Should Pastors/Ministers have additional jobs?
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Regarding the bolded portion... Kudos, CaliBob for quoting it correctly! 
I've seen common sayings butchered too many times.
Regarding the subject of the thread... My view is that the pastor may have another job outside the church, and should do so if the church is unable to support him or her with a full-time salary. This would likely be the case with a new church plant.
I do not believe that Christians are required to tithe, but are called to support the ministry of the word of God. Small churches without denominations to back them simply won't be able to support full-time pastors, and the people should not be pressured to do so.
I have also seen a small-church "pastor" who would only preach - no counseling, teaching, or anything else, who was being paid a full-time salary. I didn't agree with that.
I've seen common sayings butchered too many times.Regarding the subject of the thread... My view is that the pastor may have another job outside the church, and should do so if the church is unable to support him or her with a full-time salary. This would likely be the case with a new church plant.
I do not believe that Christians are required to tithe, but are called to support the ministry of the word of God. Small churches without denominations to back them simply won't be able to support full-time pastors, and the people should not be pressured to do so.
I have also seen a small-church "pastor" who would only preach - no counseling, teaching, or anything else, who was being paid a full-time salary. I didn't agree with that.
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I think they should have jobs. I think the collection that is received, the tithe, should go to the church itself. And to those who are in the congregation and have need.
What should never happen is a pastor rolling up in a new Rolls Royce having left their mega-mansion to go speak at a so called mega-church that is false from foundation to rooftop.
There are unfortunately many wolves designed like that with expensively appointed churches and custom tailored suits wrapping their frame as they stand and work for but thirty minutes or so for a huge paycheck. While in the pews are people who are out of a job, facing foreclosure, hoping to keep the lights on, wondering how they're going to feed the kids till the next paycheck, etc... And yet that rich person in the pulpit finds a way to interject money, giving, into every sermon so that the poor or barely getting by, feel obliged to give what they can't afford to a man or woman that really doesn't need that money as desperately as the congregant member does.
There are a few TV pastor types that work their whole message around the theme of, give me money!
I know a woman who has two kids. She and her husband work but they were in a bit of a pickle not long ago. Their pride woudln't let them ask friends for a loan so the wife wrote Joyce Meyer and asked if she could help. Marie had been a TV viewer of hers for years. Has all her books. Even sent in offerings for needy causes Meyers would mention from time to time.
Joyce's response was to send her a cheap pamphlet containing scriptures on how to pray for God's bounty in your life. That's a woman who during an IRS audit a few years ago revealed she was gifted a $750,000.00 commode.
To that point I thought commode was the same as toilet. Nope! It's a dresser!
A $750,000.00 dresser. Because a woman who teaches the words of a carpenter who had no place to lay his head needs that.
What should never happen is a pastor rolling up in a new Rolls Royce having left their mega-mansion to go speak at a so called mega-church that is false from foundation to rooftop.
There are unfortunately many wolves designed like that with expensively appointed churches and custom tailored suits wrapping their frame as they stand and work for but thirty minutes or so for a huge paycheck. While in the pews are people who are out of a job, facing foreclosure, hoping to keep the lights on, wondering how they're going to feed the kids till the next paycheck, etc... And yet that rich person in the pulpit finds a way to interject money, giving, into every sermon so that the poor or barely getting by, feel obliged to give what they can't afford to a man or woman that really doesn't need that money as desperately as the congregant member does.
There are a few TV pastor types that work their whole message around the theme of, give me money!
I know a woman who has two kids. She and her husband work but they were in a bit of a pickle not long ago. Their pride woudln't let them ask friends for a loan so the wife wrote Joyce Meyer and asked if she could help. Marie had been a TV viewer of hers for years. Has all her books. Even sent in offerings for needy causes Meyers would mention from time to time.
Joyce's response was to send her a cheap pamphlet containing scriptures on how to pray for God's bounty in your life. That's a woman who during an IRS audit a few years ago revealed she was gifted a $750,000.00 commode.
To that point I thought commode was the same as toilet. Nope! It's a dresser!
A $750,000.00 dresser. Because a woman who teaches the words of a carpenter who had no place to lay his head needs that.
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The size is around 200-250 members. Compared to others around our region, we’re average sized.
Hmmm, I’d say our Minister that passed away was more active in his role - and pretty much set up our church. Because of his experience with people, he was more a people person but the Minister we have now isn’t as much and more of a theological teacher than a people person.
Hmmm, I’d say our Minister that passed away was more active in his role - and pretty much set up our church. Because of his experience with people, he was more a people person but the Minister we have now isn’t as much and more of a theological teacher than a people person.
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M
Our current one kind of struggles around being a people personality and I understand that everyone is different. I think the main thing is that he’s established this area of his and is trying to make an effort to be more engaged with the members.
Our former one never had that problem because it was his character. His sermons were great and preached in a way with themes that people could relate to. Our current one preachers majority of the time from a theological POV and sometimes I find it hard to understand (and his sermons are preached in my native language) so I’m not sure if it’s my lack of understanding my own native tongue, which sometimes I believe it is, but I always carry a english bible with me so I can refer to it during the sermon.
Our former one never had that problem because it was his character. His sermons were great and preached in a way with themes that people could relate to. Our current one preachers majority of the time from a theological POV and sometimes I find it hard to understand (and his sermons are preached in my native language) so I’m not sure if it’s my lack of understanding my own native tongue, which sometimes I believe it is, but I always carry a english bible with me so I can refer to it during the sermon.
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Paul also said that it is right for a congregation to support a pastor financially but he declined such help so as to not be a burden but he had every right to expect support from the church.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
This is a biblical example and principal as well.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
This is a biblical example and principal as well.
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The real issues are much deeper: (1) Elders (which includes pastors) -- according to Scripture -- were from within the congregation, not imported from Rabbinic schools (which would be seminaries today), (2) spiritual qualifications were the only criteria, not academic achievements (as insisted upon today), and (3) elders were NOT employees of the churches (subject to hiring, firing, and moving to other locations), but overseers who remained with the flock as long as God has them in that position. Also ministers were forbidden to take titles such as Rabbi or Father (which today would equate to Reverend and Doctor).
As you can see there has been a wholesale departure from the NT pattern, and a lot more could be said, but it is too late to see any changes in these things.
As you can see there has been a wholesale departure from the NT pattern, and a lot more could be said, but it is too late to see any changes in these things.
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Do you mean minister/preacher? Cause a paster is one of the elders of the church. The one who does sermons can have another job as long as it ranks second in priority and doesn't effect the quality of his work of teaching people about God. This is biblical- Paul was also a tent maker.
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I agree with most of your post. The point in which I disagree is your equating of "Rabbi or Father" with "Reverend and Doctor". Reverend, yes, agreed. Doctor, however, is an earned academic title which does not contradict Matthew 23. If a pastor happens to have earned a doctorate in a field of study, it is right to address that pastor as "Doctor ...", just as it is right to address a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or college professor as "Doctor ...".
Unfortunately, Christians, like any other humans, can wrongly attribute spiritual status, wisdom, or superior understanding to someone merely because they have an earned title, when it only means advanced knowledge in a specific field. Within the Church, we should not elevate one another, but allow God to lead in the selection and appointment of elders according to, as you say, spiritual qualifications.
Regarding your comment about seminaries, they are valuable in that they provide for focused study on issues relevant to ministry, such as counseling, church history, biblical hermeneutics and exegesis, ecclesiology, and theology. It would be unwise to "install" a pastor who has not worked through these things. Most Christians don't study these in depth and are not equipped to answer many questions or guide people to the answers. The only correction I would suggest is the need for more "practical apprenticeship" and a little less book work.
Unfortunately, Christians, like any other humans, can wrongly attribute spiritual status, wisdom, or superior understanding to someone merely because they have an earned title, when it only means advanced knowledge in a specific field. Within the Church, we should not elevate one another, but allow God to lead in the selection and appointment of elders according to, as you say, spiritual qualifications.
Regarding your comment about seminaries, they are valuable in that they provide for focused study on issues relevant to ministry, such as counseling, church history, biblical hermeneutics and exegesis, ecclesiology, and theology. It would be unwise to "install" a pastor who has not worked through these things. Most Christians don't study these in depth and are not equipped to answer many questions or guide people to the answers. The only correction I would suggest is the need for more "practical apprenticeship" and a little less book work.
Wow, a pastor is a sheppard, one that leads the flock to pasture and tends to them, a minister is someone who has a specific ministry like nursing or transportation. A preacher is an orator, one who makes speaches, evangelizes etc. a teacher is a Rabbi, they teach the word. A deacon is a glorified helper. They may assist with collections, parking, giving directions to the childs rooms, perhaps assist the others already mentioned. They are very valuable.
That is not to say that is what it means in the church where you attend. That is what it all meant, before they were titles. Like mechanics, nurses, salesman and whatever else you may call yourself.
That is not to say that is what it means in the church where you attend. That is what it all meant, before they were titles. Like mechanics, nurses, salesman and whatever else you may call yourself.
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Why not to have another job? even Paul himself became a tent maker.
he even commanded us to imitate him.
1 Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (NKJV)
you must even be suspicious if your pastor has no legal job because it is clear that he is using God's words to make his members' money his merchandise by asking a lot of contributions ranging from the 10 percent; prayer requests; love offerings etc. etc.
Christian religions some of them became scams that the police will never dismantle. some cops might even join these spiritual scams.
this is why I advise to rather join religions where you are not compelled to give anything when you worship and the pastor will frighten you with God's curses or accusation of stealing Him if you don't give 10 percent.
In my Church you can attend mass even w/o giving a single cent.
he even commanded us to imitate him.
1 Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (NKJV)
you must even be suspicious if your pastor has no legal job because it is clear that he is using God's words to make his members' money his merchandise by asking a lot of contributions ranging from the 10 percent; prayer requests; love offerings etc. etc.
Christian religions some of them became scams that the police will never dismantle. some cops might even join these spiritual scams.
this is why I advise to rather join religions where you are not compelled to give anything when you worship and the pastor will frighten you with God's curses or accusation of stealing Him if you don't give 10 percent.
In my Church you can attend mass even w/o giving a single cent.
Pasters do look after the flock by making sure they are only fed the doctrine of Christ (by making sure the preacher only preaches truth, and to settle disputes among sheep, and protect them from wolves in sheep skin. These are things the elders of the church do- they are the pasters who work for the Good Shepherd- which is Christ.
There are many kinds of ministries, but the main ministry is to minister to lost souls, and those growing in Christ, by feeding them the Word of God. That is the help that souls need more than anything else.
We are not to call anyone rabbi or teacher, the teaching comes from Christ, we just deliver His teachings.
We all do the work of the Lord in various ways.
There are many kinds of ministries, but the main ministry is to minister to lost souls, and those growing in Christ, by feeding them the Word of God. That is the help that souls need more than anything else.
We are not to call anyone rabbi or teacher, the teaching comes from Christ, we just deliver His teachings.
We all do the work of the Lord in various ways.
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