Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, stated that paying 10 percent as tithe is meant for beginners. While addressing a youth congregation during the ongoing RCCG Youth Convention at Redemption City, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, on Thursday night, he shared that he has moved beyond the 10 percent tithe. He expressed that it is inappropriate to tell others to limit their contributions to this amount.
Adeboye also apologised for previously stating that Christians who do not pay tithe may not make it to heaven, stressing that those who aspire to “be on top” and “control finances” must contribute significantly more than 10 percent. He highlighted that the Bible emphasizes peaceful and holy living as prerequisites for reaching heaven.
“I apologise for saying, ‘If you don’t pay tithe, you might not make it to heaven.’ I’m sorry; that’s incorrect, and it’s not in the Bible. What the Bible says is, ‘Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see God,’” he explained.
He elaborated, “It is possible to be right and wrong at the same time. Let me demonstrate. As a scientist, I know that for years we believed light travels in straight lines. Later, we discovered that light travels in waves. It is limiting to restrict your giving to 10 percent when discussions of 20, 30, or 40 percent are on the table. I believe 10 percent should be for beginners, and I trust that God will soon provide me the opportunity to give you more details.”
Adeboye recounted the story of a man who pledged to donate N3.5 million, matching the total contributions of the entire congregation during a fundraising event led by the late American preacher Kenneth Hagin. Upon inquiring about his substantial pledge, the man revealed, “Five years ago, I started a company with $500, and I told God, ‘You are my senior partner. Prosper the business, and I will not insult you with 10 percent; I will give you 90 percent.’ He shared that five years later, his turnover reached $50 million.”
“From that day forward, I have been steadily increasing my own contributions. I haven’t reached 90 percent yet, but I’m far from 10 percent. It’s wrong for me to say you should only pay 10 percent,” Adeboye concluded.
