The Christian Association of Nigeria and popular Nigerian cleric, Pastor Abel Damina, have criticised the founder of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, over his sermon that Jesus Christ hates poverty and never associated with the poor during His time on earth.
Ibiyeomie, in a viral video on social media, was seen telling his congregation that Jesus never visited any poor person’s home, which he interpreted as a sign of divine disapproval of poverty.
He further stated that Christ’s death and resurrection were not only to bring salvation but also to free believers from poverty.
He argued that remaining in poverty after coming to Christ reflected a lack of spiritual understanding.
“Jesus never visited any poor person in his house, that means He hates poverty. Check your Bible, He visited Lazarus, they were not poor, they were giving him food. He visited a sinner called Zacchaeus who was rich, tell me one poor man that Jesus entered his house. He hates poverty, that is the meaning.
“He (Jesus) hates people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor, so how can you now come into church having that kind of mentality. You can become poor, but you are not permitted to remain poor. Nothing is wrong with you coming to Christ as a poor man, but it is wrong for you to remain poor,” Ibiyeomie told the congregation.
Reacting to the sermon, the founder of Power City International Ministry, Damina, in a video, mocked Ibiyeomie’s interpretation, calling it a distortion of biblical truth.
Damina, who is also known for making controversial statements, described Ibiyeomie as a “prosperity monger and money lover.”
He called on Ibiyeomie to stop “insulting the sensibilities of the scripture” and misleading his congregation.
