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A church should be a place of refuge, where people grow spiritually and find support in a caring community. Today, at least in America, many churches are like minefields of exploitation, treating their members more like resources to be drained than human beings to be fed, loved, and protected. 

Exploitation is a form of church abuse that can happen in any church or ministry in countless ways, from demanding free labor to bombarding members with relentless financial campaigns. In this post, we’ll uncover five red flags of church exploitation so you can recognize when your church has gone from nourishing to abusively parasitic and take steps to protect yourself.

This is the fifth post in our series on checking your church for red flags of abusive and cultic corruption. If you haven’t already, check out our previous posts that expose the most prominent red flags of cultic control, abuse, cult isolation, and financial corruption. 

Now, let’s dive into the five red flags of church exploitation and learn how you can check your church for them yourself.

Red Flag #1: Burdensome, One-Sided Membership Contracts

A growing number of Christian churches today either openly require or covertly manipulate members into signing contracts or “covenants” that legally entrap Christians into virtually signing their life away to the church’s leaders. These documents might demand strict obedience, limit your ability to leave, or even threaten consequences for questioning or disagreeing with leadership on anything they deem “heretical” or “divisive”. 

A church that relies on binding agreements to keep members in line and offers literally nothing in return is a lot more interested in controlling and exploiting its members than feeding or caring for them.

In Galatians 5, Paul emphasizes that Christ’s work frees believers from oppressive control. Burdensome contracts that demand strict obedience or limit freedom are like a "yoke of slavery" that Paul warns against. 

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 5:1

Paul also taught where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty and life, but the burdensome and legalistic contracts of exploitative churches are like the law written in the letter that kills.  

“And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” - 2 Corinthians 3:17

In Acts 15:10-11, the apostles rejected burdensome requirements for Gentile believers when they opposed the legalistic demands of Judaizers who sought to impose circumcision and the Mosaic law on them. This clearly shows how early church leaders prioritized grace over control and they had no desire to exploit believers. This contrasts drastically with modern churches, which use contracts to entrap and expoit their members.

Jesus also criticized and condemned religious leaders who exploited God's people by imposing heavy burdens and requirements on them. The one-sided contracts that legally bind members while offering nothing in return reflect this exploitative pattern.

"They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." - Matthew 23:4

Examples:

• Contracts require you to seek permission to leave or face “discipline.”

• Contracts include vague clauses about “submission” that give leaders unchecked power and authority over your “Christian walk.” 

• Members are pressured to sign without time to review or seek outside advice.

• Clauses and requirements that demand your time, money, and gifts.

  
  

How to check your church: If your church requires a membership contract, read it carefully. Ask for a copy and review it with a trusted friend, family, or even an attorney. Church membership contracts are, after all, legal contracts. Controlling and abusive church leaders will use them to legally punish and control members who try to leave, expose the church, or simply live their life without the church's exploitative and controlling overreach. 

Are the terms reasonable, or do they feel like a one-way obligation? A healthy church builds commitment through trust, not legalistic demands and blind obedience. For more on controlling cult practices, see our post on cultic control.

Red Flag #2: Demands for Free Labor

A church that expects members to provide free labor—whether it’s cleaning, teaching, working in one of the church’s additional businesses, like the coffee shop or bookstore, or running other programs or ministries—without regard for their time or financial needs, is exploitative. While volunteering is a natural part of church life and any kind of charity work, a parasitic church will guilt, pressure, or coerce members (i.e., the membership contract) into overworking, often framing it as “serving God” or “laboring for the Lord.” 

Ironically enough, the same people (usually paid church staff and pastors) insisting that you provide free labor to the church aren’t willing to do the same themselves. While the pastor receives a salary from the church’s donations, your work is somehow weighed as completely lacking in value, despite being labeled “faithful” and “sacrificial love” to God and His Kingdom.

Paul taught that workers, including those serving in ministry, deserve compensation.

Demanding free labor from the "laity" while leaders and those labelled "clergy" are paid disregards this principle, exploiting members’ time and effort.

"For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’” - 1 Timothy 5:18

Paul wasn’t inventing this principle out of thin air. The Mosaic Law commanded the fair treatment of workers. Even those who didn't work in ministry but did other tasks, such as construction and cleaning, were compensated for their work. Churches that coerce unpaid labor while hoarding donations for a small group or single person are exploiting laborors for the church and ignoring God's commands for justice. 

"Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight." - Leviticus 19:13

In Nehemiah 5:1-13, Nehemiah addressed the exploitation of poor Israelites forced to labor without fair treatment while nobles profited. He rebuked the leaders and demanded restitution. This illustrates God’s love for those exploited through unpaid or coerced labor, and we can see this exploitation clearly being practiced in a growing number of churches today, which guilt and bind members into free work while its leaders profit in the dark.

Examples:

• Members are expected to volunteer, even at the expense of family or paid work.

• Leaders shame or punish those who set boundaries or say no to volunteer requests and demands.

• The church relies heavily on unpaid labor instead of hiring staff or contractors, while a small group of leaders at the top (think pyramid scheme) hoard church substantial donations for themselves.

  
  

How to check your church: Reflect on how your volunteer work is treated by the church. Are you serving joyfully, or do you feel coerced? Did you actually volunteer to help, or were you pursued and pressured by the church to give free labor? Ask leaders how volunteer roles are assigned and whether they value their members’ time. If the church dismisses or shows disdain for your need for balance and healthy boundaries, that’s a huge red flag. Healthy churches respect boundaries and appreciate contributions without exploiting or taking advantage of them.

Red Flag #3: Relentless Financial Pressure

Most organizations of any kind need financial support to operate, but an exploitative church goes beyond accepting freewill donations and feels entitled to its members’ money. Constant calls for donations, high-pressure tithing campaigns, or guilt-tripping sermons about “sacrificial giving” are red flags. These churches often prioritize their own financial gain over their members’ financial stability, and they lie about biblical tithing to extort the Body of Christ.

Paul emphasized voluntary, joyful giving, not coerced or guilt-driven donations. High-pressure tithing campaigns or manipulative pleas to guilt you into giving the church money contradict this principle, but they also contradict the fulfillment of the Law by Christ when they twist and lie about tithing, claiming Christians are obligated to tithe money to the local church. 

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Micah also condemned religious leaders who exploited their roles for financial gain, exposing the way many churches today prioritize profit over the well-being of their members.

"Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean on the Lord and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us?’" - Micah 3:11

In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira were judged, not for withholding money, but for lying about their giving to gain favor. This directly contradicts the claims of exploitative church leaders today when they say we should give everything we have, even beyond our means. They act entitled to the money of church members and claim giving to the church is the same as, or equal to, giving to God Himself. The example of Ananias and Sapphira shows that God values honesty and freewill offerings, but that your money is your own, not the church's, and your contributions are not to be coerced.

Examples: 

• The Prosperity Gospel: Leaders frequently preach that giving more will “unlock God’s blessings,” while failing to will result in curses, a lack of God’s provision, or some other negative consequence. 

• Special offerings or “building funds” are announced with little transparency about their use.

• Members are contacted repeatedly with pleas for money, even if they’re struggling.

• Tithe-preaching: As we’ve shown in previous posts, the biblical tithe is not what Christian churches teach it is today. The tithe has been distorted for dishonest financial gain, so when a church knowingly teaches lies about tithing, it is yet another red flag of exploitative financial pressure.

  
  

How to check your church: Ask for a breakdown of how church donations are spent. A healthy church will provide clear and concise answers. A vague, non-specific pie chart doesn’t count. A healthy church will also respect members’ financial limits and priorities. If leaders push you to give beyond your means or refuse to disclose financial details, dig deeper. Our post on financial transparency offers more questions you can ask. 

Red Flag #4: Intrusive Monitoring of Personal Lives

Exploitative churches often invade members’ personal lives, demanding access to private decisions, relationships, or even finances. This intrusion is framed as “accountability” or “spiritual guidance,” but it’s really about control and the church’s own greed for power, money, and control.

A church that exploits its members treats their lives as resources to be managed and controlled. They have no respect for your boundaries, neither do they believe individual believers have a right to privacy from pastors or other church leaders. This attitude is a huge red flag that you will be exploited and your rights and freedoms will surely be trampled.  

Peter instructed leaders in the early church to guide without domineering control. Intrusive monitoring, typically framed as “accountability,” strongly reflects the “lording over” that exploits members’ personal lives today. 

"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." - 1 Peter 5:2-3

In Mark 7:9-13, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for imposing traditions that controlled personal decisions and finances, neglecting God’s commands. This matches the way exploitative churches demand oversight of members’ lives today, treating them as resources rather than respecting their autonomy and liberty through Christ. 

Examples:

• Leaders insist on approving major life decisions, like jobs, marriages, or moves.

• Members are required to share personal details, like budgets or schedules, with leaders.

• The church uses “accountability groups/partners” to monitor and report on members’ behavior.

• The unapproved practices of the member are punished (i.e., “disciplined”), typically in very humiliating and invasive ways.  

  
  

How to check your church: Evaluate how much privacy you have from your church leaders. Do they respect your personal boundaries and right to privacy, or do they pry into as many aspects of your life as they can? Try setting a boundary—say no to sharing certain details—and see how they respond. If they push back or punish you, that’s a sign they feel entitled to you and are intent on exploiting you in every way they can. For more on intrusive control, check our post on cult isolation.

Red Flag #5: Neglecting Members’ Needs

A parasitic church takes, takes, takes—time, money, energy—but gives little back. Members’ spiritual, emotional, and practical needs will be ignored unless they serve the church’s agenda. Even then, exploitative church leaders treat any requests to meet the needs of their parishioners with resentment and contempt. This one-sided relationship leaves people drained, with little support for their own struggles or growth.

Another red flag that the church is neglecting its members’ needs is in the way it teaches, or doesn’t, on Sunday. Starving the flock to feed themselves is something the prophet Ezekial specifically called out. He directly condemned leaders who exploited their flock while neglecting their needs. This exposes churches today that drain their members without taking care of them or feeding them as good shepherds.

"Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured." - Ezekiel 34:2-4

James also emphasized the importance of taking care of each other as family in Christ. Ironically, church leaders that ignore members’ struggles while demanding to be fed themselves ignore this clear, biblical principle. 

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" - James 2:15-16

In Acts 4:32-35, the early church shared resources so that “there were no needy persons among them.” Leaders distributed donations to meet members’ needs, not to enrich themselves or buy expensive and impressive buildings. This directly contradicts the pattern of most modern Christian churches today, which hoard their resources to build religious empires and enrich their leaders. 

Examples:

• Counseling or support is only offered to those who “prove” their loyalty. This can include requiring you to sign a membership contract that binds and subjugates you to the church’s leaders. 

• Leaders prioritize church programs over helping members in crisis or emergency situations.

• The church discourages seeking help outside the congregation, like therapy or community resources, but offers little or no support to help those in need in the church. 

• Bible teaching is watered down, lacking in substance (meat), and designed to further exploit, rather than feed you. Exploitative churches that refused to feed the Body with the Word of God will become defensive and hostile when questioned or challenged to make their Sunday sermons more Bible-based or nourishing. 

  
  

How to check your church: Think about the last time you needed help. Did the church step up, or were you left feeling dismissed and ignored? Ask other members if they feel cared for, especially those who aren’t in leadership. A healthy church loves and takes care of its people, not its own material success or the wealth of its clergy.

What to Do If Your Church is Exploiting You

If your church shows signs of exploitation, it’s important to understand that a church leader already willing and actively exploiting its members is highly unlikely to stop on their own. A church that treats its members like resources is intentionally draining them to sustain and feed itself, like the corrupt shepherds of Israel that the prophet Ezekiel called out. 

Here’s how to respond if you suspect your church is exploiting you and other members:

• Assess the Impact: Reflect on how the church’s demands affect your time, finances, and well-being. Are you thriving, or are you exhausted?

• Try Setting Boundaries: Politely but firmly say no to unreasonable requests, like excessive volunteering, intrusive oversight, or donating more money than you can afford. Watch how leaders react to these boundaries. Their reaction can help you decide whether you need to stay, or walk away.

• Ask Questions: Something else you can do to assess the church’s level of exploitation is request clarity on contracts, finances, or expectations. A healthy church welcomes questions; an exploitative one deflects, punishes, and resents them.

• Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or former members for perspective, counsel, and insight. If the church discourages outside input, that’s a red flag of cultic isolation.

• Consider Leaving: If the exploitation persists, it may be time to walk away. You deserve a community that values you, not uses you. If the so-called shepherds at your church are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing, the only way to stop the drain is by walking away and not feeding the wolves. 

  
  

A Healthy Church vs. an Exploitative Church

A healthy church builds up its members, offering support, respect, transparency, and freedom. Safe leaders prioritize people over programs, respect boundaries, and use resources to serve those in need, not line their own pockets or build an empire. 

An exploitative church drains its members, demanding time, money, and loyalty while giving little in return, like a parasite. By spotting these red flags, you can protect yourself and find a faith community that truly cares about you rather than how they can exploit you for their own self-interest.

Let’s Keep Checking Our Churches

Exploitation in a church can be hard to recognize, especially when it’s masked with biblical language and you believe pastors and other church leaders have a right to your “time, talents, and treasures”. On the contrary, the Bible shows believers have authority over their own time and money, and the right to choose how they will manage them.

Remember this, church checkers: Your church leaders are not entitled to you or anything you have to offer them. That is for you to distribute and use as you are led by God directly. Period.  

By staying alert and asking the right questions, you can guard against these parasitic practices and find a healthier place to fellowship and study the Bible. If you’ve experienced exploitation in a church, we’d love to hear your story—share it anonymously or under your name in the comments below. 

For more tools to help you check your church, revisit our previous posts on cultic control, abuse, cult isolation, and financial transparency. Together, we can stop feeding these wolves and create faithful Christ-centered communities that encourage, not exploit.

Until next time, use discernment, examine everything, protect the sheep, and please do not feed the wolves. 

Have you seen these red flags in a church? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the conversation with us on YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, or in The Great News Network community.