Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has publicly admitted he made a mistake regarding a previous teaching about tithing. He had once stated that Christians who don’t pay tithes would not make it to heaven, but he now acknowledges that this is not what the Bible teaches.
Speaking during the ongoing RCCG annual youth convention at the Redemption Camp, Pastor Adeboye expressed his regret over the statement, clarifying that it was an error. “I made a mistake by saying that those who don’t pay tithes won’t enter heaven. That’s not in the Bible,” he explained during his sermon.
Pastor Adeboye went on to say, “What the Bible truly says is to follow peace with all men and live in holiness, for without it, no one will see God.” He emphasized that it’s possible to be right and wrong at the same time, giving an example from science: “For years, we believed that light travels in a straight line, only to later discover that it also travels in waves. So, it’s possible to learn and grow.”
While correcting his earlier statement on tithing, Pastor Adeboye still underlined the importance of giving to God, sharing a story of a man who made a commitment to give more than anyone else during a fundraising effort for a ministry project. The man, who started a business with $500, told God he wouldn’t insult Him with just 10% if he was blessed. Five years later, the man’s business had grown to a $50 million turnover, which inspired Pastor Adeboye’s own commitment to giving generously.
Adeboye further illustrated the power of both praise and giving with biblical examples. He spoke of King David, whose unrestrained praise to God helped him rise from obscurity to become king, and King Solomon, whose lavish offerings to God earned him unmatched peace and prosperity during his reign.
Pastor Adeboye also challenged believers to praise and give with intensity. “If you want to dominate, you must know how to praise God with all your might—just like David, who praised God so passionately that even his wife mocked him,” he said. He encouraged people to adopt this kind of bold, wholehearted approach in their spiritual lives, especially when it comes to honoring God through their giving.
