Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has backtracked on his previous teaching that those who do not pay tithes would not make heaven.
The RCCG leader apologised, confessing that the teaching he delivered on the controversial topic was not motivated by the Bible.
It would be recalled that Pst Adeboye said in a past sermon that those who do not pay tithe would not enter heaven, adding to similar preaching by other Pentecostal pastors who tie tithes to prosperity and long life for Christians
However, during his message at the ongoing youth convention on Thursday, Adeboye clarified his earlier stance, expressing regret for the misinterpretation.
He explained, “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 teaches is to follow peace with all men and pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
He went on to illustrate how one can be both right and wrong at the same time, citing the evolution of scientific understanding about light. “For years, we believed light travels in a straight line, only to later discover it also travels in waves.”
Adeboye also advised the youth not to be constrained by the 10 percent tithe, urging them to go beyond that if possible.
“Limiting people to 10 per cent is for beginners. Some of you should be giving 20, 30 per cent or more. Giving should be done boldly. If you want to rise to control finances, you must go beyond the minimum,” he added.
The RCCG overseer recalled his experience at one of the conventions of the ministry of Kenneth E Hagin in Tulsa, US where a man made a promise to give more than all what the 17,000 participants at the convention gave.
He said all participants had given about 3.5 million dollars towards the building of the Rhema Bible College. But the man promised he was going to give more than what everybody gave towards the project.
When Adeboye asked the man the secret of his sacrificial giving lifestyle, he told him how he had started a business with 500 dollars and told God if he blessed him, he would not insult Him with 10 percent.
Five years after the man started the business, he was making a turnover of 50 million dollars, Adeboye said .
He added: “I am sorry for saying you should pay 10 per cent. If we are going to dominate, we have to give violently.”
