Redeemed Church's Adeboye Stirs Controversy Over Birthday Wishes To Wife

 

The Head Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye, in a birthday message to his wife on Twitter moved in a direction that was not unforeseen, with many Twitter users finding distaste in the message.

In his message, the pastor used that avenue to remind "many young brides" of their places in the home, and to lecture them on the role of the women in relation to their husbands.

Adeboye, in his tweet, acknowledged the power of his wife when dealing with people other than himself, stating that "she is a powerful woman," who has "many people who take instructions from her."

He goes on to say that even in her power, and that "even though she has seen me in my weakest moments," he holds no doubt that "I am her head."

READ ALSO: Adeboye Opens Up On His Greatest Worry About Present-day Pastors

He quotes the part of the scripture that reminds the women of their place in the home, Ephesians 5:23 that states that “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…”

The pastor goes on to state the amount of power he holds over his wife stating that he could will her to "cancel whatever she was to do and come along with me."

Adeboye reminded that no matter how powerful or successful or educated a woman is, "your husband is your head and you must regard him as such at all times," ensuring that she does not emasculate the man.

He goes on to highlight how important his role in the family is when he says that "she (his wife) cannot help me without my instructions, so when they come, her response is Yes sir."

Today is my wife’s birthday and there are lessons that women, especially so many young brides can learn from her. She is a powerful woman, I know that.
She has many people who take instructions from her, but as powerful as she is#MGO72 pic.twitter.com/JPapsXDjIt

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) July 13, 2020

and even though she has seen me in my weakest moments, I have no doubt that I am her head. It does not matter what is on her itinerary if I say I would like you to go with me to so and so place the best she can do is try to convince me otherwise. #MG072

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) July 13, 2020

If I insist, she would cancel whatever she was to do and come along with me. The Bible in Ephesians 5:23 says: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…” The husband is the head of the wife. #MGO72

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) July 13, 2020

No matter how educated or successful you are, your husband is your head and you must regard him as such at all times. It is a terrible thing for a husband to feel his wife is his head. Many men are misbehaving in their marriages simply because they want to establish #MGO72

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) July 13, 2020

that they are the head of their wives. Also, my wife is my number one fan. She wrote in the book Mathematics of Marriage – which we coauthored, that as my helpmate she knows she cannot help me without my instructions, so when they come, her response is Yes sir. #MGO72

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) July 13, 2020

Responses have come from users of the microblog who expressed their dissatisfaction with the pastor's line of thought.

A user @_ayannnn, took the most displeasure from the words, saying "Ode jati jati. May God put every man that wants to keep women in bondage to their selfish desires in bigger cages alone IJN! May God cause anybody that wants to serve him and not God alone to rot IJN."

Ode jati jati. May God put every man that wants to keep women in bondage to their selfish desires in bigger cages alone IJN!
May God cause anybody that wants us to serve him and not God alone to rot IJN!

— ɠ?ɖɖєʂʂ (@__ayannnn) July 13, 2020

Another user with the handle @earnkayjukles said that the pastor should have channeled the message to eulogising his wife and not about himself.

The user tweeted. "I'm literally disappointed. Instead of eulogising the woman. You make it about you and how submissive she is. I literally cringed reading this."

I'm literally disappointed. Instead of eulogising the woman. You make it about you and how submissive she is. I literally cringed reading this.

— jules (@earnkayjules) July 13, 2020

Another user said that the tweet made them feel sick; @77dreams_ said, "Never read something so ......I have no words, this man epitomizes his generation of Nigerians, the foolishness, the lack of knowledge, wickedness of the mind, misogyny, I can go on and on. I feel very sick reading this."

Never read something so ......I have no words, this man epitomizes his generation of Nigerians, the foolishness, the lack of knowledge, wickedness of the mind, misogyny, I can go on and on. I feel very sick reading this

— 77dreams (@77dreams_) July 13, 2020

Those on the other side of the opinion fence like @Etim_cool said, in a poetic format, "You that u are angry 
U are not the standard 

Whatever method they have used 
It has worked 
U are not a slave in marriage 
But if u dont understand submission in marriage 
You are not equipped for a succesful marriage 

It read someway some times but I Stan the years put in."

You that u are angry
U are not the standard

Whatever method they have used
It has worked
U are not a slave in marriage
But if u dont understand submission in marriage
You are not equipped for a succesful marriage

It read someway some times but I Stan the years put in

— Etim Godwin (@Etim_cool) July 13, 2020

Another user @LadyGrasha said, in a more mediative tone, "Omo. Just read through so many bitter comments. Y'all need to understand generational gaps, values and trends. What he has just tweeted is considered one powerful act and most elderly women will feel loved if this is done to them. May our mouth not be the end of us."

Omo. Just read through so many bitter comments. Y'all need to understand generational gaps, values and trends. What he has just tweeted is considered one powerful act and most elderly women will feel loved if this is done to them. May our mouth not be the end of us

— «•ATINUKE ?•» (@LadyGrasha) July 13, 2020

@Oluchi32477441 said, "Happy birthday to mama, a virtuous woman. 
Feminism equals equity, marriage speaks compromise...diff in being single/married. 
A Christian marriage entails submission and servitude. 
Men serve through leading, women in submission. Both choices are based on freewill."

Happy birthday to mama, a virtuous woman.
Feminism equals equity, marriage speaks compromise...diff in being single/married.
A Christian marriage entails submission and servitude.
Men serve through leading, women in submission. Both choices are based on freewill.
You don't

— Oluchi (@Oluchi32477551) July 14, 2020