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 seen by Saturday PUNCH, 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.

Damina also accused Ibiyeomie of deliberately twisting the message of Christ to suit materialistic agendas.

?How can Jesus hate poor people? We know the grace of our Lord Jesus, He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor. He identified with poor people. He became poor that you, through his poverty, may be rich and the rich is not material richness. It is riches of grace, mercy, and his righteousness.?

?Jesus identified with the poor even in his birth. He was born in a manger, in a family of poor parents ? Joseph, the carpenter and Mary. If He hates poor people, he should have come through the house of Bill Gates or through the house of Elon Musk, but He came through an old poor carpenter family,? Damina said.

Also reacting, the Lagos State chairman of CAN, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, dismissed Ibiyeomie?s claim, describing it as an insult to biblical truth.

He labelled the pastor?s sermon as dangerous distortion of Christ?s mission, stating that it is ?loose talk? and ?a misrepresentation of sound biblical teaching that has no place in true Christian doctrine.

Adegbite who spoke with Saturday PUNCH in a telephone interview, warned Christians not to be misled by the teachings of what he called ?fake pastors? who prioritise wealth over truth.

?He (Ibiyeomie) should not be misleading people and he should tell people the truth and nothing but the truth. For us, Jesus is a lover of the poor and he identified with them and that is one of the reasons why He came into the world.

?By their fruits we shall know them. They (pastors) can make anything, they can make billions, that is not Christianity, that is not the faith that we know. The message Jesus wants us to preach is about salvation because that is whole essence of Christ coming,? Adegbite said. (Saturday PUNCH)

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