Jon Roach

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

Adding context: This clip comes from a longer video walking members through commitment cards for the $225 million Into the Breach campaign. Josh explains the “gifts from my stored resources” section, which includes savings, stocks, and property.

Honoring God with our resources is noble. But the implication here is that God may be calling you to “release” those resources by giving them to the church. Why else include this category on the card? And why specifically mention a home unless selling it to give to the church is a possibility they want people to consider?

Full video is here for context: https://t.co/m40wBqLsK9

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@ChristandGuitar Josh has taught other pastors to listen to Robert Morris to learn how to preach this version of tithing.

To be fair, I believe this older video was prior to Morris’s scandal. But it does show where Josh got these ideas.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@ChristandGuitar A substantial portion of Josh’s sermon here comes from Robert Morris.

https://t.co/YEMLF6btSu

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

The Christians didn’t take over the temple and turn it into a megachurch. It was the Jewish temple, where the apostles initially preached in Jerusalem. Acts 2:5-11 makes clear that the crowd at Pentecost included Jews from nations all over the known world who were visiting Jerusalem for the feast. Many would have returned home. That 3,000 people were converted doesn’t mean 3,000 people became members of one local congregation. The churches established in places like Antioch, Corinth, and Rome weren’t gathering in temple courts, because the temple was only in Jerusalem. The New Testament repeatedly describes believers meeting in homes.

I’m not saying megachurches are wrong. I’m simply saying that the claim that “the first church was a megachurch” isn’t supported by Scripture.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I hope the folks at Lakepointe know they shouldn’t feel guilty for not wanting to sell their home or liquidate their savings, investments, or other valuable assets to fund Josh Howerton’s Into the Breach campaign.

You shouldn’t have to justify keeping your home by turning it into a ministry opportunity. Making people feel guilty for not surrendering their personal assets is manipulation, not discipleship.

[🎸 Matt 🎸 @ChristandGuitar]

Fueling Josh Howerton’s request for people to possibly sell their houses to fund his church is his false teaching about the tithe.

In this message from Feb 2025, he describes what he calls a “greed test” — something he says only mature Christians can get on board with. “Baby Christians” won’t agree with him.

Josh teaches that God cannot bless a person unless He is made first in his life.

This is the prosperity gospel with a different coat of paint. Instead of the typical “give to get” message, it’s “give or else you won’t get.” He’s saying that tithing unlocks God’s ability to bless you.

This undermines God’s character and the doctrine of salvation.

God doesn’t require man’s permission, placement as “first,” or hitting a specific dollar amount in order to bless a person. God is first by nature. Josh’s teaching relegates God to reactionary, rather than acknowledging His divine immutability.

If God cannot bless a person unless he makes Him first in his life, then how could Christ’s death be efficacious toward sinners? Man did not put God first, and yet Christ still died for his sins. That is the greatest blessing God could ever offer, and it didn’t require man’s consent or prior obedience.

Not only is a mandatory tithe not taught for Christian believers today, but Paul completely undermines Josh's entire framework:

2 Corinthians 9:7-8
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

Give freely as you decide in your heart. God is not restricted by your wallet.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

The 3,000 people added to the church at Pentecost (Acts 2:41) represents the number of people converted, not evidence that they all gathered as one 3,000-person congregation. Acts 2:46 describes believers meeting in homes as well as gathering in the temple courts. The early church primarily met in homes, not in anything resembling a modern megachurch.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@lisaknows429 https://t.co/r5g0U6HMF4

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I made a mistake.

I cut the clip too short.

Later in the video, Josh confirms that if you can’t redeem a resource by honoring God with it, God may be leading you to release it, by “giving those funds directly to His mission”. Which in this context, is writing that dollar amount in the Stored Resources section of the commitment card for the $225 million campaign.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@DrewHamiltron https://t.co/g6keqW0VFJ

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I made a mistake.

I cut the clip too short.

Later in the video, Josh confirms that if you can’t redeem a resource by honoring God with it, God may be leading you to release it, by “giving those funds directly to His mission”. Which in this context, is writing that dollar amount in the Stored Resources section of the commitment card for the $225 million campaign.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@evanhanifeeshow Yep, and they both preached almost the same sermon yesterday.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I made a mistake.

I cut the clip too short.

Later in the video, Josh confirms that if you can’t redeem a resource by honoring God with it, God may be leading you to release it, by “giving those funds directly to His mission”. Which in this context, is writing that dollar amount in the Stored Resources section of the commitment card for the $225 million campaign.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

Tim, I spent over a decade faithfully teaching and serving at Lakepointe. I brought concerns directly to you and the elders, privately and respectfully, only to have them dismissed. You cannot push people out of ministry, make them feel unwelcome in their own church, and then criticize them for being “in the stands.” I didn’t choose the stands.

And no one is disputing that Christians are called to give generously. That was never the issue. I’d encourage you to address the actual concern rather than question my motives.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@holly_luuu @here4impact @TammyJoHays @carlkuhl Yes, transcript of his sermon from February 23, 2025.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

It’s a long story, and unfortunately not one that can be adequately explained in an X thread. Our decision came after months of serious concerns, difficult conversations with pastors and elders, and ultimately how those concerns were handled. We didn’t leave lightly, especially after decades of involvement. There’s much more to the story than I could responsibly summarize here.

The full video is available here: https://t.co/m40wBqLsK9

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@here4impact @TammyJoHays @carlkuhl Yes

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@here4impact @TammyJoHays @carlkuhl For more context, this is what he preached on tithing last year:

https://t.co/YOWsngIPlZ

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

@Stros4life5 @John_Resch @RANSOMESOUTH My wife and I started seeing red flags a couple years ago. But in my opinion, the rapid growth of celebrity status last fall has been a large factor.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

A tithe literally means a tenth. The question is what the Bible actually commands and to whom.

Under the Mosaic Law, Israel’s tithes were tied to its agricultural produce, livestock, Levites, festivals, and provision for the poor (Leviticus 27:30–33; Numbers 18:21–24; Deuteronomy 14:22–29).

The New Testament commands Christians to give generously and support those in need, but it never explicitly commands Christians to give 10% of their income to a local church. Instead, Paul says to give according to what you have decided in your heart, not under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Abraham’s one-time tithe of war spoils doesn’t establish a universal command, and Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 doesn’t explicitly establish a tithing requirement for the church.

You can absolutely argue that Christians should give generously, support their church, and provide for ministry. But claiming that the Bible commands every Christian to give 10% of their finances to a church is a different claim, and it needs to be demonstrated from Scripture.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I appreciate the kind words, and the encouragement. Bitterness can be a trap, and we’re on guard against it. I’ve gone to godly men for counsel and their wisdom and accountability have been a light during a difficult season. The good news is that Jesus remains faithful, even when man lets us down. Our faith remains strong.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

1/3

If a pastor wants to share political opinions, he should be willing to speak truth even when it conflicts with the platform he’s building.

[Jon Roach @jonroach89]

I don’t think I would use the word guilty. We’re all guilty of sin. But this video is another example to me of Josh’s unbiblical teaching on generosity. We are called to be good stewards of the financial blessings God has given us. And we are called to give generously to those in need, not reluctantly or under compulsion. That’s all biblical. But Josh teaches that you must give 10% to the church, or else you are stealing from God and God cannot bless you financially. And in this giving campaign, he’s asking people to give above and beyond 10% including giving from their stored financial resources.