revolve around physical structures.
Speaking on a recent episode of the BTC podcast, the lyricist explained that he does not see church as an edifice but as something deeply personal and internal.
“I don’t believe in church as an edifice or a building. I believe in church as a human being. Because even the Bible points to that fact that it is your heart that God is interested in,” Vector said.
The rapper cited a passage he described as from the Gospel of Thomas, highlighting a perspective that the kingdom of God is not confined to physical spaces.
“Behold, if the people that lead you tell you the kingdom is in the sky, then the birds of the sky precede you. If they tell you the kingdom is in the waters, then the fishes precede you.
Rather, the kingdom is both inside of you and outside of you. If you know yourselves, you will become known, and you will realise that you are the sons of the living Father. But if you would not know yourself, you will dwell in poverty and the poverty would be you,” he quoted.
Vector further emphasized that salvation and spiritual connection are rooted in individual responsibility rather than in a building.
“If the kingdom is in the church, then the altar is more important than you. The kingdom is a conglomerate of believers, but it is rooted in the individualism of your saving. So, you are saved individually by connecting to God,” he added.
However, the rapper clarified that he is not against Christians who attend church services or belong to denominations. According to him, his view simply reflects his personal understanding of faith and spirituality rather than a criticism of others.
His comments have since sparked conversations online about faith, institutional religion, and personal spirituality, with many praising his thoughtful perspective while others defend the importance of congregational worship.
