Could churches do better with unpaid pastors?

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Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
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859
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#1
Since some CC members have complaints about modern day churches, I'd like to put the following question: Could churches do better if they had unpaid rather than salaried pastors? I've seen some unpaid pastors preach; some of them were really guided by the Holy Spirit while others did a poor job due to lack of Bible knowledge. The upside of not being paid is that ministers have more freedom to preach the narrow way, but what's the downside?
 
M

Miri

Guest
#2
I don't think being paid or unpaid has anything to do with the quality of the speaker
or their spiritual walk, whether they are a good teacher etc.

On one hand if you are not paid and have a regular job working Monday to Friday and
preaching on Sunday's and taking a bible study mid week, and helping the young
people's work in Friday evenings and doing evangelism work on Saturdays etc.

Then it doesn't leave much time left to prepare for those lessons and services, not to
mention actually living like everyone else, do the shopping, meals, cleaning, gardening leisure time,
sleeping etc.

I would rather have a paid pastor who has the time to take his responsibilities seriously, than
someone struggling to hold down two full time jobs, one paid the other not who turns up to
preach on Sunday's morning with a half finished sermon who is on the brink of total
exhaustion and stress.

A good servant/employee etc should be paid.
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
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#3
The downside is what you r still suggesting, paid or not paid, that a single exalted man with the honorific title is still in play, still looked to for most, if not all, 'ministering'.

And we, who have complaints about the babylonian travesty warmly, but falsely, called church, have good reason for being the 'resistance'.
See my threads. Im getting writers cramp.
 
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Donkeyfish07

Guest
#4
I think Churches would be better off without mandatory tithing at least. I have seen that system abused to extreme extents. I do not see a problem with the congregation paying or donating to a pastor in and of itself though.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#5
I think Churches would be better off without mandatory tithing at least. I have seen that system abused to extreme extents. I do not see a problem with the congregation paying or donating to a pastor in and of itself though.

Ive never seen a church in the UK with mandatory tithing. Are there any in the USA?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
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#6
My pastor loves to minister to the flock entrusted to him :)
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
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#7
I think Churches would be better off without mandatory tithing at least. I have seen that system abused to extreme extents. I do not see a problem with the congregation paying or donating to a pastor in and of itself though.
What is it about God's instructions that christians fail to comprehend?

What NT scripture supports the idea of the single, salared, self exalted pastor? Dont bother looking. There is none.
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
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#8
My pastor loves to minister to the flock entrusted to him :)
Why is it that he gets to enjoy ministering when others with gifts and callings dont get to.

I bet he loves that weekly paycheck to for that 40 minute, 7 point sermon.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
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#9
Why is it that he gets to enjoy ministering when others with gifts and callings dont get to.
Why do you assume that others with gifts and callings are denied?
Do you mean in other congregations? What has that to do with him?
 

Yet

Banned
Jan 4, 2014
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#10
Ive never seen a church in the UK with mandatory tithing. Are there any in the USA?
I have not seen one yet that doesnt push the false, dibilitating tithe.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#11
Would you do better with an unpaid doctor? One that allows his surgical team to jump in and cut and sew when they feel led to do so?

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
P

Persuaded

Guest
#12
Why is it that he gets to enjoy ministering when others with gifts and callings dont get to.

I bet he loves that weekly paycheck to for that 40 minute, 7 point sermon.
I said in another post I was leaving, but I have to post one more time and I am sure I will be ban.

TO CS1

Why is this man allowed to make personal attacks and make negative post about people he does not know.
He has no idea of this pastor, and yet he accusses him of preaching 40 minute, 7 point sermons and drays a paycheck.
This is a personal attack!

Again I ask, Why CS1?

I'm gone.
 

vic1980

Senior Member
Apr 25, 2013
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#13
Ephesians 4

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That wehenceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.


Shalom
 
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vic1980

Senior Member
Apr 25, 2013
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#14
Analyzing the life of thee apostle Paul , preaching truth in Christ, also worked with his hands.



Shalom
 
Sep 16, 2014
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#15
Since some CC members have complaints about modern day churches, I'd like to put the following question: Could churches do better if they had unpaid rather than salaried pastors? I've seen some unpaid pastors preach; some of them were really guided by the Holy Spirit while others did a poor job due to lack of Bible knowledge. The upside of not being paid is that ministers have more freedom to preach the narrow way, but what's the downside?
It used to be that way for lots of rural areas in America. My wife's great grandaddy carried the mail in a cart drawn by mule. He preached the gospel along the way, most Christians having no pastor due to no wealth. He spent the night in barns, the cart, in homes during really bad weather. He was fed from family tables, or stopped to boil a donated chicken. Richer congregations supplied smoked ham, or sliced saltback, sousemeat, eggs, etc. One congregation had a pair of boots made for him when he took his worn ones off to dry by a fireplace, the sole nearly gone between the stitches.

Maybe there's someone like that a poor congregation can use today! Nothing very bad about that.

Better, the minister of the gospel is set by the will of God to make his living off the gospel. Let the scoffers deny Paul, it won't hurt the Church.

1 Corinthians 9:1-14 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP] Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
[SUP]2 [/SUP] If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
[SUP]3 [/SUP] Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
[SUP]4 [/SUP] Have we not power to eat and to drink?
[SUP]5 [/SUP] Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
[SUP]8 [/SUP] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
[SUP]9 [/SUP] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
[SUP]10 [/SUP] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
[SUP]12 [/SUP] If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
[SUP]13 [/SUP] Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
[SUP]14 [/SUP] Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

False teachers deny such scriptures out of their own miseries, deceived by Satan, his followers of antichrist. There above are 14 verses in a row that teach a gospel minister has a right to making his living from the gospel preached. It is no less so than how God ordained the Jewish priesthood also lived off things brought to the altar.

If a congregation desires a particular pastor to minister to them full time, they owe him an agreeable salary that amounts to a living. Whatever else they want to bless him with is their business. I've never heard of a pastor holding members in chains, forcing them to stay, not leave, but to support him. Well, there was Waco...not a typical Christian congregation.

If a congregation has someone come preach otherwise, not permanently hired, then they ought to obey the scriptures and pay him what he needs. That is usually decided before calling him.

An alternative is to invite a retired pastor that knows the Bible well enough not to teach false doctrine, at least paying for his lunch, maybe put some gas in his car.

The Salvation Army can help folks like Yet's congreagation, sending one of their bucket brigade guys who can at least give a testimony. They never ask for money, but do put the bucket in the foyer.
 
D

Donkeyfish07

Guest
#16
Ive never seen a church in the UK with mandatory tithing. Are there any in the USA?
Yes, they aren't exactly common but there are more than there should be. I went to one myself one time and grew up with people who went to another one who had it as well. The one I went to, you were expected to tithe exactly 10% of your income or you were not considered a "member" of the Church. You were only considered a visitor and not neccessarily a brother unless you tithed. Needless to say, I only visited once.

What is it about God's instructions that christians fail to comprehend?

What NT scripture supports the idea of the single, salared, self exalted pastor? Dont bother looking. There is none.
I am in complete agreement with you, I was just saying if you go somewhere and hear a nice pastor preaching.....I wouldn't go so far as forbidding donations if you felt led to do so. It's not a bad thing to help a pastor out. This tendency of people to be generous is often exploited and shamelessly abused though. Thats the real issue IMO, when it turns into exploitation.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#18
Since some CC members have complaints about modern day churches, I'd like to put the following question: Could churches do better if they had unpaid rather than salaried pastors? I've seen some unpaid pastors preach; some of them were really guided by the Holy Spirit while others did a poor job due to lack of Bible knowledge. The upside of not being paid is that ministers have more freedom to preach the narrow way, but what's the downside?
Hmm... Let me think, the downsides of not being paid for doing countless hours of work (well beyond the 9-5 week days of average folks) and probably having a family to look after. Let me think. Hmmm...
 
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PurerInHeart

Guest
#19
Since some CC members have complaints about modern day churches, I'd like to put the following question: Could churches do better if they had unpaid rather than salaried pastors? I've seen some unpaid pastors preach; some of them were really guided by the Holy Spirit while others did a poor job due to lack of Bible knowledge. The upside of not being paid is that ministers have more freedom to preach the narrow way, but what's the downside?
No, because the odds of having a minister with bad intentions is not 100%. But a church that does not obey God in sharing a percentage of the collection with the minister is 100% disobeying God. So how can the church do better by disobeying God right off the bat?
 

Chester

Senior Member
May 23, 2016
4,273
1,410
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#20
I have seen many unpaid pastors do very well at leading churches: but it takes a person who is willing to serve selflessly. If a church decides to take this route, I suggest ordaining 2-4 ministers from within the qualified men in the church (as it seems to me was done in Acts) and letting them lead the church.

Serving without pay is difficult, and in my experience with such churches it works better to take a free will offering from the congregation once a month as a love gift for those men in leadership. It gives them some help, while at the same time they will need maybe 3-4 days work of "secular" work. But having several ministers makes this feasible as one man does not have all the responsibility or authority
 
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