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Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries has doubled down on his recent controversial remarks, insisting that Jesus detested poverty and deliberately avoided associating with poor people during His time on earth.
The cleric first stirred backlash after stating in a sermon that Jesus “never entered the home of a poor person” because He “hated poverty.”
The comment triggered widespread criticism on social media and within religious circles, with many accusing the pastor of misrepresenting biblical teachings.
However, in a follow-up sermon, Ibiyeomie stood by his position, claiming the Holy Spirit personally affirmed the accuracy of his statement.
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“Some persons called me and said the internet was on fire. I wasn’t interested, but out of curiosity, I checked,” he said. “Then I asked the Holy Spirit to tell me if I was wrong and I would take the blame. He was dictating God’s word to me verbatim in the bathroom.”
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According to Ibiyeomie, the Holy Spirit told him that just as believers should not befriend sinners, they should also avoid close association with the poor. “He said, ‘I became sin for humanity. Do you like sin?’ I said no. He said, ’You can lead people to Christ, but you cannot be a friend to a sinner. So if a believer is mixing with sinners, everyone gets angry. In the same way, if a believer mixes with the poor, people should be angry,’” the pastor claimed.
He further argued that poverty is not simply a lack of money but a mindset, asserting that Jesus paid the price not just for sin and sickness, but also for poverty. “Why will you reject sin and accept poverty?” he asked. “You can help the poor but don’t associate with them.”
The remarks have continued to fuel debate, with critics accusing the pastor of promoting a distorted version of prosperity theology.
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