Having looked briefly at Pastoral Pay in a previous post, I now want to address several of the passages that churches and pastors use to defend the practice of paying a pastor. We might be surprised to discover what these texts actually teach.
The first passage is not really a passage, but a biblical example: that of the Levitical Priesthood.
Some pastors point to the Levitical Priesthood as proof that spiritual leaders should have their needs met by the people they serve. Passages such as Numbers 18 and Deuteronomy 18 are often referenced in support of this idea.
While it is true that Priests serving in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, could eat of the grain and meat that was brought as sacrifices, it must be noted that this was only for the Priests who were serving at the time the sacrifice was made.
How often were Priests serving in such capacity? According to 1 Chronicles 23–24, the Priests were divided up into 24 divisions, with each division serving about two weeks out of each year. For the rest of the year, they had to provide for their own needs and that of their families.
But how did they do this?
While the Levites were not given an inheritance of land in the same way the other Tribes of Israel were, they still were given portions of land around various cities scattered throughout Israel. Numbers 35 indicates that they were given 48 cities throughout Israel, and the land around each city extending out from the city walls for 2000 cubits, which is about two-thirds of a mile (cf. also Joshua 20–21). They were to use this land for their herds and crops.
If the Levitical priests were only serving in the Tabernacle (or Temple) two weeks out of the year, and the rest of the year, dwelled in one of the 48 cities scattered around Israel, what did they do in those cities? The same thing everybody else does in cities. They lived, worked, and raised their families.
One thing they were not doing was living off the tithes of other people. After all, the tithes were only brought to Jerusalem during the times of sacrifices and feasts.
So the Levites worked in their cities and the surrounding fields. Some were farmers, while others were herdsman. A few were potters, or weavers. Every trade that could be found in any other city would also be found in a Levitical city.
These were not cities filled with a bunch of Bible teachers who sat around reading the Bible and waiting for people to bring them food and meat. No, they worked and earned their living like any other person in the country, except when they had to leave their job for two weeks out of every year to serve in Jerusalem. At those times, they ate from the sacrifices and offerings that people brought.
In the days of Jesus, things had changed a bit, and many of the priests permanently lived and worked in the Temple. Furthermore, they had acquired numerous fields around Jerusalem upon which to grow their Temple wheat and barley. Also, through money-changing and the sale of sacrificial animals which were without blemish (see John 2:12-22), many of the Temple Priests had become quite wealthy.
On numerous occasions, Jesus criticizes them for this (cf. Matt 23:23-24; Luke 20:46-47). They were leveraging the Mosaic Law to make themselves rich, while neglecting the poor and needy in their midst. When people brought their money, and sacrificed from it to obey the instructions of the religious leaders, all that the leaders offered in return were empty prayers and promises of blessing.
All of this was exactly the opposite of what God intended, but seems to be hauntingly familiar to much of what goes on in many churches today. How many pastors have been enriched and glorious buildings constructed on the backs of the poor and needy in our communities?
All of this indicates that it is nearly impossible to obtain a defense for pastoral salaries from the practices of the Levitical Priesthood. The nail in the coffin to this idea, however, is in the Priesthood instituted by Jesus through His death and resurrection.
According to 1 Peter 2:5-9, all believers are now priests. We are a kingdom of priests, which Jesus as the only High Priest (cf. Hebrews 8). There is no priestly class which can depend on the non-priestly class to provide for their daily needs. So the church cannot look to the Levitical Priesthood for support of the practice of pastoral salaries.
Hmmm. Not sure that your references support your ideas, but it’s an interesting interpretation. I also think that using such broad strokes as “many” is shaky ground.
I will say that you could go there with any call that God places on your life. I feel like I’ve been called to teach. When I taught, I thought I was a pretty good teacher. Should I not have been paid to teach? Does it make me power hungry if I’m a good teacher and lots of people come to my classes? Should we close all colleges, school districts, etc. because teachers are paid?
Then take it to writers. Are you seeking a following or are you writing because these are things that God has impressed upon you to write? Should you be paid to write, or will you give your books away for free?
Just something for me to ponder.
Meg,
Good point about the “many.” I changed it to “some.” I didn’t come up with this idea out of thin air, but heard it from other pastors, and even used it when I was a pastor. I think it is more than just a few, but might not be “many.”
As far as the references not supporting the ideas, which references did you have in mind, exactly? The texts I referenced clearly support that the Levitical priesthood lived and worked in cities, not in Jerusalem with the Temple.
If they did not work for a living, how then did they provide for their needs?
I know a Levitical Priest – a “Cohen.” He is a Rabbi of the tribe of Levi. I have spoken with him about this in great detail, and he confirms that how I have described it is how it worked. Even today, though there is no Temple, most “Cohens” have regular jobs in the community.
Certainly, teachers and writers can get paid today for what they do, and I think both would be good “tentmaking” professions for pastors. But we cannot say that since writers and teachers get paid, pastors should paid for the simple fact that the church is not an institution, a business, or a company.
You dont know any Cohens. There is nor original corpse to extract the cohen gene from to trace the cohen gene. You know a person who claims to be a cohen without any real proof due to the fact that a group of people are pretending to be who they are not.
Thank you sir, a very good article. Worthy of deep pursuit. We tend to have such a low bar of faith and understanding of God’s intent, heart, and ability to provide for us. What a phenomenal testimony when a leader takes or receives nothing, zero, from the gifts and offerings of the church. A testimony of very high integrity. Much training and development needs to take place around this. Dallas
Yes, you should get more for using your God given talent.
That’s a bit of an overstatement, I think. You’re right that the Levites weren’t fully supported by tithes. However, there’s more going on than them just being supported during their 2 weeks of service, too. See De. 14, 16, 18, 26, esp. 26:12 — note “within your gates.” The Levites were teachers, and they were scattered throughout the land so that they would teach year-round. But you’re right that they were bivocational; they had their own small holdings as well, and they worked the land like everyone else.
Your missing the point, priests never tithed to other priests, so we can’t justify any tithe towards anyone. But what we can do is give a free will offering, generously,without fear and compulsion, making up our own minds what we can give from the heart while keeping within our income for charity for which Jewish churches are lacking. But also so we may all equally recieve our needs life necessities met so no one is in want. What is giving in free will offerings should not lead to partiality in whom gets more over another which is what paid salaries do and frankly, pastors should work secular jobs and only turn the universal pot when in need like the rest of the members. That is how the 1st Jewish church went about helping meet the needs of its members but never has tithing been mentioned and is foreign to Jesus intentions in His Priesthood.
It is of the Jewish people in which Paul said that He who sows spiritual words to the gentiles has the right to reap material goods from us, but nothing in reversal.
When Paul set an example to the Gentiles It was to labor for thier own food so no one whom they were outreaching to would be burdened by our need of prevision and gender the gospel being preached.
I myself have been hendered to own and read books from teachers and pastors on account of not being able to afford the material, I feel that all leaders should recieve equally from one pot as other priests while working secular jobs to then freely give what God put in thier hearts freely to say. Thier is no need that I must be hindered and pay any teacher to be edified and grow in the Truth.
Such are hired servants and not willfull servants, such won’t watch over a small flock of believers because they want fixed income that suits thier lifestyle, the office of pastor and teacher are not salaried positions but are a service to God as a noble task to feed and watch over souls willingly and lovingly, top dollar should not play a roll in ones willingness to equip and lead whom you love. But for sure all believers should equally recieve what they put into the treasurers when needed.
Speaking of tithing, I called rabbis at various, what do they call them, temples, synagogues? sorry for the spelling, but anyway i called to find out if they still tithed, and guess what, of all the people that should be tithing if the Christian pastors are correct that it is the duty of believers to tithe, you would think it would be the ones that still keep the law. But NO, they do not tithe. You can do the same, just call around and they will tell you, and unlike Christian pastors you can get them right on the phone they are actually at work in their offices and you don’t just leave a voice mail and never get an answer. They told me that since there is no temple and there is no Levites any more, then, they don’t tithe any more. They have a small fee for joining the particular congregation but it is nowhere near a tenth of the income.
Don’t forget I Corithians 9.
What I am reading is that you believe that in today’s society ministers should not be paid by their congregations because in OT times and the time of Jesus they were not paid and that there were political and religious leaders during those times who were not in it for the right reasons.
To me, saying that the sons of Levi were not fully supported by money given to God, that Jesus was mad at the people selling offerings in the temple, and that He warned the disciples about people that they saw in the world does not create a strong enough argument for your point.
What about Matthew 10:9-10? “Do not acquire gold, or silver or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics or sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his support.” Jesus was sending out the disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, etc. Although I would guess that they did do other work, I imagine that they were at the mercy of those in the homes where they stayed. To me it’s the same thing today. Ministerial families where both parents work to support the family. Ministers working in second jobs to make ends meet. I think if we neglected to support those who work so hard to minister to us and lead us, as Christians we would be a sad group of people.
I am just one who is glad that my tithes help support our minister and the ministry of the church, so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I believe that if my pastor works hard in leading us, then he should be paid for his work just like I should be paid for my work.
Meg,
I see where you are coming from.
I have another five blog posts or so in this series on Pastoral Pay, so hang with me through them if possible.
If you do, you’ll see that I am not really opposed to pastors getting paid. If a church wants to pay their pastor, and they have thought carefully through the reasons for why they want to do this, then that is fine.
In this post, and in the next three, I am just trying to show that there is almost no biblical basis for paying a pastor. This doesn’t mean we cannot pay them. It just means we can’t use Scripture to support the practice.
Regarding the apostles, I am not dealing with that text in my series, so let me discuss it here real briefly.
I do believe that apostles can receive support from the people they minister among. Why? Because they are traveling around, sometimes only staying in a place for a few days or weeks. In such cases, it is hard to find work, unless like Paul (the tentmaker), your work can travel with you. So that is what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 10 when He sends out apostles.
Maybe I should deal with this text also, as I do hear it used fairly often. We’ll see…
The pastors I have known have told me that we have church buildings because that is the modern day version of the Jewish temple (or synagogue) of the Old Testament and even of Jesus’ time. We have pastors because they are the New Testament replacement for the priests of the Old Testament and because the New Testament establishes the position of pastor. We pay the pastor because the priests were supported by the tithes and because the New Testament tells us to, and we tithe because we are continuing the Old Testament practice of tithing.
This thinking is intended to legitimize these current practices, supposedly based on Scripture. The problems are that we’re followers of Jesus, we’re not Jews, and the current practice bears little resemblance to what we find in the Scripture.
In my opinion we are taught these things because the institution, the religious organization that some call the church, believes it needs these things to survive. But basing any of these practices on Scripture is a giant stretch.
If a group of people choose to be part of a religious organization or institution and choose to build buildings, hire employees and give them various titles (including pastor) and pay for these things, that is their right to do so. However, I cringe when they call some of these organizations “church” (although they may call it whatever they like), and appeal to the Scripture as a basis for what they are doing.
Sam,
I’m reading a book right now by Wayne Jacobson called “Naked Church” in which he says that many churches are like the Emperor with no clothes. They have so much invested in the parade down Main street, that they refuse to listen to anyone who says “The Emperor has no clothes!” Though he has no clothes, he continues to call his nakedness the most fabulous fabric ever! The book makes a compelling argument.
I think there is a scripture which indicates that God will look after the Priest and the tithes is for the levites . can you comment. Where in the bible tithe is to be converted to cash if you live too far from the temple.
In the New Testament the jewish Christians seem to follow the law even the apostle Paul yet the Church in Jerusalem asked the gentile church to do certain things .There was no reference to Tithing rather charitable giving .Please comment.
Thanks
Are you asking where those Scriptures are? I am not sure which Old Testament passage you might be referring to, but one place where we have NT teaching on giving is 2 Corinthians 8-9.
1 Corinthians 9: 1 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? 2 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. 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink ? 5 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? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working ? 7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn . Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sake? For our sake, no doubt, this is written : that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 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. 13 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? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Consider this scripture and see what you think
I have a question. Since the priest got there needs met from tithes for the 2 week service time. That was ok because they left there fields to serve right? But now days being a pastor you can’t just show up once a year for two weeks. You need to be there, physically and mentally a few days a week. And preparing word, meeting with staff and not to say if church has any major ministries like in patient rehab centers and outreaches. Can 2 week pay really cover that? Or should he be covered by a greater amount since it’s not just a two week service and get out . But it’s honeslty a day and night work , physically and emotionally and spiritualy straining job? I battle as a pastor in my mind if I’m doing wrong by using donations to survive and few times went to work but noticed the church and ministry start falling apart
Your comment shows your heart, you are not wrong for using the donations/tithes to survive so long as the church books/admin reflect whats going on to be transparent with your givers. Keep the faith, keep on.
I think requesting for donations is fine because it is given out of freewill but asking for tithe, for me seems like a duty and not freewill. If I am a priest which the bible says I am and I pay tithe to you so who pays tithe to me?
The reason we need ‘full-time’ anythings is because the majority of believers aren’t doing ‘any time’; just paying other guys (that responded to Christ’s commission: “As you go your way make disciples of all …”-Mt28:19) to appease their consciences whilst they carry on with their lifestyles.
That’s were reality meets theology: no paid pastors etc. = no visible Church; no recognition towards YHWH; no authoritative leadership; no authoritative accountability … just nice situational ethics/”the Spirit told me so”.
When interpreting scripture think: original context?; What does the rest of the Bible say?; What did Christ do/say regarding it?
How about the daily offerings or sacrifice.
There had to be a priest present at all time for the Daily.
How did they survive?
I am currently writing a book to address this very question. It should be out this fall. Stay tuned!
I don’t think it’s so much about the levites being paid for their service it’s about us doing what’s right toward Pastors that must feed and tend to the flock of GOD if GOD has called them.JESUS even said in luke 10:7 that the laborers are worthy of their wages.In luke 8 1-4 it’s says even JESUS HIMSELF recieved financial support from the women who ministered to him with their possessions.Now most people today would say he should have been ashamed of taking money from those poor women but JESUS accepted their support and they was blessed for sowing onto the LORD’S work.1 Corinthains 9:1-15 says dint muzzle the ox while it tread out the grain was GOD talking about oxes no he was talking about those who labor in the ministry.Who goes to war at their own expense.Or who goes to war but pay for their clothes,guns,etc.No one because the goverment if that country provide these things because of the soilders service.Who plants a vineyard and don’t eat from it.Who tends a flock and don’t drink the milk of it.I think it’s just spiritual sense to support a pastor that’s teaching you the word,casting out devils,laying hands and healing is manifesting in people lived,going to hospitails,prisons,and house calls to pray for the sick and shut in,going to graduations and funnerals,praying and fasting for himself and the flock.I think a person who think a pastor shouldn’t be paid for their service either don’t know they need to be paid and need to be taught or they are demonic in their thinking and either hate GOD,PASTORS,AND GOD’S PEOPLE.Why dont you hear people saying anything against the dope dealers,strip clubs,dope houses,liquor stores,etc.It’s only when people give into the LORD’S work that evil minded or misinformed people have a problem with it.No sir we don’t have to use the old testament to show that we should support out pastors.You don’t use the law,love tells me to support the pastor.Under the new testament LOVE is the greatest of all.Love for GOD and man.If GOD asked for 10 percent under the law to support the levites who didn’t have all the responsibilities of Pastor today.Church rent,gas for vans of thd church,insurance fir the church and church vehicles,feeding and clothing the poor,light,gas,and water bill,mantience on the church or vehicles,not to mention the Pastor own house,cars,children,insurance,etc.If would be foolish for one to think that a pastor should take care if his house and GODS HOUSE without people supporting the work of the KINGDOM OF GOD.If we love GOD we are going to support HIS KINGDOM and HIS PASTOR.If under the law GOD asked for 10 percent how much should we give under the LOVE COVENANT?Example I love my wife and if I had 300 dollars I would surley give her more that 10 percent which would be 30 dollars because I love her.The law says you must give LOVE says I chose to give because I love GOD and man.Again we don’t have to use the law just love and spiritual sense because hate and a carnal senses will not understand.Now I have given you scriptures please do the same when you respond not your opinion.Please respond right away I await your answer.GOD BLESS.
My brother, it is not about other people doing evil that we must talk about, but the church leaders must be seen to be obeying God’s directives for His church. You said the poor gave Jesus and He accepted. Yes, but did you not notice that Jesus did not have a personal account? As He went preaching all the honorarium given Him was handed to Judas who was the accountant. Also, remember that, that same money was used on the poor people in that, when Jesus wanted money to feed the 4,000 and 5,000 people, there was no money and He resorted to miracle food. Can we now say that this is what is happening now? Leaders must be seen to be doing the right things for new converts to be convinced and old believers to grow strong in the faith.
Can you please show me from the teachings of Paul to the Gentiles where he the Pharisee of Pharisees told the early church they had to tithe or they would be under Gods curse,and were in Pauls teachings does he say that one man has all authority over other belivers and must be given the 10 per cent tithe as commanded in the Law i.e first five books of the bible.Surly people give what they can and that in secret so what is given only God knows as opposed to tithing were the Pastor knows,the treasure,the board and the government know,and worst than that the Gifts of the Spirit are given freely by the Holy Spirit but in tithing church,s you have to pay to use them i,e tithe.And just in passing Paul said in his letter to the Galatians that any one who preached a different Gospel than the one he preached let them be under Gods curse we are not under the law thats why i strongly recommend you read Galatians.
Is God not payment enough? Or will we use something meant to set us free as justification of material gain?
You say:
While it is true that Priests serving in the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, could eat of the grain and meat that was brought as sacrifices, it must be noted that this was only for the Priests who were serving at the time the sacrifice was made.
But Leviticus 2:10 states:
Leviticus 2:10
But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings.
God actually setup an economy for the Levites to be taken care of. People WOULD sin, would want to make peace offerings, and these were some voluntary and some mandatory. So the levites would always have food, and good food at that.
Now Paul said that he COULD have asked of those he served :
1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
The point being, those who serve God will be provided for through those served by those serving God. Now Paul didn’t want to be a burden as those people were gentiles and not accustomed to this idea. So, as we see in many places Paul is not choosing to excercise a right that he has specifically so that he was very Christ-like (Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be grasped).
This however doesn’t mean we shouldn’t support our pastors financially. When you have a bi-vocational pastor you lose a lot of that person’s time to the regular work. So the faith part here is acknowledging that we believe God has bigger things to do with that person’s time as pastor than just making money to live.
So I see what you’re trying to argue and while it’s partly true, it’s just not a very functional way of pastoring.
Were gifts, honorarium, proceeds from write-ups sold, given to ‘Men of God’ that result in millions while they preached the gospel belong to their private accounts or the church account? I am not talking about removing their expenses from such millions.
Paul’s explanation and exposition in 1 Corinthians 9 is very pointed in this discussion.
1Co 9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
-Paul understood that it was biblical for them to NOT WORK A SECULAR JOB, and live of their ministry.
1Co 9:9 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? 1Co 9:10 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.
-There is a hope of earthly reward (an honest salary) that every minister of God is due.
1Co 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 1Co 9:13 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?
-“they which minister… (should) live of the things of the temple?”
-Clearly Paul’s idea was that they receive sufficient salary that they could live doing that and nothing else (economically) and survive economically. This passage would over turn the entire thesis of your post.
1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
-“should live of the gospel” means what it obviously says. They were paid something significant so that they could live a normal life from that.
OBSERVATIONS
(1) Abuse by some does not ruin the concept, nor abrogate or set aside the precedent and obligation to follow that principle. If Satan could get away by doing this, then most all of the Bible would be set aside because somebody somewhere abused a biblical principle.
(2) A lack of personal enrichment is a biblical REQUIREMENT in many passages. The not desiring other people’s silver or gold is very biblical and balances this perfectly. He is to get a normal salary (assuming an average of all the people in his congregation). Those who will abuse this principle only want rich people in their church.
(3) Paul’s foundation for this understanding of his IS THE OT EXAMPLE! So Paul did not come up with something new, but used the OT examples to teach this principle anew in the NT. Your comment that the priests didn’t live of their partaking of the offerings is wrong. They did. Paul understood this.
CONSEQUENCES
You will only do as good as a job as a minister as your talents and resources allow. Therefore, if people can push the concept that the only biblical pattern is ministers working a 40 hour a week job, and doing pastoral ministry as a “side job” like a hobby, then you force ministers to make due with 4-8 hours of study on Saturday versus 20 to 60 hours of study for a full time minister. Visiting sick, spiritually discouraged, etc. is limited to a few minutes after a Sunday service, versus a full time Pastor taking the time needed to deal with this during the week. You force spiritual counseling out the window completely. A counselor has to first do sufficient background work to understand people’s problems, and then go to the Bible to search for answers, and then counsel. All that takes a lot of time and experience. A hobbyist pastor has no time for any of that.
i.e. if you push the concept of a self-supporting pastor, you kill the ministry and effect of the church greatly.
This was one blog post from a longer series of posts on pastoral pay. In these other posts, I address many of the issues and concerns you raise in your comment.
The workers in the church have to get salary in a good measure from the church. If in this world there are people who sacrifice everything about themselves,then They’re those who minister the gospel. If only these people can leave the church and work for themselves then what will the world become? It will turn back to Sodom and Gomorrah. Let us not think that men of God are eating our money while what they teach us is more than the small money each of us is giving them. They need support as they support us spiritually.
In fact you say you were a pastor and you asked people to support you and then now what you did wasn’t right because you’re no longer a pastor ? No sir even if you work in a company it’s that company that pays you. So pastors and any other ministerial call that works in church must be receiving their pay from the church where they minister. What’s written in the Bible is very clear about that so let’s not misunderstand it because through that we will lead many astray.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word share with him that teaches in every good gift.
Hope that verse clarifies that every church member has the responsibility to “share” whatever blessing God gives them with their pastors.
Thanks
In the days of Jesus, things had changed a bit, and many of the priests permanently lived and worked in the Temple
I think the problem is really not about what the Priest get as a pay in return, but that the Poor and needy are neglected, if all believers are all priests not all stands permanently in that office, as their life time task. Those who does are called into it.
Giving to them are also commanded as other commandment, and God said, the priest who are truly called into that office who caused the blessing to rest in their house. Ezekiel 44:29_30The blessing is what prospers, it makes whatever was not working work, makes barren fruitful,
God said it should be given to the Priest( the office of the Priest in the new testament is the Pastoral office).
Those leveraging on it in falsehood will have Jesus to answer to.
1. 1 chron 23-24 does not tell the reader that the levites took care of their own needs.
2. The levites were not given their own land so they had no means to support themselves.
3. This is a failed attempt to use ancient biblical narratives to argue against rich ministers of the 21st century. If you want to argue against that then use accurate references and logic.
If the Gospel is free, then why do we pay Pastors? We could poke holes in all the arguments, but the bottom line is ” The word of God is Free.” I say no more.
is priesthood a paid job or a vocation within the frame work of mission and ministry of the church?
What is meant by “LEVEL”??
I am still not understanding something here. Is it wrong to pay a pastor in the church?
Read. Issued dealt with and settled.
Nothing to add.
I really love your explanation on the topic of priesthood and Levites including today pastors.please all me share your answers to already hitting debate there
If I am understanding this article correctly, a church is not told in the Old Testament to give the priest a tithe from the tithes that the people had brought to the temple. What I am trying to clarify is that a church (Baptist) is not told to give a pastor a tenth of what the members have tithe to the church for their salary. We are all priests of a royal priesthood with Jesus as the Head, It seems to me then that the church of today can just pay their pastor a salary. If any members want to give the pastor a love offering they can, but for health and life insurance, dental, vacation and other employee benefits, the pastor is treated like any other employee of the church. Am I correct in this modern time and dispensation?
Yeh, Sallie, they toss out New Testament church practice and go for a modern contract-employee arrangement, and then borrow bits from the obsolete Old Covenant to “cut & paste” into church life – think “tithes & offerings”. Have you ever seen sheep or cattle brought into your congregation’s building by the folk to be slaughtered there and sacrificed? Have you ever seen people bringing in wheelbarrows full of lettuces, carrots, potatoes, & mint for the reverend’s upkeep? Then you’ve not seen anything that shakily resembles tithing. Money was never a commodity that was tithed – never, never. Same with offerings. Those enjoying the New Covenant do things differently!! They give what they decide themselves, not what greedy or misinformed leaders promote.
RESIST THE TITHING FRAUD!!!
Amen and Amen! It sickens me to see how brainwashed people are! Pastors seen as the know all! A deep study of scripture shows that we are no longer under the law of tithing! Giving to the needy yes! Helping others yes!!
Oh how scary your understanding of Scripture is. This is one of the most destructive and dishonorable handlings of God’s Word….beware, you will be held accountable for this article. A pastor doesn’t work for 2 weeks out of the year, he works for the entire year, sometimes well over 50 hours a week visiting people, leading meetings, studying, preaching Sunday morning & night, and Wednesday nights, counseling, performing weddings, doing funerals, leading ministries throughout the week, and so many other duties. you want him to work an additional 40 hour week job on top of all that! Paul even argues that He is worthy of His pay for the ministry He performed and it had nothing to do with him traveling. He could work as a tentmaker anywhere, yet still said He would be just in expecting support for his ministry work. I cant believe how foolish and dishonoring this article is to God’s Word. Any church that is intentionally not supporting the needs of their pastor is a church that has grossly fallen into unbiblical practice and living in sin. For the sake of God’s Word being rightly handled delete this foolish and corrupt article.
I disagree with your take on the article, Shepherd.
1. The New Testament is the RULE of faith and practice for Christians, i.e. regenerated followers of Christ Jesus, the Lord of Lords. Nowhere in it are the leaders salaried or even on employment contracts. Those who work extensively for a local church should be remunerated though, but on a very different basis.
2. Pastors, in NT description do care for people, even “Extra Care Required” people, but they are called to equip all the others in their fold at the same time to be able to do this (maybe by getting those trained biblically for it, to accompany the one with the shepherding gift and thus be trained practically also). And they are equippers alongside the other 4 ministries mentioned in Ephesians 4.
Also, not all pastors are elders, and elders (plural) lead the local church.
3. Regardless of whether someone is a co-vocational leader (which I recommend, for it is NT-practice) or not, in my opinion no-one should do volunteer ministry more than 10 hours per week. Otherwise they are seen as a “star” performer and feed into that terrible situation of 20% of the folk doing 80% of the ministry in the overall ministries of the church – and those who only have time to contribute 1 hour weekly are regarded as inferior. The Lord wants EACH of us serving Him, His church, His human creation in the diverse ways He has gifted us, friend.
God bless you.
Paul understood he was due some financial support from those persons to which he ministered. He makes his appeal in 1 Corinthians 9. Of all the examples Paul has listed in this passage of scripture, the example of tithes given to the Levites seems the most applicable in comparison. Yet, Paul can never bring himself to claim the tithe as the requirement for his support. It is a good thing that he didn’t claim the tithe, otherwise, he would be in violation of Mosaic Law, which reserves the tithe strictly for support of the Levites. Paul never quit his day job!
So many lies in the Christian church I’m especially turned off from these fake miracles. Gold dist and feathers falling from the ceiling. People jerking barking like dogs and crowing like roosters bill Johnson with grave soaking. What are we doing and calling it God.