Controversial clergyman says Jesus has not yet returned because Christians are not donating generously enough

RIGHTWING American evangelical clergyman Pastor Jesse Duplantis has blamed modern day Christians for delaying the return of Jesus Christ saying that their refusal to dip their hands into their pockets and donate generously is holding up his coming back.

Known by his followers the Apostle of Joy, controversial Pastor Duplantis has been sharing his memorable mix of strong, biblical preaching and hilarious life lessons every week on television for years. He sees his unique way of ministering and making Jesus real to all generations as a unique selling point that cuts through regular religion.

Stirring up a fresh controversy, Pastor Duplantis, said that if we want Jesus to come back, then apparently we’ll have to dig deep into our pockets. Speaking during a recent four-day, live TV event Victorython, Pastor Duplantis made the bizarre claim that people are not donating to their churches generously enough and this is the reason why Jesus has not yet made a reappearance.

Pastor Duplantis  said: “I honestly believe that the reason why Jesus hasn’t come is because people are not giving the way God told them to give. When you understand this, you can speed up the time.

"Because, you see, he wants to see us as much as we want to see him and so what is hindering all these things is because people are not doing in the financial realm. So I don’t have a problem with giving, I don’t have a problem with receiving. It doesn’t make any difference.”

He further explained why if everyone called the number listed at the bottom of the screen to donate, God the Father would say Jesus, go get em. A clip of Pastor Duplantis’ speech was reshared by Right Wing Watch, an organisation which monitors and exposes the activities of Radical Right political organisations, on Twitter.

Since it was posted, the comments have provoked a lot of reaction and criticism from people. Many of the commentators have describing Pastor Duplantis and his counterparts as con artists out to fleece people.