Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), says he never asked Christians to buy guns for self-protection.
“I never asked Christians to go and buy guns. Samson in the Bible did not fight with guns,” the renowned cleric said on Sunday at the monthly thanksgiving live television programme of the church.
The clarification came against media reports that the general overseer said it was now “fire-for-fire’’ for any attack on Christians.
“Don’t buy guns. You don’t want to kill anybody. We just must make sure that unwanted visitors don’t come to our churches. So don’t go and buy guns,’’ he said.
At the July Holy Ghost Service, on July 2, Pastor Adeboye urged members of the church not to be afraid to attend church programmes because of the terrorist attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State.
Adeboye stated that “some jokers said Churches should not open for three months. Who is your Commander? God of Boko Haram? Let the devil try any nonsense, from now on it is going to be fire for fire.
“I don’t want to say much because I know some people may want to twist it. But I have searched the Bible from cover to cover and there is nowhere in the Bible where God said a child of God cannot defend himself. If you find the place, let me know. He said that if they slap you on the right cheek turn left. He said that one. If they now slap the left what did he say? When God is silent, do you know the meaning of that? It simply means over to you.”
Nigeria is currently going through one of its worst forms of insecurity in history. From banditry to kidnapping and insurgency, attacks are being recorded in virtually all the regions of the country on a frequent basis.
Terrorists attacked Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in the Southwestern part of Nigeria on June 5, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring many others.
There are also several attacks on churches in the northern part of the country as well.
Adeboye urged Christians to rise to the occasion and call the bluff of the devil.
NAN