Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries has claimed Jesus never visited poor families in their homes because He hated poverty.
While ministering, Ibiyeomie cited examples of Jesus visiting wealthy individuals like Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and Lazarus, who provided him food.
The Pastor emphasised that Jesus’ death was meant to liberate people from poverty and it’s unacceptable for Christians to remain poor.
While acknowledging that coming to Christ as a poor person is acceptable, he stressed that staying poor is not permitted.
“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. How can you now come to church with some kind of mentality.
“You can come poor, but you’re not permitted to remain poor. 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.