CURRUPT WORSHIP IN MALACHI 1:6-14 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FORCOMBATING RELIGIOUS COMMERCIALIZATION IN NIGERIA

This study examines Malachi 1:6-14 to uncover the nature of corrupt worship and its implications for confronting the growing religious commercialization in Nigeria. The problem addressed in this study is the increasing tendency within Nigerian Christianity to commodify spiritual experiences, prioritize financial gain, and compromise the sanctity of worship. Such practices parallel the moral and spiritual decay that the prophet Malachi condemned in ancient Israel, where priests and worshipers dishonored God through polluted sacrifices and insincere devotion. Adopting an exegetical and contextual methodological approach, the paper interprets Malachi‟s rebuke within its historical and theological framework and applies its themes to the contemporary Nigerian religious environment. The study establishes a strong link between Israel‟s corrupted worship and the monetization of religion in modern Nigeria, revealing a shared root cause: the loss of reverence for God in favor of material pursuits within sacred spaces. The findings indicate that religious commercialization undermines authentic worship, weakens moral integrity, and distorts the spiritual identity of faith communities. The study concludes that Malachi‟s prophetic message offers a timeless corrective, calling for repentance, ethical leadership, and renewed devotion centered on God‟s holiness. The implications for the Church in Nigeria include the urgent need for theological reform, spiritual reorientation, and the restoration of worship that truly honors God.