Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), clarified a scriptural text that is frequently misinterpreted by both believers and detractors. The famous cleric, who preached from Matthew 11:12, clarified that the “violence” mentioned in the passage is spiritual rather than physical and should never be connected to guns or killing…..CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force,” Adeboye stated, using the verse. He stressed that the chapter should be viewed in light of other scriptures, even if he agreed that it can be confusing when taken at face value. During the sermon, Adeboye reaffirmed, “The kingdom of God suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” “Now, the force he is referring to, the violence he claims will occur, is not the type of violence in which people fight with machetes, guns, and other weapons.”
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds,” the RCCG leader explained, citing 2 Corinthians 10:4. Adeboye clarified that God calls His children to practise intense prayer, faith, and spiritual discipline rather than to fight physical conflicts.
He warned, “Don’t think that God is saying that you have to start killing, maiming, and destroying if you want to enter His kingdom.” He claims that the necessary “violence” is a resolute spiritual stance—a refusal to make concessions to sin, uncertainty, or demonic domination. Adeboye emphasised that persistence, selflessness, and an unwavering faith are necessary to reach God’s kingdom. He defined the “violent” believers as those who withstand temptation, consistently fast and pray, and cling to divine promises in the face of opposition. He said, “The battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness.” The speech is given at a time when discussions about religion and extremism are taking place all across the world, and it is frequently difficult to distinguish between militancy and spirituality.
Adeboye’s explanation is to dispel myths and educate believers that physical violence is not condoned by Christianity. Rather, it urges a strong spiritual commitment to achieving righteousness and holiness. His followers have responded favourably to the message. Many members of the congregation were relieved that the frequently misunderstood text was explained in a way that was consistent with the Bible. Some praised the lesson on social media, stating that it reaffirmed the significance of discipline, prayer, and fasting as the real “weapons of warfare.” Adeboye maintains that the basic idea is still the same: obtaining God’s kingdom demands willpower and intentional work, but never physical force. He came to the conclusion that “we must be spiritually aggressive, but our aggression is in the place of prayer, in holding fast to the devil, and in living a holy life.”….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
