False Teaching: This Popular Pastor In Nigeria Says That 'You Are An Irresponsible Person If You Are Still Single At 35'

Jesus christ came into the world not to condemn anyone or to point accusing finger on anyone. He came into the world, being God Almighty, the word of God, He humbled himself to the cross, nailed to the cross and shed his holy and precious blood and died for us all. Not even minding that we were still busy committing sin, He ignored our wickedness and laid down His life for us. 

Romans 5:8 KJV

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Do you also know while jesus was dying on the cross of calvary. He was busy praying for us all that the father should forgive us that we we don't know what we are doing. And on His dying cross many were still healed of their infirmities. 

Can you just imagine such love and mercy He demonstrated for us all? This is exactly the kind of heart that our pastors and all believers in christ should have for each other and for the sinners as well. 

Recently in Nigeria, a well known Pastor by the name David Ibiyeomie from port Harcourt who also happens to be the senior pastor and founder of Salvation Ministries uttered a bomb shell that broke the heart of many of his members and others while preaching he declared, “If you are still single at 35, you are an irresponsible person.” 

It was so annoying that many took to the social media and started condemning his ungodly statement coming out from someone that many sees and are following as a Christian model. 

He also claims that it is not the will of God that anyone should be at that age still remaining single. 

Little wonder that many today claim to be called by God but merely listening to them you wouldn't see any trace of God's calling on them. All they do is to make noise claiming that they are preaching the gospel. 

So, what do we say of those that got married before the age of 35 and they later divorced at that age? Another thing is that, is man the creator of marriage, must one force himself or herself into marriage before age 35 just to prove that he/she is responsible? 

As a preacher of the gospel, you don't utter such words. The commandment from jesus our saviour is to preach the gospel, unfortunately the statement of the pastor is not a gospel. We have heard and even seen believers in christ who loved christ so much that made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the gospel of christ and His kingdom. What of those Christians that let go all they have in this world and spent the rest of their lives preaching the gospel and beyond that age 35 without getting married and they died for the sake of the gospel?

Jesus christ in the Bible even commended those that made themselves eunuchs for the sake of  His kingdom. Paul the apostle in the Bible surrendered all he has to christ even refusing to be married, made himself eunuch and preach the gospel till death. Is paul the apostle also irresponsible? 

Matthew 19:12 KJV

"For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it , let him receive it."

Even in the Bible paul declared this,

1 Corinthians 7:5-8 KJV

" Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. [6] But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. [7] For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. [8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I."

Therefore marriage is not by force. It is good to marry but if one says that he wants to serve God or take his time to seek God's direction in marriage is not a crime even if he/she passes age 35. Marriage is not something you mess around with, it is a lifetime commitment with your partner. Many Christian couples today have so much terrible stories about their marriages just because they never knew what marriage was all about before they jumped into it. The rate at which Christians are divorcing today is also alarming which is not even God's will. 

Therefore if one attain to age 35 and still single does not mean that he is irresponsible or foolish. But we have those who are married before that age and today they are living as cat and rat, and using their partner as punching bags. Then what do we call them? 

Preach the gospel, condemn sin and expose it. Preach against polygamy, adultery, fornication and all sorts of immoralies and infidelity in marriage, speak strongly about holiness and righteousness, this is the true gospel. Stop being a motivational speaker. Their is no marriage in heaven, everything ends here on earth. 

Pastor David Ibiyeomie