Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries has repeated his earlier statement about Jesus not liking poverty or being around poor people. He first said this during a recent sermon, claiming that Jesus never went into a poor person’s house because He “hated poverty.”
Many people strongly disagreed with this statement, especially on social media and in Christian communities.
However, in a follow-up message, Pastor Ibiyeomie stood by his words. He said the Holy Spirit confirmed to him that what he said was true.
He also added that when a Christian spends time with poor people, it should be just as shocking as spending time with sinners.
His remarks have caused even more debate and concern among believers and the public.
“Some persons called me and said internet was on fire. I wasn’t interested, but out of curiosity, I checked. Then I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me if I’m wrong and I would take the blame.
He was dictating God’s word to me verbatim in the bathroom, he said ‘you’re not wrong, you’re right.’ I said how? he said ‘I became sin for humanity, true?’ I said yes
He said ‘do you like sin’? I said No. He said you can only lead people to Christ, but you cannot be a friend to a sinner. He said if a believer is mixing with sinners, everybody gets angry. So if a believer mixes with the poor, everybody should be angry.
He said ‘I was made poor. so you can be rich. So poverty is not of me.
He said ‘you can help the poor but don’t associate with the poor’. You don’t have money does not mean you’re poor. Poverty is mentality. And he gave me scriptures. He said ‘I paid a price for sin, poverty and sickness’. Why will you reject sin and accept poverty. And those who rejects poverty in line with God’s word, these three things will never be identified with you.”
