Pastor David Ibiyeomie, the founder of Salvation Ministries, has expressed the belief that Jesus Christ strongly opposed poverty and did not closely associate with impoverished individuals during His time on earth.
In a sermon shared in a video that gained traction online on Sunday, Ibiyeomie told his congregation that, based on biblical accounts, Jesus never entered the home of a poor person. He interpreted this as a clear indication that poverty is not aligned with divine principles.
He went on to explain that Christ’s mission—through His death and resurrection—was not solely about spiritual salvation but also intended to liberate believers from poverty.
According to Ibiyeomie, continuing to live in poverty after embracing Christianity reflects a lack of proper spiritual understanding.
“Look through your Bible—Jesus never entered the house of a poor man,” he said. “That shows He despises poverty. He went to the home of Lazarus, who was not poor and even provided Him with food. He also visited Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector. Can anyone name a poor person whose house Jesus visited? That’s the point—He was against poverty.”
He added, “Christ died not just for your sins, but so you wouldn’t live in lack. You can come to church poor, but you’re not meant to stay that way. There’s nothing wrong with starting out in poverty, but it’s wrong to remain in it.”
