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Owning a Church is Big Business

Updated on September 26, 2021

Big Time Preachers Getting Big Time Money

As we watch T.D. Jakes, Joel Olsteen, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn to name a few are living luxurious life styles off the tithes that their congregations are giving them. If one of them has a congregation of 300,000 and if out of those 300,000 give only a dollar, they are collecting tax free money to the tune of over a million dollars a month. While interviewing with Oprah, Joel Olsteen claims his books that he has written, has paid for his lavish home he lives in.

When Creflo Dollar was faced with questions from an evening program of what he is doing with his money, he refused to answer and became angered. Godly men do not get angry do they?

When the show about the rich ministers made it's debut on television, I was not impressed with their life styles off their congregations earnings. Not only were they having children out of wed lock but were also supporting their mistresses.

My grand father was a minister and he never took up a collection. He left a basket in the back of the church and those that felt compelled to give, gave. My grand father did not live a rich life style. As a matter of fact he and his wife shared and apartment in the low income projects and he was a great example of a holy man. My uncle also was a minister and did not take up a collection but just like his father he was a holy man and never went without anything. My uncle worked during the week to support his family as so should they.


Preachers and Their Mansions

What the Bible Says About Tithing

Old Testament ( taken from the Christian Bible Reference)

"Tithe" means a tenth or 10 percent. The Old Testament law required that a tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle be given to support the Levites (the priestly class in ancient Israel). In turn, the Levites were to give a tenth of that for support of the high priest (Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21-28).

In addition, everyone was to be generous with those in need: If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. (NIV, Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

The New Testament does not give any specific rules about tithing, and most aspects of the Old Testament Law do not apply to Christians.

However, Jesus made it clear that we are obligated to be generous to those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. (NIV, Matthew 5:42)

It does not mean give all your money to the church. It means help those in need. We are not required by God to keep our preachers in million dollar homes and if that is what they do with the money then why are they not giving back to the needy.

Rather than give a certain amount as an obligation, Christians are urged to share generously of whatever talents, abilities and wealth God has entrusted to them: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. ( NIV, Romans 12:6-8)

There is nothing in the Bible saying we should give a certain amount or a certain percentage to a church.

While these people and yes they are people are running a billion dollar tax free business every year, creating schools in the churches and charging for your child to attend, they are giving nothing or doing anything to help the homeless, help the hungry and I guarantee if you walked in their church doors and needed something really bad, their answer would be we will pray for you.

Well now if T.D. Jakes has more 600 dollar suits then I have clothes, something is wrong with that picture. My grand father wore the same black suit every Sunday for as long as I can remember. He didn't live wealthy and he helped the less fortunate. When in fact the bible says come as your are. You are not going to heaven for flashing your bling.


TD Jakes big congregation

Fill the Church While Lining Their Pockets

While I truly believe that when this ministers and other men of God went to school seeking to preach the word, their pockets were empty and they were on fire for God, however that fire turned in to greed.

I am not saying they can't preach a good sermon because I would be lying, but their wealth I question and their inability to give back to their communities. Of course they would love for you to believe that they are doing good in the community, but where is the proof. These men and women of God are having affairs, sleeping with prostitutes, keeping their mistresses and baby mama's hushed with money until 20 years later when they retire the truth comes out on 20/20.

They can sing, yell, clap, run up and down the isles, lay hands on people and make them fall out but is this really what God wants them to do? Is he happy with their Sunday performance when the rest of the week they have their backs turned towards him.

The yachts', planes, limo's that they arrive to church in are paid for by you. The same people who's kids go without because you have to pay the church. The same people that your electric will be shut off this week so that you can make their pockets deeper.

Well God might strike me dead for creating this hub but I think he is more concerned about the truth then anything I would right negatively about his men and women of God.

Creflo Dollars beach home

Not home his beach home
Not home his beach home

Let them explain why

This video will tell you why they think it's right to collect all your money and fill their pockets up. Is it right? You decide.

Bishop I.V. Hilliard's Compound

Supporting Their Rich Lifestyles

How do you feel about your minister living a wealthy life, while you and your family suffer. Should we really be giving 10% of our earnings to keep their tax free show going?

Would you give 10% of your pay to a homeless shelter? Probably not. But the bible says give to the less fortunate. These men and women are not less fortunate. If I wrote to them and asked them to pay off my student loans because I can't get a job with my degrees and I am living in poverty, well not really, but you feel me, do you think I would get a check in the mail in a week or two? No! I would get a letter that will say "We will pray for you". Well who is we? Your faithful tithing followers or you? Will you even bring it up at your next service? Probably not because your staff will answer the letter and you will never have seen it.

Hop a ride to church

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Final Thoughts

Do these so called men of God deserve to live like Kings, when 90% of their congregations is somehow forced to believe that God wants them to be rich?

Why shouldn't they pay taxes? Why should we support their lavish lifestyles for 30 minutes of work on Sunday morning?

This is the very reason I quit going to church because I have given to the less fortunate and used my God given talents to help the next person. He doesn't expect me to give money I don't have to some millionaire to keep his yatch filled with fuel so he can take his mistress for a ride after he has told you how much you have sinned and how you need to ask for forgiveness. Do they ever ask for forgiveness for their greed I wonder? Are they really going to heaven because they preach the word, but yet are lying about what the bible truly says.

Not All of Them are Alike

I am not claiming that all ministers are living for greed because there surely are Godly men and women out there preaching the gospel according to God's word. They live like everyone else and some of them work also to provide for their families. These are not the people I am talking about.

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