Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has publicly apologized for a past teaching in which he claimed that non-tithers would not make heaven. The renowned cleric issued the apology during the ongoing RCCG youth convention on Thursday.
In his previous sermon, Adeboye had stated that “anybody who does not pay tithe will not make heaven.” However, while addressing the congregation, he admitted that this statement was incorrect and not supported by scripture. He clarified, saying: “I am sorry for saying that if you don’t pay tithe, you won’t go to heaven. That is not in the Bible. What the Bible says is, follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man will make heaven.”
The pastor further elaborated on the need for proper understanding of biblical teachings and admitted that it is possible to be “right and wrong at the same time.” He illustrated this with an example from science, saying, “For years, we taught that light travels in a straight line. Later we say it travels in waves.”
Despite retracting his earlier stance, Adeboye encouraged believers to be more generous in their giving, explaining that the principle of tithing should be viewed as a starting point, not the limit. He told the youths, “It was wrong to have limited people to 10 percent when some of you should be giving 20 percent, 30 percent, etc. Ten percent should be for beginners. Giving should be done violently. If you want to be on top to control finances, you will give beyond 10 percent.”
Adeboye shared an anecdote about an encounter at a Kenneth E. Hagin convention in Tulsa, USA. He recalled how a man promised to give more than what all the 17,000 participants at the event had collectively contributed, which was $3.5 million, toward the construction of the Rhema Bible College. Adeboye said that when he asked the man the secret behind his sacrificial giving, the man explained that he had made a vow to God, promising that if his $500 business succeeded, he would not “insult God with 10 percent.”
According to Adeboye, five years after the man started his business, he was generating a turnover of $50 million. Reflecting on this, Adeboye urged his listeners to embrace the principle of abundant giving. “I am sorry for saying you should pay 10 percent. If we are going to dominate, we have to give violently,” he concluded.
This change in tone is likely to resonate with a large audience, as the debate surrounding tithing and financial contributions in churches has been a contentious issue for many believers. Adeboye’s openness to retract his previous statements demonstrates a willingness to adjust teachings based on deeper understanding of biblical principles.
