Beyond the Church Walls: Social Media, Authority, and Doctrinal Disputes Among Nigerian Pentecostal Pastors

This article examined doctrinal disputes and social media engagement among six Nigerian Pentecostal pastors, focusing on how digital platforms have transformed religious communication and theological contention. Anchored on the Public Sphere Theory, the article emphasized the emergence of social media as a digital arena for doctrinal engagement. The research adopted qualitative content analysis. Online doctrinal materials—including sermons, debates, and audience interactions were systematically examined from six select Pentecostal churches between 2014 and 2024. Stratified systematic sampling was used to select 1,500 doctrinal posts from Facebook, Instagram, and X for thematic analysis. The article found that doctrinal disputes among Nigerian Pentecostal pastors on social media from 2014 to 2024 were confrontational, public, and amplified by digital platforms. The themes consistently revolve around grace versus works/law, prosperity gospel versus covenant faithfulness, and authority, miracles, and doctrinal purity. Conversely, social media also fosters inclusivity by allowing lay members, youth, and marginalized voices to participate in religious debates. The article concludes that while digital media democratizes religious communication, it simultaneously amplifies conflicts and challenges ecclesiastical authority. The study recommends that pentecostal church leaders should be encouraged to adopt a more constructive approach to online debates. Hence, institutions such as the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) can provide guidelines for digital engagement, emphasising respect, theological depth, and reconciliation rather than confrontation.