If your pastor did this

[Salty]

Found this on FB
"He's not the IRS. He's your pastor. And he wants your tax returns on his desk by next Sunday.
A pastor is going viral after a clip surfaced of him telling his congregation to bring their tax returns to church. He said he planned to personally review their income to make sure they were tithing the correct amount. He accused some members of "playing in his face" during offerings and said he was putting a stop to it.
The clip sparked a massive debate online about the role of money in organized religion. Supporters say tithing is a biblical principle and accountability is fair. Critics argue that a pastor demanding financial records crosses a line and has nothing to do with faith.
The pastor's identity and church have not been publicly confirmed."

The post did not name the pastor or church.

So if your pastor did this - what would you do?

 

[Ascetic X]

Found this on FB
"He's not the IRS. He's your pastor. And he wants your tax returns on his desk by next Sunday.
A pastor is going viral after a clip surfaced of him telling his congregation to bring their tax returns to church. He said he planned to personally review their income to make sure they were tithing the correct amount. He accused some members of "playing in his face" during offerings and said he was putting a stop to it.
The clip sparked a massive debate online about the role of money in organized religion. Supporters say tithing is a biblical principle and accountability is fair. Critics argue that a pastor demanding financial records crosses a line and has nothing to do with faith.
The pastor's identity and church have not been publicly confirmed."

The post did not name the pastor or church.

So if your pastor did this - what would you do?

I would find another church to attend. I would also be curious about how church funds were allocated. I would want an inventory of how he spent his time each day on an hourly basis.

I almost joined a convenient, nearby church, just a few blocks from home.

At the new members half hour meeting (not a class), I was told about the church building evolution, then handed an envelope stuffed with tithe envelopes, a checklist of service options (building maintenance, groundskeeping, janitorial, cooking, small group teaching, etc.), and an annual pledge card. No explanation of church doctrines or conduct expectations.

I understand that a donation pledge card can be legally binding. My finances are uncertain currently. I decided they should base expenditures on past giving history, not projected promises. I did not join that church, but I continued attending for a while.

 

[Jerome]

Salty, check out the setup MLK had at Ebenezer Baptist, Atlanta:

A light-up tithes box right in front of his pulpit.
One slot for each side. I'm not sure what would trigger the bulb to light up.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Found this on FB
"He's not the IRS. He's your pastor. And he wants your tax returns on his desk by next Sunday.
A pastor is going viral after a clip surfaced of him telling his congregation to bring their tax returns to church. He said he planned to personally review their income to make sure they were tithing the correct amount. He accused some members of "playing in his face" during offerings and said he was putting a stop to it.
The clip sparked a massive debate online about the role of money in organized religion. Supporters say tithing is a biblical principle and accountability is fair. Critics argue that a pastor demanding financial records crosses a line and has nothing to do with faith.
The pastor's identity and church have not been publicly confirmed."

The post did not name the pastor or church.

So if your pastor did this - what would you do?

I would kindly tell him that my (our) taxes are between myself (and obviously my wife as well) and the IRS.

 

[Ben1445]

I would kindly tell him that my (our) taxes are between myself (and obviously my wife as well) and the IRS.

Is he going to help make the tax payment?

 

[SovereignGrace]

Is he going to help make the tax payment?

I highly doubt that pastor would.

 

[Paleouss]

"He's not the IRS. He's your pastor. And he wants your tax returns on his desk by next Sunday.

...that's what I would do. Laugh...and walk out, never to return. Not that I don't want to give a portion of what is God's to God. Just that my pastor's authority has just been abused.

Peace to all of you

 

[th1bill]

I would move to a Church that understands it is a family of Yehovah God's people.

 

[Reynolds]

Found this on FB
"He's not the IRS. He's your pastor. And he wants your tax returns on his desk by next Sunday.
A pastor is going viral after a clip surfaced of him telling his congregation to bring their tax returns to church. He said he planned to personally review their income to make sure they were tithing the correct amount. He accused some members of "playing in his face" during offerings and said he was putting a stop to it.
The clip sparked a massive debate online about the role of money in organized religion. Supporters say tithing is a biblical principle and accountability is fair. Critics argue that a pastor demanding financial records crosses a line and has nothing to do with faith.
The pastor's identity and church have not been publicly confirmed."

The post did not name the pastor or church.

So if your pastor did this - what would you do?

I'd tell him to go jump in a mud hole.
It's quite common around here in black churches for pastor to require income tax returns.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

I don't think the tithe applies in N.T. churches. 'So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.'
My church has never required any particular level of giving from our congregation, yet God has always supplied our needs.

 

[Salty]

I'd tell him to go jump in a mud hole.
It's quite common around here in black churches for pastor to require income tax returns.

I have never heard of that before

But I did attend a black church once - that took at least 5 offerings - each for a different cause.

 

[Ben1445]

I have never heard of that before

But I did attend a black church once - that took at least 5 offerings - each for a different cause.

I heard about one (I know where it is, I have second hand information) who passed the plate a second time for the first cause because they just needed to dig a little deeper because that was not enough to pay the bills. And yes, it was the kind of situation where the pastor was talking about making the payment for his Cadillac.

 

[Reynolds]

I heard about one (I know where it is, I have second hand information) who passed the plate a second time for the first cause because they just needed to dig a little deeper because that was not enough to pay the bills. And yes, it was the kind of situation where the pastor was talking about making the payment for his Cadillac.

One Sunday night at a church here in town, they locked the doors and wouldn't let anyone leave until the traveling evangelist got the offering amount she demanded.

 

[Ascetic X]

One Sunday night at a church here in town, they locked the doors and wouldn't let anyone leave until the traveling evangelist got the offering amount she demanded.

Reminds me of Paula White Cain recently roaring “I am not laying hands on anyone for healing until you get obedient!” in reference to the Unleashed Conference wanting to get $100,000 in donations that night.

‘I’m Not Going To Lay Hands on People Till You’re Obedient’—Paula White-Cain Presses Attendees To Give $100K During Conference

Paula White-Cain urged attendees of her 2026 Unleashed Conference to be obedient to God by giving a “sacrificial seed.”

churchleaders.com

 

[Reynolds]

This was one of Paula's buddies.

 

[unprofitable]

...that's what I would do. Laugh...and walk out, never to return. Not that I don't want to give a portion of what is God's to God. Just that my pastor's authority has just been abused.

Peace to all of you

How does Matt 18:15-20 figure into your decision to leave?

 

[David Lamb]

I have noticed that several people have said they would immediately leave the church. It occurs to me that it is strange that the pastor could introduce such a radical notion from the pulpit without first bringing it before his fellow elders, and then before the membership at a church meeting. I think if such a thing happened in a church of which I was a member, I would first speak to the other elders about the matter, and then bring it up if necessary at a church meeting. A pastor isn't the church, and he isn't (or shouldn't be) a dictator.

 

[Jerome]

to me that it is strange that the pastor could introduce such a radical notion from the pulpit without first bringing it before his fellow elders

Oh brother. Could be he was just giving an illustration from Acts 4-5.
Remember the Bible way is to lay your offering at the church leaders' feet, and be quizzed about it, were you being deceptive.

 

[David Lamb]

Oh brother. Could be he was just giving an illustration from Acts 4-5.
Remember the Bible way is to lay your offering at the church leaders' feet, and be quizzed about it, were you being deceptive.

Sorry, I certainly wasn't being deceptive. Acts 4-5 certainly describes Ananias and his wife lying and saying that they gave the whole of the proceeds from selling land, when in fact they had kept back part for themselves. Peter says that the sin was in the lying:

(Act 5:3) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
(Act 5:4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

My main point was that the idea of pastor as a dictator of the local church is just not biblical.

 

[Salty]

I'm sure I would talk to the pastor first - then if need be take 2 or 3 others - and if all else fails - take it to a church business meeting!