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Port Harcourt, Nigeria – A sermon delivered by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the founder and presiding pastor of Salvation Ministries, has triggered a wave of reactions online after he asserted that Jesus Christ harbored a strong dislike for poverty and did not associate with poor individuals during his earthly ministry.
In a video clip that went viral on Monday, shared by a fan page on TikTok, the 62-year-old Pentecostal pastor told his congregation that a Christian’s poverty after coming to Christ is unacceptable. “If I tell you something, it’ll baffle you; Jesus never visited any poor person in his house; check your bible. That means he hates poverty,” Pastor Ibiyeomie declared during his sermon, which is broadcast internationally through the ‘Hour of Salvation’ program.
He elaborated on his interpretation, stating, “He visited Lazarus; they were not poor but were giving him food. He visited a sinner, Zacchaeus, who was rich. Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty; that’s the meaning. He hates poor people. He died for you not to be poor. How can you now come to church with some mentality? You can come poor, but you’re not permitted to remain poor. There’s nothing wrong with you coming to Christ as a poor man, but it’s wrong for you to remain poor. It is wrong.”
These pronouncements quickly drew sharp criticism and dissenting opinions from numerous netizens who countered his interpretations with alternative biblical verses.
One user, @Arugboboisi_Sam, quoted Matthew 19:23, which states Jesus’ teaching that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, labeling Ibiyeomie’s statement as “Beautiful Nonsense! Contrary to Lord’s teaching.”
Another commenter, @uchenna_ubochi, questioned Ibiyeomie’s assertion that Jesus “hates” poverty, referencing Matthew 19:16-26, which includes the saying about a camel passing through the eye of a needle being easier than a rich man entering the kingdom of God.
The pastor’s statement also led to broader criticisms of the prosperity gospel often preached in some Nigerian churches. User @Bobbydbobo accused some pastors of twisting the Bible to drive home discussions of prosperity for their own gain, referencing the same verse in Matthew.
Others urged a more personal understanding of the Bible, with @captain_xplora suggesting that many pastors make inferences not explicitly written in scripture, potentially based on personal emotions or biases.
The strong reactions ranged from disbelief and anger, with users like @AtarodoScotch calling the statement “mad,” to those questioning the biblical basis of Ibiyeomie’s claims, such as @VivienVivicoko, who asked about Jesus’ interactions with Lazarus (often depicted as poor before his resurrection) and Peter’s mother-in-law.
It is worth noting that Pastor Ibiyeomie recently made headlines for a contrasting act of generosity, gifting a house to a former mechanic who now serves as a messenger in his church, highlighting the complex and often debated relationship between wealth, poverty, and faith within Christian teachings. The latest controversy surrounding his sermon is likely to fuel further discussions on these sensitive topics within Nigeria’s large Christian community.
