I wish most of our modern, materially-minded pastors were alive when early Christians suffered martyrdom, perhaps they would have been more interested in staying alive than advertising acts of charity, which are unbiblical. In those days when Stephen was stoned to death, when Herod ordered James to be killed with the sword, when Herod had Peter put in prison, or when Paul and Barnabas were expelled from Antioch.

However, in the absence of persecution, some pastors take advantage of the trust and goodwill of their congregation to exploit charitable donations for their gain. In some cases, pastors may also use charity as a means of control over their congregation. By creating a culture of giving, some pastors may use guilt or shame to pressure members into donating more than they can afford. In the Bible, Paul teaches that giving should be done willingly and cheerfully, not out of obligation or compulsion (2Corinthians 9:7).

Pastoral promotion of acts of charity clearly shows that profit-oriented pastors crave magnificent visibility and glorification from fellow human beings, and that means the accumulation of more money from within and outside the church. Pastors abuse charity by using it to enrich themselves rather than help the needy.

In the Bible, Jesus teaches that giving to the poor is a way of showing love and compassion and that those who do so will be rewarded in heaven (Matthew 6:2-4). Some pastors use the donations they receive for personal expenses, such as luxurious cars, private jets, or lavish homes, which contradicts the very purpose of charity. Pastors also abuse charity by creating fake charities or misusing funds donated to legitimate ones. In the Bible, Paul instructs believers to be generous and trustworthy with their giving and to ensure that their donations are used for their intended purpose (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).

“Ultimately, the abuse of charity by pastors is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by their congregations, and a distortion of the teachings of the Bible.”

True charity is about selfless giving to those in need, and not about personal gain or control. Acts of kindness and charity are important in any society and can help to create a sense of social responsibility and civic engagement. However, when politicians and pastors publicize their charitable acts, it can undermine the sincerity of the act and lead to a sense of self-promotion. They are more interested in accumulating treasure for themselves on earth, and
publicizing acts of charity is one of their strategies to accumulate more money.

When they publicize their acts of kindness, it can come across as an attempt to gain favor or to “score points”. This can undermine the sincerity of the act and lead to a sense of skepticism among the public. Also, when politicians and pastors are seen as generous and charitable, it can create a perception that they are somehow owed something in return. This can lead to a sense of entitlement and an expectation that the public should support them in their future endeavors, regardless of their actual qualifications or policies. Although these actions are significant and should be recognized, they should be performed with humility and without the expectation of recognition or reward. Publicizing acts of kindness can foster a sense of self-promotion, competition, duty, and entitlement, undermining the sincerity of the act and leading to public cynicism. Politicians and preachers should instead concentrate on serving their communities and assisting those in need, regardless of whether their actions are publicized or not.

“Publicizing acts of charity means letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Spiritual judgment will be rendered against any pastor who humiliates and degrades brother men and sister women whom they have assisted by publicizing what they did for them. Furthermore, charity should be done in secret, as this is what Jesus taught. In the Bible, Jesus says, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4). This implies that charity should be done as an act of love and compassion rather than for recognition or reward. If pastors choose to publicize their charity work, they should do so genuinely and sincerely that is not demeaning to those being helped and focuses on inspiring others to participate in charitable efforts. They should do so humbly and without pursuing recognition or reward if they keep their charitable activity private. What matters most is that pastors and their congregations continue to be dedicated to charitable acts and helping those in need, whether or not they choose to publicize their efforts.

Congregations must also stay vigilant and hold their pastors accountable for the use of charitable donations, ensuring that they are used for what they were intended for. As Jesus himself said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).