Nigerian preacher, Pastor Dr. Cephas Chris Walker Rock, has recounted how his former church suspended him in 2011 after he expressed controversial views on tithing, challenging the traditional teachings that failure to pay tithes could lead to punishment or even damnation.
Dr. Rock's story comes in the wake of a viral apology from Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), who recently admitted to providing misleading teachings on tithing. Inspired by this development, Dr. Rock shared his own experience of being disciplined for questioning the doctrine of compulsory tithing.
According to the preacher, his suspension followed a church service in which he taught that tithing was not a prerequisite for salvation, describing it as an outdated Jewish tradition. He stated that many Christians mistakenly believe that failing to tithe leads to a difficult life or eternal damnation. "In 2011, I said that non-tithers would not go to hell. I know where that belief comes from—‘Can a man rob God?’—but I said that’s a lie. If you don’t tithe, life won’t be tight for you, and you won’t go to hell," Dr. Rock explained.
He further argued that tithing, which some preachers claim is mandatory, should be based on personal conviction and understanding rather than church-imposed obligation. Instead of manipulation, he advocated for free-will offerings and donations for church upkeep. "I went on to show that tithe is not a prerequisite for heaven and has nothing to do with salvation in Christ. Christ is the center of eternal life, while tithe is just an ancient practice before the Law."
Citing the biblical example of Abraham giving a tithe to King Melchizedek out of joy and revelation, Dr. Rock emphasized that the act was voluntary, not mandated by law. He argued that the practice of tithing became law after Israel's exodus from Egypt but has been overstated in Pentecostalism, where it is used to enforce a sense of obligation.
Following his teachings, Dr. Rock was reported by another pastor, leading to his suspension and a formal warning to cease his controversial messages. However, the founder of his church later abolished the practice of keeping tithe records, echoing Dr. Rock's message by emphasizing the importance of Christ’s work over the Old Testament Law. The church founder reportedly told his congregation, “We are no longer on Mount Sinai but at the resurrection of Jesus.”
Despite his vindication by the church leadership, Dr. Rock continued to face resistance. Nevertheless, he persisted in teaching individuals on a one-on-one basis that tithing should be done out of personal revelation, not obligation. "Tithe is not a do-or-die practice," he concluded, standing firm in his beliefs even after the suspension.
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