According to Daily Post, In a recent message to his congregation, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the founder of Salvation Ministries, shared his controversial views on poverty and its relation to Christianity.
According to him, Jesus Christ did not align himself with poverty during His time on earth, nor did He associate closely with the poor.
Pastor Ibiyeomie argued that Jesus’s mission was not only to offer salvation through His death and resurrection but also to liberate believers from the grip of poverty.
Speaking to his church members, Pastor Ibiyeomie made strong statements suggesting that Jesus disapproved of poverty.
He explained that throughout the Bible, Jesus never entered the homes of poor individuals. According to Ibiyeomie, this absence of engagement with the poor in their homes reveals Jesus’s stance on poverty.
He stated, “Jesus never visited any poor person in his house, check your Bible. That means he hates poverty. He visited Lazarus, they were not poor, they were giving him food.”
He further supported his view by mentioning other figures from the Bible, such as Zacchaeus.
Despite being labeled a sinner, Zacchaeus was wealthy, yet Jesus chose to visit his home.
Ibiyeomie pointed out, “He visited a sinner, Zacchaeus, who was rich. Tell me one poor man Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty, that’s the meaning.” This, he suggested, illustrates Jesus’s preference for people who were not poor and emphasized his belief that Jesus deliberately avoided associating with poverty on a personal level.
Going further, Pastor Ibiyeomie made a bold claim that Jesus “hates people who are poor,” implying that poverty is contrary to the Christian faith and purpose.
According to him, it is unacceptable for a person to remain in poverty after accepting Christ.
He emphasized that Jesus’s sacrifice was not solely about spiritual salvation but also about breaking material limitations, including poverty.
He insisted that remaining in a state of poverty as a Christian shows a lack of spiritual understanding and growth.
He said, “He died for you not to be poor. How can you now come to church with some kind of mentality?” Ibiyeomie acknowledged that one might initially come to Christ in poverty, but he strongly asserted that remaining in that state is wrong.
In his words, “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.”
The pastor’s remarks stirred discussion, especially due to his direct interpretation of the Bible and the sharp tone used in describing Jesus’s attitude toward poverty.
His perspective suggests that faith in Christ must result in not only spiritual transformation but also economic upliftment.
According to Ibiyeomie, Christians have the responsibility to rise out of poverty as a sign of understanding and embracing the full purpose of Christ’s mission on earth.
