Does tithing do more good than giving to charity?
One pastor seems to think so, and he's catching some backlash for it.
Keion Henderson is the lead pastor, founder, and CEO at Lighthouse Church & Ministries in Houston, Texas, a megachurch with multiple Texas campuses. Recently, a sermon in which he seemingly encourages congregants to tithe to his church instead of giving to the poor began recirculating online – sparking outrage amongst secular and Christian communities alike.
All About the Benjamins
“Let me tell you something: the poor will be with you always, and there is no blessing connected to blessing the poor other than getting back what you gave to them, but no multiplication," said Pastor Henderson to his congregants in a recently resurfaced 2023 sermon entitled ‘It’s All About the Benjamins’. "Multiplication is segregated for tithes and offering. When you give to the poor, the only thing you do is help them, but you don't help yourself."
"So when you give a dollar to somebody on the street talking about 'I did my job, God.' Like thank you, but it ain't going to help you," explained Henderson. "Read your Bible. Charity does not bring wealth. Only the tithe does that."
The Backlash Begins
The clip went viral on social media, prompting backlash from all corners of the internet against what many perceived as overt greed on the part of Pastor Henderson.
Some encouraged their fellow worshipers to be more thoughtful about who they choose to follow.
Others expressed empathy for the congregation he leads.
Praying or Preying?
Pastor Henderson is hardly the first faith leader to face pushback for dangling the collection plate in front of congregants. In fact, so-called "prosperity preachers" have a long history of public criticism for encouraging congregants to tithe instead of giving charitably. Some of these controversy-courting pastors have even been indicted for defrauding their flock.
One popular Instagram account, @preachersnsneakers, has spent years cataloging the often extravagant outfits and footwear of popular church leaders – leaving followers to reach their own conclusions about where, exactly, all those church donations are going.
The account even once featured Keion Henderson, highlighting his own $600 pair of designer shoes.
They say the Lord works in mysterious ways, but does the pastor's argument hold water? Is it really better to give to the church than the poor, or could there be ulterior motives at stake here?
30 comments
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Paul Johnson
Man wanting to be like God. Control freaks everywhere led by their father the Devil. Lk 6:34-38 and don't forget the rich young ruler he wanted to know what he had to do and Jesus never sees are mention him again. So I guess I’ll have trust in the word and follow Jesus no mater what the circumstance is before me.
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David Arthur Lewis
The Moneychangers have taken over the Temple. Where's Jesus when you need him?
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Paul Johnson
I think the whole world in a frenzie at trying to find fault with one another. But my question would be: What building did Christ tell us to build and who did He say to give too. Ithink the Devil has from the beginning when he was called the Serpent how he tricked Adam and Eve into thinking that they could take Gods place and if I didn't know better he hasn't changed his operation not one iota. We take from the poor instead of giving to the poor. We build big buildings and hang a sign in front to seperate it from the other denominations trying to trick man into believing that this place has the answer. If you dig deep enough you find that they have the answer and it is to follow the devil with hate, bitterness, anger, fear, selfishness which leads to PRIDE still trying to take the place of God. How many of us would are will follow the words that Jesus told the young rich ruler Go Sell what you have and give it To The POOR then come follow Me. Don't shout me down with all of those Amens, because you know what i have said is the truth if you will read the Word. Yes He said give and it will be given unto you (lk 6:38)however I think we forget (Lk6:34-37) we are to love your enemies and do good and to lend hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Judge not,and you shall not be judged:condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven. This came just before Lk 6:38.
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Stacey Owens
He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit: (The Kingdom of God).
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
This explains why all of these megachurches haven't reached to help any of the victims of the recent natural disasters. All their billions and they're nothing more the the so called preachers that used to hold Tent Revivals, in order to scam money from the poor, uneducated and desperate.
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Merlin
Reminds me of the Republican candidate for President.
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Nicholas J Page
Greed that's all it is anyone who gives to him is deluded.its funny how he dresses in designer clothing not in any thing else he's like our English Government rob the poor and the pensioners and give to the rich.How come he's still a pastor?
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Colleen McAllister
I believe in tithing to the church first. ( After all I have seen the utility bills and know that we also send support to other ministries). I also believe in giving directly to the poor or other charities. That all counts in God's eyes as giving to Him. My own pastor gives tithe.
This mega-church person needs to repent and start reading his Bible.
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Reverend Paula Copp
Didn’t Jesus kick the money changers out of the Synagog for less?
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Lionheart
Was he real?
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Rev. BH
C'mon Lionheart, Jesus as a historically existing man is a proven fact, just like a zillion other biblical figures and names. The problematic part is about his heavenly nature and superpowers. Let's doubt that without doubting his existence. Getting old, amigo.
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Lionheart
I know it’s getting old, Sir. I just have a desire to encourage others to probe their thought structure rather than just accept what they have been told.
https://www.history.com/news/was-jesus-real-historical-evidence
Thank you for your comment. 🤗
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Rev. BH
Proverbs 19:17 - "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Not he who is generous to Joel Osteen, Keion Henderson, the Pope or the King. These earthly men will not repay the generous.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Sorry "When you remember" not f you remember... that's a whole other thing, eh? tk
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Daniel Todd Kamm
It will soon be Yom Kippur... at sundown. If you fast, have a good fast. And if you celebrate in your own way have a good celebration. f you remember those who have passed, remember the joys not the sorrows.
Reb tk
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Daniel Todd Kamm
There are counties in the world that institute a church tax to belong to a church, especially a state sanctioned church. We are way to naive and superstitious here in the USA to approach that cure for charlatanism. But if the law doesn't intervene and or separation of church and state does not work for those who overstep their bounds..well taxes and a higher level of accountability will. It has nothing to do with religious beliefs or practice. These things are an abuse and perversion of religion.
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Daniel Todd Kamm
Tax them: individually and their religious institutions. And make them apply for waivers based on what charitable work they actually do versus these rip offs and the ones endorsing politicians they claim not to endorse. Make them file and justify their monies like the rest of us and see how it measures up. It won't. That is the only thing that will put a stop to it. And the only thing aside from taxing the rich and the corporations that will level the playing field for the people they abuse. Freedom to exercise one's personal religious beliefs has nothing to do with supporting fraud. Peace tk
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Theresa C. Marquess
Religious institutions have become big moneymakers. The only help that they are providing is to put designer clothes on the backs of phony preachers, steak on their plates, and house them in bigger and better houses...building fancy 'churches,' aiming for television ministries with big bucks rolling in. Jesus and his disciples were humble people, giving and sharing everything that they had. Organized religion is not for everyone...not for me.
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Russel A. Kester
It is better to give to the church than to the poor for several reasons. First, giving to the poor directly relieves pressure on the government whose responsibility it is to care for the poor in our society. We pay tax dollars to accomplish this end. Second, we don't now the circumstances of that person's life and if we are actually contributing to their vices or worse. And thirdly, once you start giving to someone they expect you to continue giving and can become violent if you decide not to give to them the next time they ask. After having properly supported your local church, then you may give to other charities if you so wish.
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Rev. BH
Lionheart, et.al. Religious institutions may be a scam, but most all religions have something to offer. Check this out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule#/media/File:The_Golden_Rule_in_multiple_religions.svg. I especially like the Judaism version. Simple. Keion Henderson is a prime example of an institutionalized scammer. Evil,
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Lionheart
Yes, thank you, but do we really need an institution created by men, under the pretense that it’s from a deity, to tell us we need to be kind and loving?
Dumbledore, another mythical character, had some wonderful sayings.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
Nobody in the history of religion has ever created a mega-church by caring about poor people. In fact the presence of a mega-church, a church with multiple 'campuses' is not a church that looks out for the poor, homeless or hungry.
Those churches function to simply get bigger and bigger, take in more and more money and let the 'preacher' live a rich and luxurious lifestyle. It's all about the prosperity bibble.
Nobody is forced to walk into those churches but when they do, they do it as sheep, the preacher is the shepherd and his/her job is to sheer the sheep.
Sheep gonna sheep and shepherds gonna shear.
It all seems perfectly legit. He's just saying out loud what everybody knows and thinks: give money to the church instead of the poor
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Robert Gagnon
Just to look searched this guy for other news. Found back in October a hurricane wrecked one of the campuses buildings. He asked every congregant to donate 2100.00 to build a larger better building with more parking. And to donate it within 3 weeks. Cost 4 million. Now he is reported to be worth 8 million, and wife (once married to Shaq) is worth 35 mil. Somehow he plans not to contribute out of pocket.
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Robert Gagnon
If he's out feeding the poor and running a soup kitchen or shelter, then sure it may be a more effective use of money that may go directly to the poor. But he don't look or sound like that kind of a preacher.
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Lionheart
Religious institutions are a scam, and not just for money, and amazingly people fall for it. 🤷
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John P Maher
Mr. HUNT, I AGREE 100 %, ONLY HOW DO MOST PEOPLE BECOME SO GULLIBILE YOUR LIFES BELIEFS and DIRECTIONS SHOULD BE TAUGHT AT HOME, SCHOOLS ARE FOR CURICULUM NOT RELIGION and IF YOU OR ANY FAMILY BELIEVES NOT, THEN YOU MAKE YOU FAMILY FOLLOWERS and NOT LEADERS, BLIND SHEEP WHO WILL PAY AND FOLLOW GRIFTERS AS THIS CREEP and HELLO THE TRAITOR D.J. tRUMP !
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Rebecca L Tice
How about this....
We give them Bibles, in a translation that suits our needs. It's got lots of thees and thous so it looks like the real thing.
Then we tell them they are the flock. It puts them in the subservent role.
Then we tell them only the priest knows how to read and interpret the Bible.
Then we tell them the priest [or the preacher] always knows best.
I've been a Southern Baptist for over 50 years. I've seen it happen. I know the pattern.
Yep.... false prophets... don't get the rugs dirty and we don't do food bank here.... move along flock... move along.
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Gene Ray Jones
Hi this is Rev.Gene that is not the way GOD what us ministers, pastors to behave. He what us to help others. Not to make money from others.
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Michael Hunt
Prosperity preachers are a leach on our society and the worst religion has to offer. Their message of "give me your money so you can reach God" is for the sole purpose of enriching themselves at the expense of their congregation and community.
Very Interesting!