By Paul Dada
Controversial pastor and leader of Abel Damina Ministries International, Dr Abel Damina, has opposed Christians for saying it is only those who practise their faith that will make it to heaven.
In a sermon, Damina said the term, “Christian” was coined by unbelievers who observed the lifestyle of the disciples of Jesus.
He said: “Many of you think God is a Christian. God is not a Christian. Many of you think if you are not a Christian, you won’t go to heaven, lie. People went to heaven before Christianity started. Christianity started in Antioch in the Book of Acts. That should humble you a bit, and you should start adjusting your theology.
“And it is unbelievers that gave the name Christianity that you are carrying as a condition to go to heaven— unbelievers who watch the people who were adherents of Brother Paul’s teachings. After teaching for some time, they saw the transformation that had happened to these people. Before then, they were called believers and almajiris. They were disciples of Paul.
“Then the people said instead of calling disciples, the transformation we see in them is that they look like Christ, so let’s call them Christians. But before then, many people went to heaven, including the thief on the cross. So, you don’t have to be a Christian to make heaven.”
Damina is well known for attacking the orthodox Christian beliefs in his sermons. He has been known to teach that God did not tell Noah to build an ark, Jesus did not ascend to heaven but disappeared into His disciples, water baptism is not necessary, God cannot destroy, among all others.
His disturbing teachings have made many Christians seem as a heretic.
