Should A Minister Charge For His Ministry?

This is exactly where the problem lie. Things are going wrong in God's leadership, and any attempt to correct is quickly threatened with God's wrath. But you know, the Apostle Paul found the need to rebuke Peter, even though Peter was the first and senior and anointed minister.

Well, about being wrong, if I am, the Holy Ghost will quickly convict me and I won't hesitate to get off his way. So am not scared of that...

The onus is on me to deliver any message the Lord impresses in my spirit with all boldness.

The difference here is that what Paul rebuked Peter for was actions that were negating everything that Jesus just got done doing for them. Paul also rebuked Peter to his face. Here, you are trying to "rebuke" somebody who is not even a part of this thread over their actions that you "feel" are wrong. If you are going to give Godly correction to this person, you should to do it in person, not by throwing dirt at them from the internet. How are they to respond to your accusations if they are not present for them?

I hope that you do not feel that I threatened you with God's wrath, that was not my intent and if that is how it felt, then please accept my apology. I know that God moves in many ways and through many people. Some of the people who He moves through I love dearly, and some of the people He moves through I do not care for. BUT! If He loves them, and is working through them, I definitely do not wish to speak ill of them. No minister is without fault as they are simply humans who have agreed to follow God to the best of their ability. Some succeed amazingly well while others succeed only moderately well. Should we eliminate the ones who succeed only moderately well? Should we eliminate the ones who only save a few people from hell each week?

I personally believe that you are in the wrong to say that a minister cannot/should not charge for their services/time/life. You say that God will provide his wages, but refuse to acknowledge that God may in fact be providing for the minister's family through the hiring of them to minister at that event.

The usual here where I live is to give a "love" offering, however when it is not at a level that the pastor feels is appropriate, they will often add to the love offering out of the general fund of the church to bring it up to a level that is appropriate so that they are not such a burden on the minister. This is basically paying the minister wages and calling it something else (a love offering).

We, as the body of Christ, need to be careful to lift up those who God has called to minister and to not spend time tearing them down. We need to offer correction in love if we believe it to be appropriate.
Face to face is always the best, but letters or electronic communication works also.

I understand that this thread is not really about one singular person or event, and that you are frustrated by the actions that you are seeing growing in the ministering community. I believe, however, that by going and speaking with several of these ministers who you believe to be in the wrong and offering correction to them face to face, you will be able to tell them why you believe that they are in the wrong and they will have a chance to respond to your concerns.

You have the onus to do this, so please do it properly. I look forward to hearing your thoughts after these meetings and offered corrections.

No!!! Jesus was very clear:

• "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matt 10.7-8).

The unbelievers charge for their services, but it shall not be so among us (meditate on Matthew 20.26).

Well Sir, I can't actually afford to go and meet all of them face to face, one-on-one, because this vice has become a world wide phenomenon, how do I travel round the world to warn all of these ministers to desist from what they are doing?

Then I am very glad you understand, I am not referring to a particular minister. The minister I cited, I actually know her name but purposely didn't mention her name. I used her case as a case study. The major essence of this thread is that this issue would be discussed with fellow ministers and believers around the world, so corrections can be taken for our own good. The intent is not to tear any particular minister down...

So why does Paul write in 1Timothy 5:17-18, "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages'"?

The clear implication is that those ministering the gospel should make their living from the gospel. Oh, yeah, Paul wrote that too... in 1 Corinthians 9:14.

What? You cannot afford to go and meet all of them? Surely if God gave you the onus to correct them then He will supply your needs to do so yes? Please know that I am being light hearted and just kidding with you here. It is intended though to help you to see that even the minister who God has placed the onus to spread into their heart needs to have finances to properly accomplish that task. Even Paul had people saving up for him months in advance so that when he did come there would be no need to ask for offering.

God bless you brother.

Well, it wasn't my business how much was spent, after all, the family in question is a wealthy family. I didn't mind if they of their own free will gave her a billion.

But my business was that she had to charge for her free gift of-- praise and worship, just like so many other ministers. Which is certainly against scriptural injunction. She actually came to minister in praise and worship, not speaking. Doesn't it upset you that someone would have to charge in order to come and praise and worship God?

And about yanking, absolutely no! My sister in law's husband, is certainly not a fan of hype.

Well Sir, if I got you right, you are in support of a minister actually charging for his ministry. My question is, on what scriptural ground should these charges be made. Can you cite a biblical minister that charged for his ministry? I am not saying freewill giving is not acceptable.

Then as for combining business with ministry successfully, how come the Apostle Paul thrived at this tremendously? You know, he had one of the greatest ministry in scriptures.

Yes, they should make their living form the gospel, but they should not demand their living from people, from the gospel.

The scripture in Timothy says they are to be "counted worthy of double honor", Not "Demand double honor"... there is a big difference.