Pastor David Ibiyeomie has sparked reactions after arguing that preaching about hell may not be an effective way to win Nigerians to Christianity because many are already enduring severe hardship.
Speaking about evangelism and the kind of message Christians should present when trying to lead people to Christ, the pastor said Nigerians who are struggling with poverty and difficult living conditions may not respond to warnings about further suffering in the afterlife.
According to Ibiyeomie, preaching hell to Nigerians could have little impact because their present realities already feel unbearable.
“You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians. They are already in hell. There’s no way you preach hell to Nigerians and anybody will be born again,” he said.
Rather than focusing primarily on the consequences of sin, the pastor encouraged Christians to emphasise God’s love, hope and the possibility of a transformed life.
“Just tell them God loves you. He can change your story. Then the man says, ‘Eh ehn,’ then you say, ‘Come to Jesus,’” he said.
Ibiyeomie further explained that someone struggling with severe economic hardship may not be frightened by the prospect of hell when their present circumstances already feel like suffering.
“But if you say you go to hell, the man will say, ‘Ah! The suffering, the suffering we are suffering now, what is it? Already the suffering is what?’” he stated.
He concluded that messages centred on hell may therefore fail to convince Nigerians to accept Christianity, urging Christians to communicate the hope and change that faith in Christ can bring.
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