Pastor Ronald, kung may malaking kita at pledges sa personal account ng pastor nang walang transparency, corruption ba ito?

Question:

“Kung ang head pastor ay kumikita ng malaki mula sa ‘tithes of the tithes’ ng 100 outreach churches, at may mga pledges pa na dumadaan sa personal account niya nang walang transparency, maituturing ba itong corruption sa church?”

Answer:

Brother, salamat sa sobrang honest na tanong. And let me be real with you hindi lahat ng sistema ng church finance ay masama, pero yung pinakita mong scenario? Kung ganyan ang setup, malakas ang amoy ng corruption, abuse, and spiritual exploitation. Let’s walk through it point by point, para walang kalituhan.

1. “Tithes of the Tithes” System — Corruption or Just Administration?

May ilang denominational structures na may legit na “tithe of the tithe,” pero:

• transparent sila

• audited ang funds

• hindi dumidiretso sa bulsa ng founder

• may governing board, hindi one-man rule

• may documented ministry expenses

Pero sa kwento mo: The problem is NOT the system… The problem is the abusive, unchecked, personality-centered structure.  

Red Flags na obvious na OBVIOUS:

• One-man control of millions monthly. Walang accountability. Walang independent audit. That alone is dangerous.
• The founder automatically receives 10% of all national tithes. Bro, let’s be real, that is not biblical stewardship. That is a religious franchise.
• Network churches built by the hard labor of pastors… pero ang “mother church” ang kumikita

Kung walang financial support galing sa main church, bakit sila kumukuha ng 10%? That is spiritualized exploitation. Ministry ang label, pero panganib ang laman. In short? Yes, this is corruption disguised as “church structure.” Kung sa corporate world mangyari ’to, SEC at BIR na ang kakalampag diyan.

2. Pledges From Abroad Sent to the Pastor’s PERSONAL ACCOUNT

Brother… this is no longer a gray area. This is bright red. Like, stop-the-car red. Money for “the church” but sent to the private bank account of the founder?

Tapos:

• walang transparency

• walang proper reporting

• walang documentation

• walang board oversight

• walang designated treasurer

• walang finance report sa members

That is textbook fund misappropriation and financial misconduct. Kung sa nonprofit organization ito nangyari, ito ay grounds for investigation, removal, and possible legal action. And spiritually? This is the sin of Eli’s sons abusing the offerings of God’s people (1 Sam. 2:12–17).

3. “Pero Pastor, hindi ba blessing niya ’yun? Reward?”

Blessing is different from self-appointment. Reward is different from manipulation. Kung millions ang pumapasok monthly tapos wala man lang:

• church board minutes

• public financial reports

• independent audit

• shared decision-making

…then this is not a blessing, it’s business posing as church. Pastors deserve honor. But no pastor deserves absolute financial control. Even the apostle Paul refused money that would cause suspicion (2 Cor. 8:20–21).

4. “Corrupt ba ’yun?”

Plain answer? Yes, kung totoo ang scenario mo, that system is corrupt. Biblically. Morally. Ethically. Spiritually. And here's the deeper issue: Hindi lang pera ang ninanakaw. Pati tiwala. Pati pangalan ng Diyos. Pati kaluluwa ng tao. When spiritual authority is used to enrich oneself while pastors struggle and members sacrifice, that's not ministry anymore. That is religious capitalism dressed in Bible verses.

5. What Should Believers Do?

Hindi ko sinasabing magrebelde o manira. Pero dapat:

• magtanong

• magsuri

• humingi ng transparency

• mag-demand ng proper accounting

• mag-report sa board or denomination

• lumayo kung kailangan

Remember: God is not honored by covering sin. Paul rebuked Peter publicly (Gal. 2:14). Paul commanded churches to discipline abusive leaders (1 Tim. 5:20). Jesus confronted temple corruption directly (Matt. 21:12). Hindi rebellion ang paglaban sa katiwalian. Ito ay pagiging tapat kay Cristo.

Final Word (Real Talk)

If a church structure:

• enriches one man

• hides financial flows

• weaponizes loyalty

• suppresses accountability

• demands money upward but gives no support downward

…then it’s not the kingdom of God. It is a religious empire. And God never blesses an empire built on the backs of His people.

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Former Adventists Philippines

“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

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