The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has publicly apologised for his earlier teaching that Christians who fail to pay tithes may not make it to heaven, admitting that the statement was incorrect and not supported by the Bible.
Speaking during a recent church programme, Adeboye acknowledged that his previous position was a mistake and urged Christians to rely on the Scriptures as the ultimate authority on matters of faith.
“I’m going to be apologising for making a mistake, for saying that if we don’t pay tithe, we might not make it to heaven. I’m sorry, that’s wrong. That’s not in the Bible,” Adeboye said.
The revered cleric explained that while tithing remains an important aspect of Christian giving, the Bible does not teach that it is a prerequisite for entering heaven.
Quoting the Scriptures, he stressed that holiness and peaceful living are the biblical conditions for seeing God.
“What the Bible says is, he hath peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see God,” he stated.
Adeboye further used an illustration from science to explain that it is possible to sincerely hold a belief that later proves to be inaccurate.
“Now, let me tell you, listen to me, you know it is possible to be right and wrong at the same time. I approve it to you. I mean, I’m a scientist, so I know that,” he said.
Drawing from physics, the cleric recalled how scientific understanding of light evolved over time.
“For years, we thought that light travels in straight lines. Now, is that correct? At least those of you who know a little bit of physics will say, sure, but light doesn’t bend at corners, it goes straight. But later on we discovered, it’s not just straight as a road, light travels in waves,” Adeboye explained.
His remarks have sparked widespread reactions among Christians, with many commending the cleric for publicly acknowledging the error and reaffirming the importance of aligning Christian teachings with biblical doctrine.
