A GRACIOUS PERSPECTIVE ON ABEL DAMINA
Introduction
My name is Deji Yesufu. I pastor Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan. I was ordained to ministry last year by the Rev. Dr. Aniekan Ekpo, who pastors Christ’s Reformed Baptist Church, in Rumuodara, Portharcourt. I became a Christian in the first quarter of 1998. I date my conversion to the death of Benson Idahosa because a week or so after I started attending the local church that first discipled me, my pastor announced that Idahosa had died. From Wikipedia, Idahosa died on the 12th of March, 1998. I therefore date my conversion to the final weeks of February, 1998. I encountered Jesus Christ through the preached word via a room-mate at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. And since that day, I have not looked back. What I have however looked back on, continually, throughout my Christian walk has been the various Christian traditions that Jesus Christ has discipled me through. So that today, while I am no longer a Pentecostal, I still appreciate some disciplines that Pentecostalism inculcated in me. For example, the discipline of prayer, holiness, faith, and charity. That is enough about me for now.
A few weeks ago, the Reformed Naija TV begun a discussion on the person and ministry of Abel Damina. I carefully titled that discussion “Is Abel Damina a False Teacher?” because, while I had my reservations about Damina and his ministry, I felt that the people who were accusing him needed to prove their case. Today, I think they have proved that Damina has many erroneous positions on the Christian faith but I believe they did not prove the fact that he is a heretic. I then gave Pastor Carl Desmonds a full 90 minutes to prosecute his position that Damina is a heretic. A few points were raised by Desmonds. He explained that Damina did not hold to an inerrant scripture, nor does he believe that God has wrath. Oluwasogo Faloye raised the point that Damina’s doctrines were bordering on Marcionism – the early Church heretic that rejected most of the canon of scripture, but who only held to Paul’s writings.
Following their submission, a certain Emmanuel Oghenemaga left a comment on our RNTV YouTube channel. In response to the point of Damina’s not holding to an inerrant scripture, Emmanuel wrote: “…And how does Dr. Damina’s standpoint go against the inerrancy of scriptures? Dr. Abel has repeatedly acknowledged 2 Tim. 3:16 that all scriptures were written through the inspiration of God. This verse is a starting point for all his Soteria series…” On the issue of Damina teaching that God has no wrath, Emmanuel wrote: “…Dr. Abel has clearly said God punishes sin, he said that the wrath of God is upon the sinner and that the wrath of God exists on a man who rejects the gospel, so, he supposes that the wrath of God is “man-made” in a context. This is because, without man’s rejection, there’s no wrath! And that the wrath of God on a sinner is the ‘absence of God’ which is destruction. A man (sinner) without God is dead, gone forever. That is the wrath of God! Dr. Damina has asserted that God is everywhere, as you said. Word for word, Dr. Abel said that God is even in hell because He’s everywhere. Again, it’s clear that you haven’t listened to Dr. Damina on this subject but are running on rumors or assumptions…” You can look up the comment yourself and see other things the young man wrote there.
Now, while I am not a journalist, I have some experience along those lines, and the beauty of journalism is fair reporting. Stating the points of both side; not misrepresenting a position because they are not of your own clique. From the foregoing, my position on Damina will be this: Abel Damina is a man who has emerged from the Word of Faith/Prosperity Gospel/Pentecostal religion, and is trying to find his way to Christ. Quite naturally, and not being exposed to the kind of orthodoxy many of us reformed people have been reading for years, he will get some of his theology wrong. And the solution to that should be that he should leave teaching the Bible, and go and learn. The only problem, of course, is that who will teach him? Abel Damina may be likened to Apollos, who knew only the doctrines of John the Baptist. But, along the way of his ministry, God sent Priscilla and Aquila his way to teach him the ways of the Lord more adequately. So that Apollos went on to have a ministry that rivalled those of Apostle Paul. My grouse is not with Abel Damina. My grouse is with those God has put in a position to teach Damina and his followers, but who have failed in this ministry. Calling Damina a heretic will not solve the problem. It is in teaching him the gospel; presenting the truth to him and his followers in love; this is what will do the trick. This brings me to the first question that kept bothering me following our first broadcast. That question is this: How Did the Church Permit Damina to Emerge? In my next section of discussion, I will proffer some answers.
How Did the Church Permit Abel Damina to Emerge?
When I speak about the Church, I am not talking about the whole of Christendom. I am talking about those of us who call ourselves “reformed Christians”. We should ask ourselves: how did we allow Abel Damina take the stage? I get the feeling, and I could be wrong, that the problem that many reformed people have with Abel Damina is that he is using “reformed” language but does not profess reformed theology. We are like the disciples of Jesus who come to him, telling him to forbid certain people from casting out devils using the name of the Lord. Christ replied that as long as they are not against him – they are obviously working for him (Mark 9:38-40). Perhaps there is some wisdom for us all in that. But I think there is a lot more that is wrong with the overall reformed churches in Nigeria that I feel has led God to bypass them, and to use a Damina to bring some reformation to religion in this country. Having been associated with many reformed people in this country long enough, I will suggest a few things.
- Divisiveness: The history of the reformed movement in Nigeria has been replete with divisions. There will be no need to recount the few I know. I will however talk about the one that I was involved with only recently. For six months, the RNTV was not broadcasting. Two brothers who had worked with me on this channel suddenly pulled out. The three of us had differing positions on one issue, and it led to a split. I held the position that there was nothing wrong with Alistair Begg counselling a grandmother attending her granddaughter’s same sex wedding. That while, naturally, Christians should separate from something like that, there is also an aspect of charity that may demand that we commend our religion to sinners in the hope that this will bring them to repentance. A second member of RNTV disagreed with me but felt this was no basis for brothers to split over. The third person disagreed with me entirely and insisted that there must be a split. This third person got his wish, except that I insisted that the whole RNTV idea was mine from the beginning, and if anyone wished to leave, they could leave. This is how an association that had laboured together for some five years ended. Now, with all the errors they suffer from, you do not find splits like these among Pentecostals and Charismatics. These people understand that human nature is such that people will forever have differing opinions on issues. Therefore, organizations set minimum standards of beliefs as basis for working together (e.g a body of confessions), and they permit differing opinions on other issues. I hold that the immaturity that pervades many reformed circles in our country is at the root of these frequent splits, and it might be the reason why we do not have the kind of voice Abel Damina has in Nigeria today.
- Inconsistency: Reformed Christian calls themselves “biblical”; we vouch on following only what is written, and discard what is not. Trouble arise, however, when those who claim to be biblical cease being so. The presupposing motive in the position that I took on the Alistair Begg controversy was not merely on whether or not a Christian should attend a gay wedding, it was a protest of some sort. A crisis had risen up in a reformed institution in Nigeria, where a brother had taken another brother to court. I had written this institution and shown them 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, explaining that the Bible teaches that brothers cannot take another brother to court. That we had sufficient reformed ministers in Nigeria to look into that case, and adjudicate it. I was told two things: that the accused person was not a Christian brother (I responded by saying that merely professing to be a brother was enough); secondly: that reformed churches were independent of each other – and thus cannot look into each other’s internal affairs. I reject this latter position because these churches continue to associate with one another. The matter raged on in court for two years and finally the accused brother was sent to a Nigerian jail to do time. It was then I realized that these people are merely reformed in name but not at heart – and I wrote an article about that. When Alistair Begg controversy broke, it was the same brothers who took another brother to court, that began to wax orthodox, condemning Begg. I could not be deceived. Consistency means that we use the same yardstick everywhere. If we must be biblical in our theology, we must be biblical in all our practices too. The Holy Spirit is grieved when things like these happens, and he will not entrust the reformation of a nation to such a people. This is one of the reasons I believe has led to the emergence of Abel Damina.
There are other issues like creation of cliques in church, the divisions that money brings, propagating of lies, mean spiritedness, slander, and plain abuses of church members that are replete in many “reformed” churches that one could talk about, but I will not bore you with this. The fact is this: if reformed churches will not be any different from other churches around, why will the Spirit of Christ entrust the reformation of a nation to you? At this point, I want to look at somethings that Damina teaches that are right and which we have so far overlooked.
Where Abel Damina has Gotten Things Right
From the little I know of Abel Damina’s teachings, I will hold out two things that Abel Damina is right on: he is right about abuses in Charismatic churches, and he is right about tithes.
Abuses: Many years ago, I began to do a series on Facebook about Nigerian Churches that Abuse their members. I had read Ronald M. Enroth’s book “Churches that Abuse”, and I was convinced that a similar narrative could be given on Nigerian churches. Enroth recalled hundreds of instances where people escaped abusive churches. Many of these churches were charismatic, but there were a few of them that were evangelical and reformed. In fact, a brother explained to me how, right there in the USA, he was so heart broken by a reformed church he belonged to that he ceased being reformed totally – though still a Christian. I then began to write about abuses in churches. In fact, the wife of a general overseer, whose church I had written on, got in touch with me inbox and began to argue for her husband. I should be thankful she did not sue me. Eventually, I felt the matter was too much for me to handle, and I stopped publishing those series. If you check the hashtag #churchesthatabuse on facebook, you will see those posts.
Damina, on the other hand, has the platform and reach to talk about these abuses. Having been involved in it himself, he very easily relays them to his congregation, and people can identify with these things and find healing. Quite a number of people have been delivered from abusive churches through Abel Damina’s teachings and I think that that is one reason to be thankful to God. Because religion holds men’s conscience and wicked men can use it to enslave others in this life. That someone is preaching freedom, and helping people out of these abusive churches should be a thing to rejoice over, and not to condemn. On this point, Abel Damina is very right.
Tithes: I broke into national reckoning through my 23-minute video on tithes in 2017. Since I made that video, my opinion on tithes has changed slightly. I still do not think that it is obligatory for Christians to tithe, I however believe that for mission’s sake Christians should give to their local churches – CONSISTENTLY! If consistent giving is exemplified through tithing, by all means tithe. Except that it might be good not to call it tithes, but giving. Because, biblically, no one ever did tithe in the New Testament. Jesus could never have collected a tithe because he was not a Levite. Neither would his disciples have done the same. However, most of us are either weekly or monthly wage earners, and it makes some sense if we cooperate with our local churches and give them something consistently. It could be 10,20,30, or even 100%. Whatever you give, give consistently and look to God for a reward. When people give to churches, you join in gospel labours through your finances. That is the kind of tithing I advocate.
However, tithing has become a sin in Nigerian churches and Abel Damina is the leading exposer of this sin. You see people who have no business being near a pulpit, build a conglomerate of churches all because they have the charisma to gather people and to talk. You see the poor being milked of all that they have through tithes, offerings, firstfruits, prophetic offerings, birthday gifts, etc. it is horrendous! And this is made even worse when you realize that there is no biblical basis to collect tithes in the church. Abel Damina must be commended for shedding light on these abuses, and I will not be surprised if God the Holy Spirit is at the root of that work.
Now that we have attempted to show where Damina has gotten it right, it might be good that we now look at how to help Damina out of his errors.
How Do We Help Abel Damina?
I have titled this essay “a gracious perspective to Abel Damina” because the singular way we are called to commend our doctrine to others is via love. For too long reformed people have borne the truth like a sword, forgetting the biblical injunction that call us to speak the truth in love. Rather than detest Damina; rather than condemn him as a heretic, we must, like Priscilla and Acquila did with Apollos, commend our truth to him very graciously. It means that we must accept that there are few things he is doing right, and there are other places in his doctrines he can be better taught. The Christian faith is historic. Many of the doctrines we hold today, and take for granted, were debated over centuries. Some countries fought civil wars over religious views. People were killed for their religious persuasions. But God has very graciously passed to our generation the ability to hold religious view with tolerance. This is very vital. Following tolerance, must then be dialogue.
Following the two broadcasts we did on Damina, I have written the man of God. I stated essentially to him that people who have listened to him are concerned about his positions on religion. There are certain things he is affirming that is obvious he does not have a strong understanding of. If he, the teacher, knows little, like J. C. Ryle would say in his book “HOLINESS”, his followers will know nothing. It is obvious that Abel Damina needs to be taught the ways of our God more adequately, but those who will commend the truth to him must do it with charity and respect. For this reason, Reformed Naija TV, this medium, is inviting Abel Damina to our broadcast to respond to the various allegations of false teachings and heresies levelled against him. We will simply list them and ask him to explain whether he agrees with these things or disagrees. Then he will explain his position. This way, those who misunderstand Damina can get clarity. While the positions that he holds on doctrine, which are not biblical, can be shown to him to be so, with the hope that time and the graces that the Spirit extends to us, will make these things clear to him.
The second way that I think we can help Damina is by bringing to Damina and the whole Nigerian Christian community in this country a project I have been involved with for over a year now. Last year, I was elected to be a member of the board of trustees of the Reformed Foundations Theological Seminary (RFTS), situated in Portharcourt, Nigeria. I was also appointed the secretary of the board, under the able chairmanship of Prof. Ibiwari Erekosima, a medical consultant, who lives and works in the United Kingdom. Over the past one year, the board of this seminary has revamped the educational institution to offer up reformed theological learning – the best of its kind that can be found anywhere in Nigeria. We will be training pastors for the ministry. And the unveiling of this institution will be done in another few months. In November, Pastor Oliver Almand-Smith will be coming to Portharcourt to teach on seminary learning, and I will be using this medium to advertise it. People who want to learn biblical theology, can reach me and I will make that institution available for your use. Abel Damina and his followers are also welcome to that institution to learn.
Jesus Christ and Social Media
In 1454, Gutenberg invented the printing press in Europe. Its revolutionized learning by making texts, which hitherto would have been hand written and expensive to buy, easily accessible and cheap. When Martin Luther pasted the 95 theses to the wall of the Castle Church in Witenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, somebody thought that the essays were revolutionary. He wrote them down and published them, making a great deal of money out of the whole enterprise because the theses reflected the thinking of the average German. Except that very few people could articulate them in the exact words that Luther did. Since Luther was educated (he had his PhD by that time), he could better explain the points he making. Luther was stating essentially that indulgence collection by the Papacy was not biblical. The same way printing changed the face of religion in the 16th century is the same way the internet is changing the face of religion today. If Protestants of today look to Luther for doctrine and example, why will we think that Jesus Christ will cease to use the internet in a positive manner? Why will we think that Christ is not involved in the ministry of Abel Damina? Why would we think that until Damina is confessional reformed, then and only then can he be speaking the truth? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
All the relationships I have formed in the reformed world came via the internet. Some of those relationships are still existing, others have fizzled out. But the Lord permitted those relationships for a time and for a reason. I am convinced that despite the limitation in Damina’s theology, our Lord is doing a work in him. If we understand Apollos, perhaps we will understand Damina. It is also true that Damina may be a heretic. However, it is our duty as Christians to examine his teachings and objectively reach these conclusions – and not slander a man merely because he does not belong to our camp. Those who regard him as a heretic, have a right to their opinion. Those of us who think he is mistaken, have a right to our opinion. In all of these, however, our Lord is doing a work that surpasses the thinking of us all. Christ is building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Time, alone, will tell who is a heretic and who is not. Perhaps I should have mentioned that men like Montanus, Marcion, Arius, Pelagius, Mohammed, Ignatius of Loyola, and Joseph Smith are heretics. Their religious movement, examined at least some 200 years after their deaths, have proven to not only be false but also heretical. Time will show all of us who Abel Damina really is.
Conclusion
As we debate the veracity of Damina’s ministry, we also want to remind ourselves what the heart of the Christian gospel is. At Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan, we have been studying the book of John. We saw in John 20:31 the central text of that book and the central theme of Jesus’ ministry: “…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name…” Applying this text to the immediate audience of John, we see that all that Christ did during his life on earth was to help the Jews understand his Messiahship: that he was the Son of God and that by believing this they will have eternal life. It is true many cults and religions today reject these basic tenets of the Christian faith, we should however rejoice that there are many other Christian groups that accept the facts of Christ’s Sonship and they do have genuine faith in Christ. Many of these people may not be reformed; but the fact that they have these basic realities of belief in our Lord, should occasion in us a reason for joy and rejoicing. We should not have a bitter and mean spirit towards such people all because they are not confessionally reformed. I have said it before and I repeat again: I would rather that people be genuinely born again and not be reformed; than they be reformed and not be born again. Of course, the best is to have people to be both reformed and be born again. But whichever way the Lord brings people to us, we should rejoice in their knowledge of the Savior, and where they are not saved, we should press the gospel on them. The end of Christian ministry is to bring people to Christ, not to make them reformed Christians.
Nevertheless, reformed theology is biblical theology. It gives an individual the most well-rounded comprehension of the gospel message. Reformed theology is also historical. We are proud to say we are theological sons of Paul the Apostle, Tertulian, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Owen, George Whitefield, C. H. Spurgeon, David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and our recently departed father – R. C. Sproul. Our doctrines sit on the shoulder of giants, even as it is directed by the blessing of the Spirit in time. We would wish that everyone is reformed but we know that that is not practical on this side of heaven. So, we are content to ask that everybody be a Christian – trust Jesus alone for your salvation.
May I reiterate again that I do not hold the theory that Abel Damina is a heretic – the evidence before me do not say so. I, like many others, are however concerned about the errors in his teachings and we hope that he would accept our gracious offer to discuss these errors, and perhaps, help to rectify them.
Thank you for listening.
This article is the text of a Speech given by Pastor Deji Yesufu on the Reformed Naija TV on the 10th of August, 2024. Deji is the Pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church Ibadan. He is the author of HUMANITY.
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