Should ministers be paid?
posted by Heath at 12:23 PM
Monday, October 23, 2006
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5 Comments:
Yes and No?
The blog has been taken to a new level - Hello Craig!
So how do you know when to pay and when not to?
Most ministers I've dealt with aren't just paid for their sermons (so many comments I'm not adding here), but for being full-time counselors, administrators, and a host of executive functions. Perhaps all of this could be done by volunteers, but in many cases it's helpful to consolidate.
Dunno if I have too strong an opinion beyond the fact I know a lot of ministers who I'm glad have the freedom to focus on their various ministries. Although I am starting to think Spence and Em are really just freeloaders. ;-)
Yes. I believe that there is significant biblical support, not just to pay ministers, but to pay them well.
Read Numbers 18; Luke 10 (Where Jesus sends out his 72 "workers" vs 7); 2 Chronicles 31:4&19; Nehemiah 12:44 and 13:10&11; Ezikiel 44:30, 45:1&4, and 48:9&10, 1 Tim. 5:17&18; Romans 4:4, James 5:1-6 see vs 4. Seriously, go read 'em then come back...
It's nice, now that I'm not functioning as an underpaid youth minister, to be able to get up on a soap box and champion better wages for those that are currently in full/part time ministry positions without being made to feel guilty (because someone might assume I was making the case quite selfishly).
All that being said - I think often times churches tend to link a minister's wages to the most rediculous of metrics... and at least in part, the result of this, I think, is that often times paid ministers get very little "work" done.
Here's another question: Why is it so hard to accept "ministry" as "work"? (lots of thoughts on this, but I think in part it has to do with the idea that in ministry God is working through me, ergo I must not be working?)
FYI - the merriam webster dictionary has "minister" as synonomous with "agent" among other things.
Love y'all!
J
Just read my last comment... I'm thinking it really doesn't communicate all that well?
Anyway, all rambling aside I hope you read the scripture references.
Also, I'd like to hear your conclusions (where you have them)on the many questions you've posted thus far.
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