Founder and Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, David Ibiyeomie, has explained why Christians may struggle to win Nigerians to Christ if they focus on preaching about hell rather than the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
Ibiyeomie said many Nigerians were already dealing with severe economic hardship, making messages centred on the consequences of hell less effective in evangelism.
He stated this on Sunday while delivering a sermon titled, “The Power of Compassion”.
According to him, Christians should approach people facing hardship with compassion and assure them that God loves them and can change their circumstances.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians; they are already in hell. There is no way you will preach hell to Nigerians, and anybody will be born again.
“Just tell them God loves you; He can change your story. Come to Jesus. But if you say, ‘You’ll go to hell,’ the man will say, ‘The suffering wey I dey suffer now, na wetin e be?’
“That kind of message can’t convert one soul. You go there and say, ‘If you don’t convert to Jesus, you are going to hell.’ The man will say he has not even seen food to eat, he has not bought petrol; already, he is in hell.”
Ibiyeomie said Christians should instead communicate the love of Christ to people regardless of their circumstances and assure them of God’s mercy.
“Compassion will make you tell them Jesus loves you. In spite of what you’re going through, He will show you His mercy. Compassion is the greatest tool that brings people to Christ. It is from your heart,” he said.
The pastor said God himself is compassionate and urged Christians to demonstrate the same quality in their dealings with others.
Citing Psalm 103:8, he said, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.”
He added that God does not treat people according to their past mistakes and failures, stressing that those who have experienced God’s compassion should extend it to others.
Citing Ephesians 4:32, Ibiyeomie said, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
He described compassion as one of the strongest expressions of God’s nature, stressing that it goes beyond merely feeling sorry for another person.
According to him, compassion involves three things: seeing a person’s situation, caring about it, and taking action.
Ibiyeomie also said caring for people should not be limited to financial assistance, noting that Christians could use their faith and other means to help people in need.
Citing Acts 3:6, he said helping others could also involve exercising one’s faith on their behalf, stressing that while financial support may sometimes be necessary, true compassion goes beyond money.
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