Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, has triggered a wave of reactions after declaring that Jesus Christ did not associate with the poor and that poverty itself is offensive to God. In a sermon that began circulating widely on social media platforms on Sunday, Ibiyeomie confidently told his congregation that Jesus deliberately avoided the homes of poor people, claiming that scripture supports this stance.
The preacher pointed to biblical accounts to argue that Jesus only entered the homes of people who were financially comfortable. He cited the case of Lazarus and his sisters, whom he described as well-off because they often provided food for Jesus. He also mentioned Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, as another example. According to him, there is no biblical evidence of Jesus visiting a poor man’s home, and he interprets this silence as proof that Jesus disapproved of poverty.
In his own words, Ibiyeomie said, “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 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 people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor.”
He went further to state that Jesus’ death was not only to save souls but also to liberate believers from poverty. According to him, holding on to a poverty mindset after coming to Christ reflects a failure to fully understand the purpose of the gospel. He emphasized that while anyone can come to Christ in a poor state, staying poor after accepting salvation is unacceptable.
“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,” he said, calling on his listeners to reject any mentality that tolerates financial struggle.
The sermon has ignited mixed reactions across various platforms, with critics accusing the pastor of twisting biblical messages and misrepresenting Christ’s mission. While some agree with his focus on prosperity, others say the comments are not only misleading but also harmful to Christians grappling with real economic hardship.
