General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has publicly apologized for a past statement suggesting that those who do not pay tithe would be unable to enter heaven.
The renowned cleric gave this apology on Thursday while addressing the congregation at the church’s ongoing youth convention, a session broadcast and followed online by ‘Church Times’.
In an effort to motivate the youth to deepen their commitment to God, Adeboye paused during his sermon, his demeanor shifting noticeably as he expressed his regret for the earlier claim.
“I am sorry for saying that if you don’t pay tithe you won’t go to heaven. That is not in the Bible,” he clarified, reiterating the biblical passage, “What the Bible says is, ‘Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man will make heaven.’”
Reflecting on the original message he gave several years ago regarding the non-tithers, he conceded, “It is possible to be right and wrong at the same time. I will prove it to you. For years, we taught that light travels in a straight line. Later we say it travels in waves.”
Adeboye went on to elaborate on the topic of giving, explaining that the traditional 10 percent tithe, while a starting point, should not be a limit for believers.
“10 percent should be for beginners. Some of you should be giving 20 percent, 30 percent, etc. Giving should be done violently. If you want to be on top to control finances, you will give beyond 10 percent.”
His comments underscored the need for sacrificial giving, emphasizing that restricting oneself to a 10 percent tithe could hinder further financial blessings and influence.
He recalled a remarkable experience from one of Kenneth E. Hagin’s conventions in Tulsa, United States.
During this event, the collective donations from 17,000 participants amounted to 3.5 million dollars, intended for the construction of the Rhema Bible College.
However, a particular man approached Adeboye and promised to give more than the total contribution of all attendees. When Adeboye asked about his motivation for such generosity, the man shared his journey, explaining how he began his business with $500.
From the outset, he had vowed never to “insult God with 10 percent” if the business succeeded. Just five years later, the business had grown into a venture with an annual turnover of 50 million dollars.
This man’s testimony, Adeboye explained, became an example of giving “violently” towards the work of God.
Once again, Adeboye expressed his regret for previously encouraging the church to limit their giving to 10 percent.
“I am sorry for saying you should pay 10 percent. If we are going to dominate, we have to give violently,” he reiterated, emphasizing that believers who seek to achieve financial dominion must cultivate a lifestyle of extravagant giving.
In addition to financial generosity, Adeboye stressed the importance of “violent soul-winning” for those seeking to expand God’s kingdom.
Drawing from his personal experience as a young convert, he recalled taking a group of young men to Badagry, Lagos, for evangelism during the first Easter holiday after his salvation.
His zeal for evangelism also extended to his professional life, where, as a lecturer at the University of Lagos, he used to compel non-teaching staff at the Faculty of Science to attend Bible study sessions in his office during their break time. When the gathering outgrew his office, it was relocated to a classroom.
His commitment to spreading the gospel did not go unnoticed by his superiors. He shared that the renowned mathematician, Prof. Chike Obi, who was his superior at the time, once remarked that while it would be futile to stop Adeboye from preaching, he should at least wait until the school day had ended before holding Bible studies.
Adeboye concluded by saying, “I preached violently because I knew how close I was to hell before Jesus saved me.”