Corruption and scandal in the church have been around since its inception.  The disgrace that accompanies this has been the cause of many avoiding Christian fellowship altogether.  There are many individuals in the Bible that are examples of what greed for power and money, over God’s people, does.

1) Balaam is an Old and New Testament example of how the exploitation of God’s people is looked at by God.  The famous talking donkey story is a window on how God abhors the use of His people for personal gain.  (Num.22-23, 2Pet.2:15, Jude11, Rev.2:14) 

2) Eli’s sons used God’s people to indulge their own appetites.  In 1 Samuel 2&3 we read what the Lord thought of them and ultimately it was their sin and Eli’s allowance of their sin that cost them their lives.

3) The Old Testament contains many stories of false prophets who lied their way into positions of power and money.  They, under the guise of serving the Lord, sheared His sheep to warm themselves.  (Ezek.34)

4) The corrupt moneychangers of the Jerusalem feasts were the only show of the Lord’s anger unleashed in violent acts of reform. (Jn.2:14-15)

5) Judas is the ultimate story on where corruption and stealing from the Lord's own ultimately leads; stealing from the Lord’s people leads to betrayal of the Savior. (Jn.13:29)

Jimmy Swaggert was a fiery tithe preacher.  The tithe paid for his use of prostitutes.

Jim Baker was a dynamic tithe preacher.  The tithe paid for the silence of his secretary, Jessica Hahn.  He was later jailed for  fraud, tax evasion and racketeering.

Ted Haggert was a zealous tithe preacher.  He resigned after his male masseur (Mike), a former male prostitute, came out of the closet.  Ted used the tithe to get Meth and a massage through Mike. 

Kent Hovind was a foot stomping tithe preacher.  He is serving a 10-year prison term for numerous federal tax and tax-related offences.

Jim Whittington could really move the tithe preaching congregant, he was quite the preacher.  Jim spent 10 years in prison for money laundering, mail fraud, conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property.

Let's not forget that the Jehovah's Witness church and the Mormon church of latter day saints are tithe preachers par excellence.

The list of abusive Christian leaders could go on and on.  Tithe preaching is a red light warning to Christians that the preacher and his message might not be all about Christ.  Don't let the tithe preacher make merchandise of you.  There is a saying that the con-man uses, 'a sucker is born every minute.'  The Christian con-man says, 'a sucker is born-again every minute.' Use wisdom / common sense when it comes to your support in a Christian ministry.  If the Christian ministry you are involved with preaches tithing maybe you should only give it enough for the donut and coffee that you eat in its fellowship hall.