"JESUS HATES PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR"
I'm pretty sure Pastor David Ibiyeome didn't mean it like that. No preacher can actually make such a claim about our Lord Jesus. While it's true that rich people bring economic value and power to God's kingdom on the earth, it doesn't mean that Jesus hates people who are poor. It's not possible to hate the very people who were a priority in your purpose.
In Luke 4:18, Jesus Himself said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised". Those were carefully selected words. It's why even till today, the gospel is often easily accepted by poor people, people who are in distress, people who are heart broken, people who are captives, and generally people who are sick or diseased.
Don't get me wrong, the rich also receives the gospel, it's just that it's more appealing to those who have nothing to lose. The rich has something to lose, and that's why it's difficult for them to receive the gospel. Recall how that rich man went away sorrowful when Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor? That kind of challenge is very common among rich people. When you see a rich man receive the gospel, then he's a rich man who has really seen that all he has is nothing when compared to the riches of the kingdom of God. Also recall how Zaccheus was willing to refund all the money he had robbed people of after he received the gospel.
According to Pastor Ibiyeome, Jesus only visited rich people, but it's not because He hated poor people. If there's something more to learn from Jesus's visit to Zaccheus, it's that Jesus uses the resources, connections and influence of the rich in the kingdom to help the poor in the kingdom. After Zaccheus was convicted, he immediately decided to help those who he had impoverished. This was also a practice in the first church, those who were rich sold their lands and brought them to the apostles so that everyone would be comfortable. If this was Jesus's perspective, then He couldn't possibly hate people who are poor.
In Luke chapter 14, Jesus shared a story of a great man who hosted a fiest and invited nobles to attend. To his amazement, all that were invited gave excuses as to why they couldn't attend. The response of the great man would amaze you. Let's read from scriptures:
Luke 14:
21. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Did you notice that the great man specifically requested that the poor be invited? Whether rich or poor, God wants His kingdom to be full. The great man proved that just because he gave priority to nobles didn't mean he hated people who are poor. Jesus had always known that it would be difficult for a rich person to receive the kingdom of God, how then would he hate people who are poor?
Pastor David Ibiyeome is a man of God, and he knows all of these, and that's why I strongly believe that he didn't mean it like that. It's just sad that in the bid to alleviate a poverty mentality from his members, he touched a very sensitive matter. I'm sure he'd make the necessary correction, I just hope that social media would broadcast it the same way it did for this matter.
Please note that this is not me trying to defend Pastor David Ibiyeome. Rather, I'm considering his statement by his track record and credibility.
Finally, dear preachers, let's beware what we broadcast on social media. Your members may understand what you actually mean based on the context of your sermon, but social media doesn't really care.
#thevoiceofthechurch
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