During the October edition of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Service, General Overseer Pastor Enoch Adeboye addressed a contentious issue surrounding tithing. He responded to a sermon by one of his pastors, who argued that Christians should not pay tithes because Jesus and His disciples did not collect them.
Adeboye disagreed with this viewpoint, emphasizing Jesus’ role as a global evangelist rather than a local pastor. “Jesus was not a parish pastor; He was a world evangelist,” Adeboye explained.
He criticized the sermon as “very shallow,” pointing out that Jesus received financial support from various sources. Adeboye cited Luke 8:1-3, where women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna are mentioned as financial supporters of Jesus’ ministry.
Adeboye’s remarks aimed to:
1. Clarify misunderstandings about tithing in Jesus’ ministry.
2. Highlight differences in responsibilities between local pastors and global preachers like Jesus.
Adeboye’s full statement:
“One of my pastors preached online that people shouldn’t pay tithes because Jesus didn’t collect tithes. I thought I’d learn something profound, but Jesus was a world evangelist, not a parish pastor. Forgive me, but it was a shallow sermon. Luke 8:1-3 shows that women like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna supported Jesus financially.”
By addressing this issue, Adeboye provided insight into the biblical context of tithing and the distinct roles of spiritual leaders.
