The Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA) has disowned Dr. Abel Damina, saying he is no more a representative of Christianity in Nigeria.
It said that it cannot continue to ignore the alarming rate of theological errors and heresies in the preaching of Damina which is going viral on social media as hate speech and cyber crime against the Christian faith.
It added that his interpretations in most cases are also subjective to undermine the authority of scripture and compromise the deity of Christ.
The concerns raised by NSCEA was contained in an open letter titled, “Caution Against Fallacious And Heretic Teachings of Christian Faith”, which was dated October 15, and signed by the Secretary, Elders’ Council, NSCEA, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies.
It explained that “heresy” is a belief or opinion contrary to orthodox Christian doctrine and any belief, teaching or practice that explicitly undermines the gospel.
It emphasised that “Heresies” are beliefs or teachings that deviate from established or orthodox doctrine, often considered contrary to the accepted teachings of a religion or faith.
It said: “We, at the Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA), have observed with dismay your current preachings and teachings of Biblical tenets and hereby write to express grave concern and caution regarding these your teachings, which have been brought to our attention. This letter also serves as a disclaimer.
“While we appreciate your passion for spreading the Gospel, we cannot ignore the alarming rate of theological errors and heresies in your messages, especially as it is now going viral on social media as hate speech and cyber crime against the Christian faith. Please note that the Bible is not for philosophising, it’s the word of god inspired by the Holy Ghost.”
The NSCEA said specifically, it has issues with the following titles of your messages such as: “There is no heaven”, “You don’t need God to Succeed”, “Jesus is not coming back”, “Heaven is scam”, “God is not responsible”, “Jesus Christ is not a Christian”, “Jesus Christ is God the Father and there is no trinity”, “The Bible is not the Word of God”, “No to Holy communion” and “No to tithing”, etc.
It asserted that most of Damina’s topics are mere fallacies and heretic, while the notions are mistaken beliefs, especially based on generalisations, self interpretation, personalised style, alarming sub-titles, and unsound arguments.
It stressed that Damina’s preaching style was focused on attracting audience through content creating hype rather than being correct and spiritual.
It was of the opinion that his teachings deviate from the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, contradicting the Holy Scriptures and the historic confessions of the faith.
It added: “Your interpretations in most cases are also subjective to undermine the authority of Scripture, compromise the deity of Christ, and confuse the nature of our great salvation.
“As leaders in the Nigerian Christian community at NSCEA, we cannot continue to tolerate and watch the body of Christ in this predicament of yours, we are compelled to address these errors and ensure the integrity of our shared faith.
“We urge you to: Publicly retract and correct these false teachings. Engage in theological dialogue with reputable scholars to clarify and deepen your understanding. Align your ministry with the orthodox, evangelical and pentecostal teachings of Christianity or back out completely.
“It is always good to know enough to realise that you do not know enough. Dr. Abel Damina, you have crossed the line, and you are therefore no more a representative of Christianity (The Body of Christ) in Nigeria.”