Nigerian cleric Apostle Abel Damina has sparked debate with controversial statements about sin and biblical interpretation during a church service.
Advertisements
While addressing his congregation, Damina challenged traditional religious views on substances like alcohol and tobacco. “I have told you Alcohol is not a sin, I have said cigar is not a sin,” he declared, though he quickly cautioned against tobacco use, adding “You should have sense from your father’s house to know that cigar will cut your life.”
The cleric supported his position by reinterpreting the story of Adam and Eve. He questioned whether the biblical couple actually ate anything in the Garden of Eden, challenging his congregation: “Adam and Eve ate nothing. They didn’t eat anything. Were you there? You were not there.”
Advertisements
Citing Mark 7:18, Damina argued that consumption itself cannot make someone a sinner: “If Adam and Eve ate something they would not be sinners. It is not what people eat that makes them sinners. You cannot be a sinner by eating or drinking something.”
Damina claimed that Jesus, who he believes was present in the Garden of Eden, provided the true explanation of what happened there, though he did not elaborate further on this interpretation in the available remarks.
In his words;
‘’Adam and Eve ate nothing. Adam and Eve didn’t eat anything, Were you there? You were not there. They ate nothing. So how do we know whether they ate anything? Jesus was there. So was Jesus there in the Garden of Eden? Yes! Jesus explained to us what happened. Mark 7:18. Do you know that if Adam and Eve ate something they would not be sinners. It is not what people eat that makes them sinners. You cannot be a sinner by eating or drinking something. I have told you Alcohol is not a sin, I have said cigar is not a sin. Am I saying you should smoke? You should have sense from your father’s house to know that cigar will cut your life. ‘’