But the problem is deeper than just the 'title' deal.
When one man is paid to do all things ministry, that leaves the body of Christ out of the picture contrary to what I have already submitted. I don't want to repeat everything I've already said so if you could just go back and re-read what I already wrote. You're not seeing it yet. No fussing, just discussing.
I see you are still a hater of preachers who take financial and other kinds of support from a congregation. You have totally missed the point of 1 Cor 9, 2 Cor 11, which support the proper take on Acts 20.
2 Corinthians 11:7-12 (KJV)
[SUP]7 [/SUP] Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
[SUP]8 [/SUP] I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
[SUP]9 [/SUP] And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.
[SUP]10 [/SUP] As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
[SUP]11 [/SUP] Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
Paul didn't take support from fledgling churches he was setting up, avoiding any burden on them.
Other matured churches sent him out as a missionary is sent out these days, funded, prepared. Once one of his churches became well extablished, then they picked up the tab to sent ministers to do like Paul.
As for the overseers of a local congregation that Paul appointed, those fall under the ordained means of their support that they may minister unhindered, not being a burden on people that are not an established congregation able to pool resources.
If you cherry pick through the following, then you remain enemy of Christ by taking one verse out of context to make it a sin for a preacher to rely on a congregation for support. You need to study it through.
1 Corinthians 9:3-14 (KJV)
[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.
So what of Acts 20? When "interpreted", it must be in perfect harmony with those other scriptures, else it is your own opinion in spite of the word of God.
Acts 20:27-35 (KJV)
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27 [/SUP] For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
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28 [/SUP] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
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29 [/SUP] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
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30 [/SUP] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
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31 [/SUP] Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
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32 [/SUP] And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
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33 [/SUP] I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
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34 [/SUP] Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
[SUP]35 [/SUP] I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Laboring how?Preach the gospel day and night, feed the flock. Jesus commanded Peter to feed the flock. Be the overseers you were appointed to be. Payl left Timothy to do that, and even the apostle John spent years overseeing Ephesus.
That's the kind of laboring Paul spoke of doing, not being a shepherd in the fields, coming down once a year to preach while the shearers worked. Nowere is the idea of an apostle or preacher advised to run a camel sales lot or a bakery, giving the gospel part time attention. Ministering the gospel is supposed to be a full time job. That's why the Lord ordained that the overseers of a local church should receive their living of the gospel they preach and teach, building up the flock. Meanwhile, those with the sheep flocks, the camel sales lots, the bakeries, etc. who are not called into a particular ministry are the ones whose spiritual gift may well be giving.
Out of love and appreciation my church makes sure our miisters lack nothing. Our pastor is an area leader that's organizing other pastors to do great things in this area. We want that family to be a shining example of being blessed. Those that bless in any way God is on record as ordaining as his will and pleasure, we do. I will not shake his hand without leaving a $100 bill in his palm, having already tithed and given an offering and often give into another special offering any Sunday. When we find them in a restaurant I tell the waitress to bring their bill to me, and usually will have visitors to our church at our table.
I am dismayed over the horrible condemnations on this website, castigating things that God made holy and good.
To your certain delight I spend more and more time chatting elsewhere, where a post like this is nver necessary.
These free-for-alls are not healthy for babes in Christ. There ought to be a warning icon at the head of any thead that will discourage believers, such as a skull and crossbone icon.