Should Pastors Pastor for Free when the church body has a tremendous need, but no money?

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl Spearman on May 31, 2009 at 7:23am

I feel that when it comes to doing the work of God, getting paid should not be a deciding factor. I'm not a pastor however, being a true christian is a ministering within it's self. Society as a whole has become so dependent on the "what's in it for me?" syndrome. If I'm getting paid for everything I do here, what blessings will I have in heaven? God gives us gifts without a price, so if we are following his pattern feeding his people the word shouldn't have a price tag.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Taylor on April 8, 2010 at 2:20pm

I think that if the call was from God, a minister should take the church regardless. If God sent the minister there then God will provide. It may be through some other employment. If that is necessary, the minister will just have to adjust to working and preaching, like most ministers do. Building the treasures in heaven is a far greater reward, but that doesn't mean it won't be hard. and the Church body will have to understand that the Pastor may not be 100% accessible at all times because he/she has to be able to make money to support themselves.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Brostovski on April 26, 2010 at 8:36am

I have mixed emotions about this one. Part of me says, no they should not worry about the money. I think of Paul who was a tentmaker and preached the gospel. He obviously had an outside job. However, if the Pastor is committed to a church (sometimes more than one church), and has a family, he wont have time to do both. Even though I feel this is not really a 'j.o.b', I dont think God would like his workers to starve either. If the church doesnt have the money, perhaps they should install a lay pastor instead, and then deal with the fact that they wont have the attention a pastor would give. In my heart I do believe a full time pastor has many responsibilities that go much further than just preaching one day of the week. he has an entire flock to counsel, talk with, perform weddings, funerals...I dont believe a Pastor is just a person who is just on the pulpit one day and then invisible the rest of the time. If that were the case, then I would say dont worry about the money, since he will probably we holding down a full time job. If the Pastor is totally committed to the church, then he needs to be compensated some how.
Just my two cents.
Blessings!
Robin

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