The General Overseer (G.O) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Friday night, restated what he said concerning payment of tithes during the International Youth Convention (IYC) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Thursday night at the Redemption City of God in Nigeria.
Pastor Adeboye had been widely reported as apologizing for saying that people who do not pay tithe will not go to heaven, with some reports going further to say that the internationally highly respected cleric had said that people should no longer pay tithes.
At the Holy Ghost Service of the IYC on Friday night, October 4, 2024, Pastor Adeboye took time to explain that he never asked people not to pay tithes any more, pointing out that most of the reports did not reflect all that he said the night before (Thursday night) concerning payment of tithes.
He acknowledged that he had told the congregation that he was sorry for having said in the past that those who do not pay tithe would not go to heaven, noting that such was not in the Bible. What the Bible says, he pointed out, is “follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man will make heaven.”
He stressed that he, however, made the point clear that the 10% prescribed in the Bible as tithe should be the minimum for young Christians, pointing out that as one matured in the Christian journey, one is expected to increase the level of ones giving to the work of God.
He said he retold the story of a man who had, years ago, at a Kenneth Hagin Camp meeting in Tulsa, United States of America (USA), challenged the Christian gathering that he and his wife would give as offering the equivalent of the sum of whatever the entire congregation of about 17,000 gave, and kept his word after the total giving came to $3.5 million.
When he (the G.O), out of curiosity, accosted the man later to find out what his secret was, the man told him of how he had made up his mind to be giving 90% instead of the 10% prescribed as tithe, and how God had multiplied his business beyond his expectation. The man had started his business with $500 and when he covenanted with God as the senior partner of the business, God blessed the business within five years with a turnover of $50 million.
Pastor Adeboye stated that as a Christian progresses in his or her Christian life, he or she should also incrementally progress in the area of giving to God and His work through tithes and other forms of giving, noting that since his experience in Tulsa, USA, though he was not yet close to 90% giving like the man at Tulsa, he had long since left the 10% mark.
He stressed that it is wrong for a Christian to be tied down at 10% when God should have taken the person to a higher percentage. As a Christian grows in the Lord, the person should grow in praising Him, grow in winning souls, grow in praying and grow in giving. The 10% mark for tithe, the G.O insisted, should be the minimum for beginners, emphasising that more mature Christians should increase what they give to God.
He noted that when one trades with God, the person cannot suffer loss and urged believers to ask God for grace to give more than 10% to His work. The Cleric also noted that Christians all over the world should stop the arguments and bickering over payment of tithes and concentrate on advancing the kingdom of God.
The G.O, who also dismissed as shallow and unfounded the teaching of a pastor in the mission, that people should no longer pay tithes because Jesus and the Apostles did not collect tithes, pointed out that Jesus and the Apostles did not collect tithes because they were not Parish Pastors.
He noted that Jesus was, instead, a world Evangelist whose ministry was supported by certain women who elected to be treasurers of His ministry, while in the days of the Apostles, the Christians of the time sold all they had and brought the proceeds to the Apostles, which cannot be done in the present times.
Pastor Adeboye advised that parishioners whose Pastors refuse to receive tithes should go to other Pastors that receive tithes to pay their tithes for the work of God to advance, insisting that payment of tithes is the right thing to do.
He noted that his apology over the issue of tithing arose from his conviction that instead of Christendom, especially Pentecostals standing together to pray for God’s intervention in the affairs of Nigeria, they were dissipating energy over needless arguments.
He said that what is going on in Nigeria currently shows that the battle is not yet over, that the country still needs prayers; and while noting that he and some others had been praying for the country, urged all others to join in intercession for the healing of the land.
The IYC 2024 with the theme DOMINION featured different stimulating presentations by youths of the church from across the world on the theme of the Convention. There were also diverse fervent prayers, high praises and worship sessions, testimonies of the faithfulness of God manifesting in miracles, signs and wonders, talent hunts and a Holy Communion Service.
The G.O ministered extensively on the theme of the Convention, releasing prophetic pronouncements on the youths and other worshippers. There youths were also anointed, as well as the graduating students of the Redeemers University of Nigeria (RUN) and other worshippers during the Friday Holy Ghost Service.
Pastor Adeboye equally announced the theme of the November 2024 Holy Ghost Service as “Wings of Change.” He also announced the theme of the Holy Ghost Congress holding from December 10-15, 2024 as “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
