Megachurch Pastor Keion Henderson recently drew backlash from pastors and Christians over a resurfaced clip from one of his 2023 sermons where he told congregants that they receive “wealth” or blessing from God by giving to the poor but only when they tithe to church. In the sermon, titled “It’s All About The Benjamins,” Henderson, the founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Church & Ministries in Houston, Texas, said he finds it problematic that the church donates to someone whenever they are in need.
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,” Henderson said.”Multiplication is segregated for tithes and offerings. When you give to the poor, the only thing you do is help them, but you don’t help yourself,” he insisted.”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,” Henderson said. “Read your Bible. Charity does not bring wealth; only the tithe does that.”In a statement to The Christian Post, Brian Smith, a spokesperson for The Light House Church & Ministries, explained that Henderson’s message was taken out of context.”Unfortunately, the few seconds shown are completely without the context of the entire message, which is that one should not wholly substitute tithing with giving to individuals. It is absolutely not true that the sermon was meant to discourage individual, reasonable service,” Smith said.
Rather, in addition to this reasonable service, one should also give to God because it is He who can provide the multiplication, thereby allowing one to use His blessings to aid their brothers and sisters.”The spokesperson also listed the church’s own history of charitable giving..
The Church’s benevolence program has provided more than $451,000 this year in charitable giving, including to neighbors in need, local students, and scholarships to graduating high school seniors. In August, our Lightfest back-to-school event gave free school supplies to 700 local kids. We have 30 different ministries that bring hope, strength, and love to anyone seeking God’s Grace and Salvation,” Smith said while arguing that Malachi 3:10 requires Christians to tithe.Henderson’s message drew criticism online, with some believing that the pastor was attempting to manipulate his followers to give him as much money as possible. “What Keion Henderson is preaching is not of God. This is blasphemy,” wrote Dallas Cowboys beat writer Clarence Hill Jr. on X. “Preaching well and being true to God are not one and the same. This man wants your money. He is not trying to save souls.”
