Pastor Abel Damina challenges traditional beliefs about sin, arguing that Adam and Eve's disobedience wasn't about eating fruit but the state of the heart. In his New Year’s Eve sermon, he asserted that smoking and drinking aren't sinful but warned against their consequences, sparking widespread reactions and debates.
Pastor Abel Damina, founder of Abel Damina Ministries and Power City International, has sparked discussions following his New Year’s Eve sermon, where he questioned traditional interpretations of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. Addressing his congregation, Pastor Damina argued that the biblical account does not explicitly confirm that Adam and Eve ate fruit from the forbidden tree.
He said, “Adam and Eve ate nothing. Were you there? Jesus was there. Can Jesus explain to us what happened? Yes.” Referencing Mark 7:18-21, he contended that sin originates from the heart, not from physical actions like eating or drinking.
Expanding on his point, Pastor Damina asserted that smoking and drinking alcohol are not inherently sinful. However, he clarified that these habits could lead to negative consequences, emphasizing the importance of personal discretion. “Am I saying you should smoke or drink? No. But you should understand the repercussions of these choices,” he noted.
Pastor Damina further explained that what defiles a person is not what enters the stomach but what comes from the heart. He concluded, “What makes you a sinner is what you’re thinking, not what you’re eating.”
