VIDEO: Pastor claims God ordered him to receive the paperwork for a piece of land for sale.
A Honduran evangelical pastor sparked controversy on social media after a video was released in which he demands that a parishioner hand over a million-dollar piece of land, arguing that it was a divine order.
The case has sparked outrage, ridicule, and even support from some believers, generating a heated debate about spiritual manipulation and faith.
The protagonist is Jorge Pompa, a pastor from Tegucigalpa, who, in the middle of a religious gathering, asked a believer to hand over the paperwork for a piece of land valued at more than three million lempiras (approximately $130,000).
In the video, Pompa claims that God spoke to him the night before to tell him that he should receive that property:
“God told me, tell him that I gave him life, I gave him his children, and I can give him more than he has now if he gives me that land.”
The pastor even promises a supposed divine reward: "If you hand it over to me, I'll give you $400,000 or $500,000. What do you want, money or God's blessing? I want your papers, and I want the land now."
Reactions of outrage and supportThe pastor's speech generated mixed reactions. On social media, many described the act as an abuse of religious power, accusing him of manipulating faith for material gain. "He's a Bible-wielding con man," wrote one Facebook user.
Others, however, defended Pompa, arguing that spiritual leaders sometimes convey uncomfortable but necessary messages when they come from God. Some faithful even considered it a test of obedience and faith.
For religious ethics experts, the video represents an example of spiritual manipulation. Theologian Juan Carlos Soto opined that leaders should lead with humility and not use the figure of God for material gain.
"The problem isn't faith, but rather how the divine figure is exploited to pressure vulnerable people," he explained.
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