A recent sermon by Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, has ignited intense debate across Nigeria’s religious and social landscape after the prominent televangelist suggested that Jesus Christ actively avoided poor people during His ministry on earth.
Speaking during a Sunday service, Pastor Ibiyeomie argued that poverty is not only undesirable but fundamentally incompatible with the Christian faith.
According to him, Jesus’ teachings were not solely about spiritual redemption but also about delivering believers from financial hardship.
“Jesus never visited any poor person in his house; check your Bible,” Ibiyeomie told his congregation. “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.”
The comments have since gone viral, drawing a mix of support and criticism. Some followers applauded the message as empowering, aligning with prosperity gospel teachings that link faithfulness to material success.
Others, however, accused the preacher of misrepresenting scripture and ignoring Jesus’ deep engagement with the marginalized and oppressed.
“He hates people who are poor. He died for you not to be poor,” the pastor added. “You can come poor but you’re not permitted to remain poor.”
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Social media platforms lit up with reactions, with some users sharing verses where Jesus ministered to the poor, fed the hungry, and lived modestly Himself.
Critics argue that Jesus’ message centered on humility, generosity, and justice—not wealth accumulation.
Religious scholars have also weighed in, with some warning against interpreting the Bible through a purely material lens.
“There is a danger in equating godliness with riches,” one theologian told a local news outlet. “While Jesus uplifted people from suffering, His mission was not to promote wealth but to restore spiritual and social dignity.”
Pastor Ibiyeomie is no stranger to bold and controversial statements, but this latest claim has reopened broader conversations about the intersection of faith, wealth, and responsibility within Nigerian Christianity—where prosperity gospel continues to wield significant influence.
As reactions continue to pour in, the sermon has not only stirred theological reflection but also reignited long-standing debates about the role of the church in addressing poverty.