Should Pastors Live in Multi-Million Dollar Mansions?

JT Sunrise

WOE TO THE PASTOR WHO BUILDS MANSIONS: A PROPHETIC FIRE AGAINST PROSPERITY GOSPEL

✝️ By Rev JTSUNRISE, Celestial Nexus Church

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🏠 The Scandal in Plain Sight

Recently, Texas Bishop I.V. Hilliard’s $15 million mansion compound—complete with banquet halls, multiple kitchens, salons, tennis courts, a 22‑car garage, and six homes labeled as “parsonage”—has gone viral.

It’s not an isolated case. Televangelists like Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes—some owning $10–15 million estates—have quietly built empires on the backs of congregations, often tax‑exempt under the guise of ministry .

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⚖️ Jesus’s Furious Rebuke of Hypocrites

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees… for you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matt 23:13)

Jesus did not collect tithes for real estate empire-building. He knelt by the leper, he fed the poor, he rebuked merchants in the temple, and he warned leaders who “load people with burdens hard to carry.” (Luke 11:46)

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🎭 The Problem of Preaching Prosperity

The “prosperity gospel” claims wealth equals divine blessing. But Scripture declares: • “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Tim 6:10) • And when pastors lord riches over the poor, they echo the lawless priests of Malachi’s rebuke: “You have turned from the way… you have caused many to stumble…” (Mal 2:8–9)  

In contrast, true prophetic ministry sacrifices comfort for service, channeling resources into healing, feeding, and lifting the oppressed.

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🕯️ Prophetic Contrast: Modesty vs. Magnolias

Pastors serving in India’s poorest regions live homeless or in borrowed homes, directing every penny to orphans, widows, and the beaten-down .

Consider Pastor Dewey Moede’s lament:

“When Pastors live in multimillion‑dollar mansions, it’s not a sign of God’s blessing—but our own sinfulness.”

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🔥 A Call to Spiritual Conviction 1. Lawless luxury: When your parsonage rivals royal estates, and you’re tax-exempt, you’ve replaced service with seduction. 2. False altars: You preach about sacrifice while sacrificing the needy on the altar of appearance. 3. Reverse the curse: Jesus said to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger—not fill banquet halls with your own glory (Matt 25).

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💔 Final Reckoning • If your house could hide a small church inside, something is wrong. • If your tax status builds personal empire, you’re profiting from poverty. • If your followers fund your lifestyle while starving, you’re not shepherd—you’re a fleece-er.

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🌱 The Way of True Gospel

Real ministry looks like this: • Kneeling beside the broken, not strutting in marble foyers. • Shrinking your footprint to grow the Kingdom. • Building schools and hospitals, not mansions.

Herbert S. Hiatt

Jesus told the apostles in Mark 14:7 "You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.." .New Living Translation This kind of goes back to Malachi chapters 2 and 3, where the prophet was rebuking THE PRIESTS for not helping the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the stranger in the land. Not only were they robbing God, they robbed the nation of Israel. The Book of Malachi has nothing to do with the New Testament Church and by the prosperity gospel proponents preaching tithing in the New Covenant, they are essentially doing the same thing as the priests in the Book of Malachi. The poor are stolen from by giving their hard earned money to these crooks.

Guy E. Sanders Jr

In Matthew 23, verse 15, Jesus called out the religious leaders of the day (the Pharisees) saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”

He calls down woe upon them because they go out of their way under the pretext of teaching and drawing people closer to God and to their own spirituality, but they are seeking followers for themselves. They were not seeking to inform, to educate, or to elevate the people. They were seeking to elevate themselves, to draw attention to themselves, and to draw followers to themselves. In doing so, they were not bringing them true enlightenment, and they were not making them disciples of anyone other than themselves.

Again, we can read the entire chapter of Matthew 23 and see Jesus boldly addressing the hypocrisy of those who were supposed to be leading the people spiritually, but they were more concerned with their own positions and prominence. He calls them out for their love pf material gain. He chastises them for claiming to revere the prophets and the word but says that they are instead like those who slew those prophets because they did not follow their words and were leading the people astray.

If "Christian" means "Christ-like" or a "follower of Christ", then maybe the example of his modesty, of his ministry to the poor and working class, the fact that he didn't live opulently, and that he repeatedly told his disciples to "Feed my sheep", speaks volumes. Remember the parable of the king who said, Because you did this for the least ones of my people. you did it for me", this example of personal largess seems diametrically opposed to the message he gave about those shepherding the flock.

Daniel Gray

Why should ANYONE who calls themselves a pastor need a multimillion dollar house, or a plane or a yacht or a BMW or a rolex watch or a suit that costs more then a down payment on a car. They are suppose to be paid enough to get by, not to live in luxury as that is not what their oath of office tells them.

Patricia Sydney Solis

I smell a sex scandal… where there’s money and preachers there’s shadow and explosive sex.

Stacey Owens

The people who support these false preachers, teacher, and prophets suffer destruction for the lack of knowledge. They stop having a relationship with God. They became unaware with worship with God and took their worship in worshipping other gospel. This caused them to worship an idol.

The scriptures specifically say, Him (God) only shall you worship. As it is written, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things,"

Rudolph M Garza

Never mind where the pastor lives. Some of the parishioners are worth meeting! A few drinks and hallelujah! Praise the lord. Wait until next Sunday repeat and drink! LOL.

Walter J. Holbrook

I ask what do they do for the people in the church

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

Christian corruption at it's finest.

Delight Phillips

I wonder. Just how many rooms are kept in this gigantic estate for people that, "Need it?" I mean, this isn't a mansion, it's a gigantic, "Complex." It's larger than most shopping centers. I think I would feel a little better about their, "Tax Exempt" statis if they housed some Homeless or used a section of it for Unwed Mothers or ANYTHING for Charity. But, I'm not seeing that! I'm seeing Excessive Godless GREED! You don't think that's Godless Greed? Then, tell me: "What would Jesus do with that property, if it were handed to him?" Would he keep it for a Getaway for Himself and His Buddies or would he use it for a Ministry and House the Faithful and the Needy?

Delight Phillips

I remember a few decades ago, meeting a paster that had a home provided by the church. It was a nice modest 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice brick middle class home, but nothing opulent. He was married and had 2 little boys. He always kept one of the bedrooms, "In case someone needed it." A lot of people in his church frowned on that. This was intended for him, not riff raff off the street. He was asked once, why he opened his house. He answered, "Because there is always someone that is cold or hungry. How could I not? Besides, my wife said it was OK." I had more respect for that man then I've ever had for any TV preacher.

Rev Ned

Remember the camel through the eye of the needle line?

Terrence Monroe Brannon

amazing what 15 million dollars will get you in Texas. Here in SOuth Florida, you would never get that much land and 6 houses... it would probably run 100 million if you could find the space.

Luisa Fernanda Montalvo Arroyave

I remember the Gemstone's tv show... same thing

Richard Thomas Orne

From what I read, apparently this pastor and congregation are on the same page. Having said that, however, my approach is a bit more humble addressing needs on a more one to one basis in a more subdued setting. Is it "wrong"?....not for me to say. Is it "my" way?....no. Gave parishioners whatever is needed

Florencio Guevara

I don't believe so... The reason that they're still alive is because the Devil doesn't want to lose his job!!!

William Clifford

This is obviously very wrong but…..Last time I looked, the Pope had his own COUNTRY, it’s called ‘The Vatican’ and it’s worth a million times what this fellows little pad is. I think the saying about pots and kettles applies here. Peace and love.

Travis Alan Smith

Well if you want to throw 2 of the deadly sins out right off the top, gluttony and pride, then that works make it more fine. Also pretty sure money was deemed to be Satan’s creation, so really he’s just worshipping Satan.

Money by donation or collection was made to help sustain the church and fill its basic needs of operation and support. The extra should be given to charities, hospitals, missions, etc. anything that helps in the mission statement of the church.

I’m sorry but all the ones mentioned in the article aren’t men of God, they are agents of Satan disguised as holy men to make money and get rich without helping the faith at all. Blasphemy and hypocrisy at its finest. And you wonder why the Christian institution is falling apart and losing followers.

Warren Calvin Wall

Tell the Catholics and the Jews that wealth is bad. These prosperity preachers had good teachers and paid attention. Religion is a graft that only governments and corporations exceed.

William Morehead

One more thing. There are no new rules for God's people. And the old rules were fulfilled in the life testimony and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. The point is to make approaching a relationship with Jesus ready available and attainable to a dying world. And yeah that's sloppy grace. And yeah people abuse the hell out of it. But it's still there. The reason so that the ones who respond to Jesus in love and good faith have breathing room to learn and grow. I'll tell you what I imagine Jesus posting here today. "Hookers, Politicians, would be saints. All can come without fear. Sit and reason together with me and I will meet you were you're at for as long as you like. " I can't imagine a word about any rules necessary in that conversation either for relationship to take root.

William Morehead

If we don't condemn pastors for voluntarily living on the streets. Then why should we condemn them for this? I think it's the question itself that is fundamentally off topic. Who cares where the guy lives. How does he reveal Jesus to the lost, poor, hateful, but ever watching world? Personally I'm about 2 weeks from living on the sidewalk myself. so I'm no rich guy. I just think my bible says to let the master judge his own servants and all the servants regardless of circumstance focus on what level of service they provide their master

Donald G Magel

Our President, the chosen one of the christian right, doings god's work on earth, lives in a Florida Hotel-like mansion. He evens sits on a golden bathroom throne and his believers travel there to adore him. He also sells Bibles and Teslers on the grounds of his other house in Washington. So it must be OK in the new rules for god's people.

John Dennis Washington

I think vocational minister's should live commensurate with the salary provided by the church. I am not opposed to reasonable prosperity teaching, which creates a better mindset than teaching God want us poor to be humble and holy. Minister's should stop lying calling palaces a parsonage. If a minister sales books and products, they should profit from the sales and pay taxes like other book and product salesperson. We should find the balance in teaching contributions are seeds with a compound return. The results of that teaching doesn't balance in the sower's favor. It appears the harvester get most of the benefit. My answer to the question, if a minister acquires wealth through other means than preaching then live lavishly. If your only salary is from the church, then live within your salary. Churches should stop buying palaces and calling them palaces.

Joseph SCott Queen

Not going to judge God's servant, it's between them and God. My opinion though, is no. Tithing isn't in the New Testament, a cheerful giver is all it says. Paul was a tent maker, but when there was a gift given he accepted it. It does make one wonder when a preacher is very wealthy and even in their congregation they're poor people struggling.
God knows their heart.

Alejandro Medina de Wit

If people are stupid enough to believe what this charlatan is preachin' and give him their money, more power to him. That's their choice and they deserve to be ripped off their moolah

Rev. Donut

Did the pastor need a 3 bedroom 2 bath, nicely sized parsonage which would be reasonable?

Or, did he need for example, an 19 room, 7 bedroom, 7 bath 8500 sq. foot house with a 6 car garage filled with expensive vehicles to get your wants, needs and desires and feelings explained to the man upstairs?

He can only pee in one room at a time but he can piss away the congregations money non stop.

I say ...go direct and cut out the middle man.

When the house (complex) sells, I'm betting the money will go into an account controlled solely by the "Pastor",

I could be wrong.

Frank Leogrande

I WOULD LIKE THE NAMES OF CHARITIES THAT THESE TELEVAGILISTS HAVE HELPED,BESIDES THEMSELVES

Joseph P Hannigan

That is the church of the poison mind and NO pastors should not live like this! That money should be going to the community, not his pocket. False prophet!

James A. Ridings

Regarding that "camel getting through an eye of the needle" thing, this means only that it is hard, but not impossible, for a rich man (person) to get into Heaven. An "eye of the needle" was simply a narrow gateway in the city wall; a camel usually had to get onto its knees to crawl through the "eye of the needle" into the city to unload the goods on its back. It would be easier for the camel to go through a very tall gate to enter the city; however, the "eye of the needle" was deliberately made small to cause invading armies to have a hard time getting into the city all at once. BOTTOM LINE: rich persons CAN get into heaven, but it might be a little harder for them to do so; if the rich man (person) tithes and obeys the gospel and otherwise tries to follow the teachings of Jesus, then he or she CAN reach Heaven.

Ari Joseph Bertine

I mean...some people will puree a camel, pour it through the eye of a giant novelty needle, and call it good, you know? I doubt these rich pastors are religious in the sense of believing what they preach. They clearly worship money, though.

John Casillo

SELLING TICKETS FOR GOD???

Reverend Bobbie

This goes against all of the teachings of Christ. This is the reason I do not believe in organized religion. People like this live off the money they con out of poor peoples pockets. The poor think they are helping spread the gospel but they are only providing people like this man a lifestyle for the rich and famous. It makes me ill.

Delight Phillips

What Would Jesus Do? My friends, he would not do this. He would take his last penny to help his fellow man. He would not take his fellow man's last penny!

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

Just one more thing brought to us by the hypocritical Patriarchy. When will true believers have enough and stand up to the corrupt church leadership?

Joseph Daniel Millen

Many individuals may know the truth but knowledge is different than our actions related to that knowledge. We must be careful to justify our actions based on a misunderstanding or misapplication of spiritual beliefs. This is often learned by recognizing the plank in our own eye. Jesus did call out the Pharisees for their behavior that was incompatible with their teachings. We don’t know the pastor’s heart but his actions on the surface reflect a self interest beyond ones spiritual and physical health. A wise sage has said “Anything in excess is poison” something for the pastor and any who consider the prosperity gospel a reason to assess their true spiritual growth. We should look to how we handle excess in our lives and whether we use it in away that helps ourselves and others to be healthier spiritually and physically. The pastor should do the same if his desire is to draw closer to Christ and the Devine

Wilberta M. Berry

These churches are big business for profit only. The profit goes to the pastors. Of course the Jesus who feed people to hear his sermon on the mount, would definitely not charge people to hear it today. These mega churches are an affront to setting an example of worshipping God.

Joseph Grieco

If a cave in the Egyptian Desert was good enough for St. Anthony, a 900 square foot, 3BR, 2.5BA should be good enough for any pastor.

Alisha Rodriguez

I think Jesus would tell us to mind our own business. How much money a pastor makes or how big his home in not our business to judge and gossip about. Mother Theresa lived in poverty by choice, I am sure her ministry appreciated the generosity of wealthy ministers. Is there a ULC correspondent who can write an article discussing, "Should ministers who claim to be serving in love and free of judgment be judging minsters who make a boatload of money?" Maybe the real question is how much has he tithed? Maybe the real scuttlebutt should be how much is he tithing? Would it make this all better if we learn he tithes 20% of his income? As a minister maybe I should question what I am doing wrong that I am yet to have such a successful ministry that I too can live like King Solomon.

Steven Ferrell

It is sad to see these pastor who do this. They give all pastors a bad name. Most true Pastors, are there for their flock and live very modest lives. But people see things like this and think all pastors are that way.

Daniel Gray

A simple answer is absolutely not.

Tami Jill Burden

Give your alms in secret and the Lord who sees in secret will reward you openly. This is not what you give to charity. This is how much you surrender to God in your closet, your secret place where you meet God alone without distraction and without other people knowing what takes place between you. God will not give you a $15 home much less a 15 million home until you put your heart into a posture of humility towards God, surrender to Him every day and grow (mature) in faith. He will give you the desire of your heart if you do the work. Letting Him equip you to handle what your asking for and facing the challenges and healing of each level of maturity you attain so that you can receive the thing you ask without it becoming an idol. Remember God's words it is His good pleasure to give you the kingdom. But there can be nothing in the way between you and Him. So the question isn't should we have this, it's will you surrender your life, do His will, and go through the things that He puts you through trusting Him to get it.

Stacey Owens

They suffer in believing in every word because they lack the knowledge of God; (They really don't know Him). The God they serve is the image of things. Their hearts are far from God. They serve the law of the flesh not the law of the spirit of life. The law of the spirit of life is every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live. He didn't say every dollar or merchandise.

James Riggle-Johnson

It is obscene to see how these mega church pastors live compared to their disciples/parishioners. And where in the Bible does this Prosperity Gospel come from? These are con artists. Like many things today, their disciples/parishioners believe every word they are told. They truly believe that their own wealth will increase because they support these millionaires. Any church profiting from its disciples/parishioners should be taxed. I wonder how they will explain this to the God they claim to believe in.

Timothy C Stone

Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow Me.” Matt. 19:21 .... AMP Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” NUF SAID

Stacey Owens

Is this pastor operating in the body of Christ?

This pastor is paid by charging the world to enter into the Kingdom of God in Christ.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

As it has been said in Christ Jesus. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Indeed doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

God's house is not a house of merchandise.

Lori Mongillo

Gathering the gullible!!!! If people are stupid enough to put them into mansions and support it, then yeah, why not. People, in general are ignorant. They will give money to bloated pastors if they think it will get them into heaven. They will fall for just about anything they are fed, if the feeder is convincing. Until people start using their heads and taking a really good look at reality, this kind of thing will continue. The vast majority live in a fantasy world. Is it the con-artists fault? The supporters are not forced to throw away their money. Ignorance is a choice. Pastors and politicians gather the gullible. It's the way of the world.

James k

No we follow God not money

Dylan Tuatha Le Danaan

When the church is gilded, the people are starving. The image of a shepherd and his flock is perfect for this type of pastor, he fleeces them all.

Daniel Todd Kamm

They always did and they continue to do... try a tour of the cathedrals of Europe... amazing what working people did to build those places for their royals and for the religious they hoped held they key to whatever heaven... no different than the pyramids of Egypt....

Why would we think that our modern day media moguls and whores, religious or otherwise, would not have grown rich from people who are stupid enough to worship celebrity... either for salvation, or, simply for the superior effect one might get from disapproving but actually being entranced by and enriching folks like the Kardashians?

Nothing new.

Peace Out tk

Colleen McAllister

This is so wrong. All of my Pastor's have lived in normal homes bought with their own money. Several of them were bi-vocational, having a standard job aside from the church. Most of the wives also worked. All money collected from our congregation goes back into the ministry to pay for expenses such as utilities, property tax, salaries, supplies, and charitable assistance to those in need.

Mega-mansions are not needed by anyone let alone a Christian minister. This is not how Jesus taught us to live.

Minister Tim

I’m not a Christian (thankfully) but yeah, NO. I live in an apartment built back in the 80s (I often forget that was 40yrs ago) and I drive a 24yr old Blazer that uses bungee cords to hold the driver door shut, the gas gauge doesn’t work, and the A/C needs charging. I have $28 to make it to my next disability payment on the 21st. But other than battling the current regime, I’m quite happy. Of course much of that happiness I owe to my cats. Who needs a mansion when a loving soul covered in fur snuggles up and purrs.

Miguel Anthony Richard Denyer

If the "pastors" purchased their homes with their own money, that they didn't acquire by "Fleecing" their "Flock" (pun intended) then why does it matter where they live?

David Cuevas

I mean you can still live Modestly and Humbly in a Penthouse Apartment Complex or a Farm like Home, but this is ridiculous.

Is this gentleman a Polyamory Pastor ? Does he have 6 Wives and 14 children that I can understand. Is he doing a Service for Children and Teens and Housing them in a Program, that I can understand or is his entire extended family members living there instead of being a Polyamory Pastor that I can understand but this is ridiculous.

I live in a Basement Apartment in a 3 Family Home.

Bishop William Dusenberry, DD

‘There’s no business, like religious business, of any of the big businesses I know” — besides the initial cost of the building and lot — there’s little or no cost to buy what is then sold — salvation, then eternity being with some sort of deity, All made up, hook, line and sinker.

Unless any church can prove the existence of a Heaven, they should be charged with fraud - if they are unable to prove the existence of a Heaven; and the ministers who are now fleecing their flocks, should pay the same percentage of their fleeing of their flocks, as every other “fleecer of flocks.” PS. There’s no such thing as a sin, for which one is suckered into believing they deserve to be punished, either, nor is there any Hell below us, only neutrons and protons for which none of us need to be concerned.

Rev. Dr. Dennis Chevalier, Ph.D.

As a minister a priest and pastor we lead by example we do not deserve to live in a shack however excessive consumption tells the world and more importantly your flock that it's okay to abuse and that's never okay

James Mounts

It is easy to blame the pastors. What about all the idiots who think they can buy their way into heaven by donating to the pastors. "As you sow, so shall you reap"

Alexander Clarke

Big churches are big business. No surprise here. Churches should be taxed like the big for profit businesses' they are.

Nicholas J Page

Absolute NO ministers should not live beyond their means that is atrocious to even consider it.

Rev. BH

Sure. Just like Jesus, Abraham and Muhammad did.

Reverend Paula Copp

I’m sure that those “preachers” will have a special place in hell for taking advantage of their poverty level parishioners. The grift is disgusting!

Echo

Just no. We aren't supposed to be in this for profit.