Do you think that pastors should receive salaries?

[Blake H]

I'd like to hear everyone's opinions on this topic.

 

[Dave M]

1 Corinthians 9:14
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

 

[PloughBoy]

I think they should follow Apostle Paul example.

 

[Curtis]

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching. (AMP)

 

[Hekuran]

Yes. Pastors should be given enough that they are not distracted from the Lord's work by financial worries, but not so much that the wage is an incentive to go into ministry.

 

[Ivan Chamurliev]

Yes, but they need to have exactly enough to live with and not to live in abundance. They need to put the Lord and His work as a priority. I've got an example with a founder of a huge christian community spread all over the world that lived most of his life in a small house on top of a mechanic store. I think he didn't own any car either and basically lived, dressed as a poor man. And believe me, that community didn't lack any money, but most of the incomes or donations were used to develop the work and spread the gospel further. And that man worked with his own hands until the last day he stayed there. He worked more than most of the people living there. And He did that to develop the community. To a question why doesn't he get some time to rest because of his old age, he replied that heaven is the place where he will rest. Now I'm not saying that all the pastors or leaders should do in that way ( and some of them can't ), but to me that was an example. The greatest example anyway is found in the Bible, because each man in itself is having his shortcomings or faults, but we all need to strive to do better.

 

[PloughBoy]

Is Apostle Paul, setting a good example here ?

1 Corinthians 9: 15-18
15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

 

[Sue D.]

Some pastors have a secular job and well as pastoring a church, The church congregation needs to pay their pastor. He is there For them.

 

[PloughBoy]

He is there to do what,? What are they paying him to do?

 

[PloughBoy]

Sue, it depends on different circumstances. IMO a local church should be lead by a group of “Elders” and not one Man, but a group full of the Holy Spirit. By saying local, I do mean local. That is only my opinion. And that is just mine, no weight here or in glory.

 

[Sue D.]

Some churches do have a group of elders who take turns leading services.

The qualifications for a bishop / overseer / a husband of one wife, etc. as found in 1 Timothy 3.

Then in Titus 1 -- refers to a bishop / over-seer. A husband of one wife.

There is Also to be a board of deacons and some deaconnesses.

You asked what does a pastor Do?!

My husband pastored a small country church for about 5 yrs. He did pretty much everything. Studied for the sermons he presented every Sunday morning and evening and Wedn nights / visited sick / was a husband and father of his own family. He decided we needed to let the church people And community that we were there to stay. We'd been the first full-time pastor. They'd had a missionary-pastor previously -- he'd been a poor example in the community.

 

[Dave M]

who supported Jesus and his disciples during his ministry?

 

[Sue D.]

Well -- Jesus Christ was only here on earth temporarily -- His disciples followed Him. It was after He left - ascended back up to heaven that people were meeting in various houses to break bread together and share Scripture. But wasn't That because of the persecution at that time?

Isn't New Testament 'worship' including worshiping in various ways -- giving being one of them -- with a cheerful heart?

 

[PloughBoy]

United State is a poor example of Christianity and Christian giving. If you want to see what real Christianity is all about go and live in one these countries.
"215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution" around the world, according to Open Doors, a human rights organization. On its recently released World Watch List 2018, which ranks the world's 50 worst nations wherein to be Christian, 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 abducted, and 1,020 raped or sexually harassed on account of their faith; and 793 churches were attacked or destroyed. Most Christians in the world don’t even have clean water to drink. You live there, you will see what real Christian giving is all about.

 

[Sue D.]

PloughBoy -- your bio says you live in Michigan -- there's a growing Muslim population there -- that's where my sister and brother in law and their family lives.

If you Really feel led to experience really hard life -- feel free to go to some of those other countries.

God allows 'us' to be born where He Wants us to be born. To be a Christian witness 'here'.

Maybe You should be a good example of how Christianity Should be lived and worshiped right where You are.

 

[PloughBoy]

No I worry about them all the time, and pray for them the scriptures instructs is. I have been all over this country and parts of canada. Only about 3 or 4 states I have never been too. I have been to Ontario, Montreal, British Colombia, I went to A Bible college years ago, it sent many of students to foreign countries, as missionaries, personnel reports of their sufferings and being rape but they still kept witnessing, to their tormentors, many tormentors where saved , by the persistence of their victims. We would hear their testimonies when they would come back in the auditorium. Of their hardship in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. We read so many autobiography of martyrs and missionaries from “Polycarp” to 20 century those Not loving their life unto death claiming Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. Those Christians living in the hardest of life so look for the return of Jesus Christ with the earnest of heart , looking for the blesseth hope. Full of joy with pain and suffering. That is what they look. For. The Rapture means a lot to them! That is the “Blesseth Hope” in the Bible.

 

[PloughBoy]

I have stories too, but they are not important.

 

[Sue D.]

Thank you for sharing your insight of your traveling -- there Have been and continue to Be those dying for the name of Christ. Being martyrs.

'Real Christianity' can be seen all over the world. AND here at home. People Should be able to see 'real Christianity' in 'us'. Our living a Christ-like life right where we are.

 

[Dave M]

Well -- Jesus Christ was only here on earth temporarily -- His disciples followed Him. It was after He left - ascended back up to heaven that people were meeting in various houses to break bread together and share Scripture. But wasn't That because of the persecution at that time?

Isn't New Testament 'worship' including worshiping in various ways -- giving being one of them -- with a cheerful heart?

Jesus was supported by followers of him, the women had a huge part in supporting his ministry. He did not have a Job during his ministry was my point I was trying to make

 

[Dave M]

United State is a poor example of Christianity and Christian giving. If you want to see what real Christianity is all about go and live in one these countries.
"215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution" around the world, according to Open Doors, a human rights organization. On its recently released World Watch List 2018, which ranks the world's 50 worst nations wherein to be Christian, 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 abducted, and 1,020 raped or sexually harassed on account of their faith; and 793 churches were attacked or destroyed. Most Christians in the world don’t even have clean water to drink. You live there, you will see what real Christian giving is all about.

show me a mans check book and I will show you where his heart is.

Christians in usa give less now percentage wise then back in the great depression. if all the people who claim to be Christians just gave 10% we could solve the worlds hunger problem.

We will stand before God one day, and I imagine God will say something along the lines of, to many so called Christians.... I put you in America the richest country in the history of the world, and you kept all the riches to yourself instead of helping the poor. during the separation of the goats and sheeps the main difference between the two are the ones that helped the poor and ones that did nothing.

For the most part the church in America seems to me to fit the description of the church spoke about in revelation Laodicean

yet in all this there are still churches on fire for God helping the poor, and preaching the Gospel.