A warning to young ministers by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has resulted in an uproar on social media.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) report Pastor Adeboye, in his message at the monthly Holy Ghost service of the RCCG, had warned young ministers to flee from every appearance of evil.
“I don’t want to comment on some happenings around. I have always told you when people say, why don’t you talk, I say, I am under authority. The Redeemed Christian Church of God belongs to CAN [Christian Association of Nigeria] and we belong to PFN [Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria].
“In CAN, we have a president. In PFN, we have a president. Whatever they say, that is what I have said. That is why I keep my mouth shut.
“But I feel compelled to say some things to those who are young, and upcoming ministers of God. Everything I am going to say is, from the Bible, so if you want to criticize what I have said, you will have to criticize the Bible.
“Number one, it is written there is nothing hid that shall not come to the open – Mark 4:22. It doesn’t matter how long. You think you have done something and it is covered, that it will never come to the open, then you can go and throw away your Bible, because the one who said so, the One who said there is nothing hid that will not come to the open, is the Truth Himself, Jesus Christ, the harbinger of grace.
“There are some of us who think that somebody like me they say we are old fashioned. I agree. I’m old fashioned. I’m old fashioned because Jesus is old fashioned. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He hasn’t changed. God the father is old fashioned. The same dress which He has been wearing before the foundation of the earth is what He is still wearing today. God is not fashionable; He only wears light. Nothing hid, nothing hid that will not be made manifest.
“Two, sooner or later, according to Numbers 32: 23, sooner or later, your sin will find you out. It’s sure; that’s what the Bible says, your sin will find you out. How, if you have given your life to Jesus, blood of Jesus will wash away all your sins but after you gave your life to Jesus, you continue in sin, under the guise of grace, as the Lord lives, your sin will find you out.
“Which brings me to number three. I am advising all the young ones. The Bible says, you must abstain from every appearance of evil – 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
“The elders say, they want to burn you, you rub yourself with oil, and you sat near fire, you made the job easy. The elders, African elders, not me, I am a young boy, the elders say, they are calling you a thief, and you are playing with the child of a goat. The elders say, what you are not going to eat, don’t smell. Avoid every appearance of evil. Avoid it.
“Just one more point… the Bible says, if the devil comes to you face to face to fight you, it said, stand and fight. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. But according to 2 Timothy 2:22, it said, when you find yourself facing youthful lust, temptation, it said, don’t wait to fight; flee. Flee means run as a terror.
“When you see a sister smiling at you, in a way, run! Run as a terror. Don’t say I’m a great man of God, I’m highly anointed; ask Samson.
“I know you will say, he has come again, he is an old fashioned man. I agree. That is what they called me when I said I will never have a private secretary who is a woman. No! Private secretary has to be a man. Because… when a woman accuses you of something, nobody is going to listen to you. Nobody! They will listen to the woman. When you say, where is witness, sister will say, do they invite people to such things? When you say, how can it be me? Everybody will say, how come it is you that she has mentioned of all the men?
“I am old fashioned, but I was ordained in 1975, and I am still surviving. It is better to be old fashioned and live than to be modern and die,” Pastor Adeboye said.
Meanwhile, many took to Twitter to say the revered and succinctly spoken man of God was referring to the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, who was recently accused of rape by Busola Dakolo, wife of popular musician, Timi Dakolo.
Is Pastor Adeboye off rccg subbing Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo of coza? pic.twitter.com/VFiIowdtTH
— Khal Bussie? (@iam_bussie) July 5, 2019
Pastor Adeboye is so wise, so so wise, even if he didn't mention names we all know where he stands ? unlike those hypocrites going to church last week sunday saying "we love you pastor" , Grandpa shook the table broke it and used Bible scriptures to back it up pic.twitter.com/KJQWYUF0a1
— Kiddee La baller (@iam_kiddee) July 6, 2019
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Pastor Adeboye. When we blame a woman for a man's lack of self control. Adeboye says he has never had a private secretary who is a woman. The new testament encourages self control. Should we then have a country of only men in order for us not to fall into a woman's temptation?
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— ogunleye oyin (@ogunleye_oyin) July 5, 2019
— I sha know Pastor Adeboye didn't mention Coza…. Don't be stupid watch the full Video before saying anything pic.twitter.com/Jzaiapd6hL
— Tweet_Voltron (@iam_Adetolani) July 6, 2019
I wish Pastor Adeboye will preach on the concepts of consent and Sexual abuse.
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Why does the church shy away from talking about sex?
Rather than demonizing sex or ignoring it, why not educate people so they go about it the right away.
I wish someone will tell him this. https://t.co/Bh8ZcaiCQp
— Biya Tifẹ ? (@Biyatife) July 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/iamoliver_may2/status/1147297245286604800?s=19
https://twitter.com/O_Makanjuola/status/1147295345434681344?s=19
Please if you ain’t in Redemption camp presently,don’t type what you have no idea about. Pastor Adeboye didn’t mention any name,he just gave advice to the young ministers… And never mentioned anything about Coza
— Iamdara (@Dara_ikotun) July 5, 2019
All of you saying Pastor Adeboye didn’t mention COZA, what’s your problem? If he was talking to COZA pastor, and so what? Will they beat him? Someone said something indirectly and you are just yarning dust. Please it was an obvious message. ?
— Jael (@Yesitsjael) July 6, 2019
Now, I see why RCCG technically has the highest number of churches and members in the whole of Nigeria. Their leader – Pastor Adeboye doesn't mince words. He has a good track record at least with what we know and from what we hear. pic.twitter.com/OIb9sNwlqG
— NIKOLA TESLA’S COUSIN (@Tonydoo_Visuals) July 6, 2019
Understand this:
Pastor Adeboye DID NOT SAY Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo is guilty.
Pastor Adeboye DID NOT SAY Busola Dakolo is lying or should be blamed.
He only read Bible verses and quoted African elders.
— Biya Tifẹ ? (@Biyatife) July 6, 2019
Pastor Adeboye’s statement can be used in IQ tests.
— Curious City (@3eyedpixel) July 6, 2019
God bless you Pastor Adeboye, I would have said you should not mind the disciples of satan on twitter, but I will not, since you are not even seeing them.
Never! Never hire someone of opposite sex as your private secretary, who has to stay close to you all the time. NO, NA, HEHI
— #Leadership (@Maazi_Dan) July 6, 2019
Remember that Pastor Adeboye carefully crafted his words to ensure that both sides of the divide do not feel he belongs to them.
"When a woman accuses you, no one will listen to you"
"It is better to be old fashioned and survive, than to be new fashioned and burn". https://t.co/wx7OBzkCJE
— Rofokofo (@Rofokofo) July 6, 2019
Never underestimate the power of a woman. A woman can either MAKE a man or BREAK a man
WOMEN deserves to be loved and cared for#mythought
Pastor Adeboye a man full of so much wisdom. ???— Allen Michael (@allenmikomedy) July 6, 2019
People are already turning what he said into him "blaming women". The Coza pastors needs to confess or has to be proven innocent, I think Pastor Adeboye is too mature/old and wise to judge quickly and openly on something he probably isn't sure about.
— Preci_G (@PreciG1) July 6, 2019
We don close service, yes, who are those saying Pastor Adeboye talked about COZA and Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, come out or hold your peace… The statement is very clear, charge to all young pastors and ministers…
— Oluwarotimi (@rtmajayi) July 6, 2019
I think what Pastor Adeboye meant that whatever could tempt you, whatever could soil your name, whatever has your Mumu button, keep it far from you. Even if that means having PERSONAL secretaries of the same gender.
Not everyone can be easily tempted by women, you may be one. https://t.co/5QR16GTifH
— Biya Tifẹ ? (@Biyatife) July 6, 2019