SHOULD PASTOR’S BE ‘CARED FOR?’
A Scriptural look at another unbiblical cherished doctrine of man
“…..In other words Timothy, you are to bind the consciences of God’s people
to care for their pastor’s…..”
Pastor Albert N. Martin, in reference to 1 Timothy 5:17
The devil’s favorite place to trap people and bring them into bondage is not your local watering hole or whore house or the local drug dealer, nor is it with religions like Hinduism, Islam, etc. No, the devil’s favorite place to render powerless God’s people is a pulpit in a church that advertises itself as a “God glorifying” and “Christ-centered” church.
The following is from a variety of contributors. It is to be presented in the clearest possible terms, without mincing words, just like the Apostle Paul would have done if he were alive and witnessing what’s happening in the churches today. He would hit the nail right on the head.
Last Sunday, as the announcement was made: “Let us continue to worship God in the giving of our tithes and offerings,” (or words to that effect) many of you gave your money away to the church to help support the income of some of your church leaders because you were told that this is what the Scriptures command. Dear friends, you were a victim of extortion. This is the dictionary definition of extortion: Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.
What do the Scriptures say about extortioners? If you believe the Scriptures, then you also believe that anyone who extorts shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:10: “…Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV).
Those church leaders who took your money are extortioners, plain and simple. They have twisted the Scriptures, and then emptied your pockets.
You have probably been extorted like this week in and week out, maybe for decades! Perhaps those questionings in your heart that you’ve always had regarding passing the plate around for your “tithes and offerings” were right! Yes, you were a victim of deception. Deception: to obtain from another by coercion or intimidation.
Incidentally, this weekly exploitation known as “the offering,” used mostly to support the incomes of the professional church leaders, isn’t even authorized in the New Testament, but rather it is plainly condemned. No where in the Scriptures will you find even a hint that “the offering” is to be part of some “church worship service” or that a large part of this money should now go to the “pastor” or “elders” or “teaching elders.”
Christians didn’t even have “church worship services” let alone “church buildings!” The extortioners who engage in this deception are twisting the Scriptures for the purpose of wringing ever-increasing profits from unsuspecting dupes.
As the Apostle Paul said: “…For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites and by fair and flattering words, they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded…” (Romans 16:18) RSV
Professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Carl B. Hoch, Jr., says:
In New Testament days, leaders were normally not paid. That is, money was given more as a gift than as an income or a salary. Leaders like Paul could receive money, but Paul chose not to receive any from the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 9:8-12). He wanted to serve without depending on any church for financial support. Churches had a responsibility to "reward the ox" (1 Timothy 5:17) and to share with those who taught (Galatians 6:6). But money was never to be the driving force of ministry (1 Peter 5:2). Unfortunately, churches today will not call a man until they feel they can support him, and some men will not seriously consider a call if the financial package is "inadequate" (All Things New -Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1995- p.240).
Acts 20:33-35 the Apostle Paul says, “….I have desired the silver, or gold, or clothing of no one. But you yourselves know, that these hands ministered to my needs, and to those who were with me. I showed you all things, that working in this way we ought to help those being weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, it is more blessed to give that to receive.” (Inter.Grk/Eng. NT)
Commenting on this passage, the New Testament scholar F.F. Bruce writes:
Returning once more to the example which he had set them, he reminds them finally that those who take care of the people of God must do so without thought of material reward. As Samuel called all Israel to witness when he was about to lay down his office as judge (1 Samuel 12:3), so Paul calls the Ephesian elders to witness that all the time he spent with them he coveted nothing that was not his; on the contrary, he did not even avail himself of his right to be maintained by those whose spiritual welfare he cared, but earned his living--and that of his colleagues--by his own labors: "these hands," he said (inevitably with the attendant gesticulation), "ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me" (v.34). Let those to whom he was speaking likewise labor and thus support not only themselves but others as well--the sick in particular (The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts - Grand Rapids: Wm.B. Eerdmans, 1986 - p.418).
In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, the Apostle Paul says some revealing statements. I will quote it here in its’ entirety in order that you can see it for yourself.
1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi,
as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell
you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,
nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God
to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to
please men but God, who tests our hearts.
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask
to cover up greed— God is our witness.
6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you
or anyone else.
7 As Apostles of Christ we could have been a BURDEN to you,
but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share
with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well,
because you had become so dear to us.
9 Surely you remember brothers, our toil and hardship;
we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to
anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous
and blameless we were among you who believed.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father
deals with his own children,
12 Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy
of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (NIV)
The Apostle Paul comes right out and says that if the church is paying someone to do the teaching and the preaching, that this is a burden to the church, not a help.
This, of course, runs contrary to what you’ve been told all your life by paid “pastors” and “elders” in the church. They tell you the exact opposite - of how much a church is hurt by not having a hireling like themselves.
They will convince all who will listen of how much they are needed by the church, of how much they help the church, and how essential they are to the well being of the church, and of how all of this is Scriptural and to the glory of God!
The Apostle Paul will say, "these men are a burden, not a benefit, to a church, weighing it down, stunting it’s growth, and making it harder to minister to the people." Or, as someone else has said,
"The pastor is not a necessity. He is a fungus growth
upon the church, the body of Christians, dwarfing its growth...
and until the church gets rid of him it will never prosper."
In verse nine of 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul points out that in addition to working DAYS, he also worked NIGHTS. And he is talking about REAL work - working with his hands building tents.
And as if that wasn’t enough, on top of working nights AND days HE ALSO PREACHED to the Thessalonians- month after month after month. He did all this so that the church there wouldn’t have to pay a cent as he ministered the word.
Now, contrast THAT behavior with the modern church today – with the “teaching elder” or “the pastor” with their nice hair cuts, and nice business suits. Even if he wanted to, there are some pastors that are not allowed to mow their own lawn! Too "degrading". Too "blue-collar". And too "humble".
From the book entitled, “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse,” in Chapter 11, the authors convey the folly of the “pastor” always trying to maintain his image:
“But, [the false leaders] do all their deeds to be noticed be men…” Matthew 23:5-6
"Your wife and children must address you in public as ‘pastor.’ This would serve to communicate reverence and respect for your position, which would be helpful in maintaining the proper image. Sitting on the platform appropriately is vital. Wear the right socks, never cross your legs in such a way as to show the people the soles of your shoes….
More advice: You’re working on your car on your day off, and you discover that a trip to the parts store is necessary. Always change your clothes before you go out in public. Never let the people see you in a context other than pastoral dignity. Image is everything.
And the voice: When you ascend the platform, remember – you are the voice of God. Sound like it! So we open our mouth and it sounds like we’re playing a part, an actor on a stage. Material for stand-up comics…..
Can you picture Jesus giving this kind of “training” to the disciples? ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, how you look is what really matters. Create thou a good impression. Forget what I said earlier to you concerning having only one coat. Bringest thou two in case thou mayest be seen in public by those who payeth their tithes in great measure. And never, never let them smell the fish!”
"Do we really believe that how we sit on the platform has the power to discredit the message and short-circuit the power of God?” (“The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse”, Chap. 11 pg. 131-132)
You know what would be nice to see?
One day, it would be so nice to see a dirty, sweaty, smelly, haggard Apostle Paul walk into the “Sunday worship service” and go up to one of these self-righteous, smug, over-paid, egotistical pulpit-pounders engaging the audience in their “public performance”, and "publicly" expose them for who they are.
Also, notice this: The Apostle Paul does not equate "working" with preaching the gospel.
Did you get that? The Apostle Paul does not equate working with preaching the gospel.
The two activities are clearly and distinctly separate in Paul’s mind. You know what this does? This pulls the rug out from under those pompous windbags who are always telling you that their preaching is work. Not only that, but that its “hard work!” “Why”, they say, “it’s one of the hardest working jobs that anybody can have!”, and so he is therefore entitled to be paid for his “working”.
In 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15, the Apostle Paul says the same thing, except with even more emphasis.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that you keep away from any brother who is living in idleness and not in
accord with the tradition that you received from us.
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle
when we were with you, we did not eat any one's bread without paying,
but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not BURDEN
any of you.
It was not because we have not that right, but to give you in our CONDUCT
an EXAMPLE TO IMITATE.
For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: If any one
will not work, let him not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in
idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.
Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ
to do their WORK in quietness and to earn their OWN living.
Brethren, do not be weary in well-doing.
If any one refuses to obey what we say in this letter, note that man,
and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not look
on him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (RSV)
Again, the key word here is "burden".
The Apostle Paul has clearly labeled the “paid pastors” or the “teaching elders”, in other words, the paid professional clergy, not a benefit, but rather a burden; not a help, but rather a hindrance.
Imagine 25 pound weights tied to your legs in a race. That’s a paid “pastor” to a church. Whatever you think the benefit that might arise from having him minister the word to your church every Sunday is,
according to the Apostle Paul,
far outweighed by the
BURDEN HE PLACES UPON THE CHURCH
by doing so.
This is what the Scriptures says; not what I’ve said.
Once again, Paul hits the nail right on the head. In this section, he condemns their acting like "busybodies". They think that it’s their job to busy themselves sticking their noses into the business of others. And why not. There’re always propping themselves up with the false notion that they are “God’s duly-authorized overseers.”
They act like self-appointed "moral police", busying themselves with the private affairs of others. The root definition of "busybodies" sheds even more light on this:
“To bustle about uselessly, to busy one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters. Used apparently of a person OFFICIOUSLY inquisitive about others’ affairs.” (Thayer’s Dictionary)
Remember, the Apostle Paul worked not just one, but TWO jobs, while on top of that continuing to teach and preach, never once complaining or taking even a nickel from them for this.
In light of this, I tend to laugh at some church leaders publicly complaining they don’t have enough time for this or money for that. Let them try to get some sympathy from the Apostle Paul! Paul suffered all these troubles for just one purpose and one purpose only: to leave an example to imitate.
He even clearly labels it: " but to give you in our CONDUCT an EXAMPLE TO IMITATE."
Paul goes out of his way to make it clear that there are NO exceptions to this rule; that it applies to "anyone" which certainly means all pastor’s and elders as well. But what do modern church leaders do today in response to that?
Not one rotten thing! They totally ignore applying Paul’s example to themselves. Why?
Because they have a vested interest in NOT applying it to themselves. As one noted author has said,
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something
when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
So they will look at clear passages like this, and pretend to not understand how it could possible apply to them. They make themselves completely blind to this whole section of the New Testament, as if it doesn’t exist.
And if they do happen to speak on these texts, they are very careful to apply it to the people sitting in the pews and not to themselves. Many times, I have actually witnessed this from a pew, listening to the pastor dance around this section, careful to avoid any areas that might expose himself. Such verbal tap dancing seems to be a skill of both the professional clergy and politicians.
The “pastor” will shout loudly and thunder loudly and point to Paul’s right to be supported, while ignoring Paul’s example of not being supported. They play "pick n’ choose" with the Scriptures, speaking on what they like, ignoring what they don’t like.
Of course, those in positions of church leadership are going to say that none of this applies to them. That’s a given. They are special. It applies to you – dumbbells in the pew - not to him. Remember - he’s special. He’s been “duly authorized”. He’s “met the qualifications.”
Well, the Apostle Paul would disagree. Paul says that this applies to EVERYBODY: "if anyone will not work, neither let him eat." I think "anyone" would include "everyone" which includes your lazy, special, duly authorized church leader as well.
In fact, Paul himself was a teacher and preacher - and PAUL WORKED- real jobs, at that.
Again, This passage proves that Paul did NOT equate preaching with working. And since this applied to Paul, and Paul was a preacher, then it certainly applies to YOUR preacher as well - even more so. They are to work REAL jobs to support themselves, do their preaching for free, and not take even a nickel from the churches they preach at. As Paul says, "if anyone does not obey our instructions in this letter… do not associate with him." (v. 14). That "anyone" includes "everyone" which includes the “pastor.”
Has the so-called "ministry" earned a reputation for honest labor, lack of idleness? Paul rightfully refused to equate preaching with working. Those who minister the word in churches today should find honest, honorable employment- i.e. a real job, and not be free-loading off of a church, for which they have no right to do so anyway. Paul not only commanded this of Christians, but even set examples several times, to back up his words with deeds.
It is high time that some in church leadership start following Paul’s specific examples of working a real job, while teaching and preaching on the side. Don’t hold your breath though.
New Testament professor Simon J. Kistemaker at Reformed Theological Seminary said:
In his (Paul) letters he discloses that he worked night and day with his own hands to support himself, so that no one would ever be able to accuse him of depending on the hearers of the Gospel for his material needs (compare 1 Samuel 12:3). He refused to be a burden to anyone in the churches he established. By performing manual labor, he provided for his financial needs. Paul received gifts from the believers in Philippi, as he himself reveals (Philippians 2:25; 4:16-18), yet he declares that he did not solicit those gifts... The Ephesian elders had observed Paul's ministry and physical work during his three-year stay. They were able to testify that he had never exploited anyone (2 Corinthians 7:2), but had always set an example of diligence and self-sufficiency, in the good sense of the word. He was a model to the believers and taught the rule: "If you will not work, you shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10)... It appears that Paul generated sufficient income to support not only himself but even his companions... In every respect, says Paul to the elders of Ephesus, I taught you to work hard and with your earnings to help the weak... He exhorts them to follow his example and to labor hard. (New Testament Commentary: Acts - Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1990 - pp. 737,740).
Don’t we believe that the gospel is God’s free gift? How do you think the Lord sees the events of today where we have the paid professionals; the “pastors,” the “teaching elders” turning around and selling the gift so freely given them - a gift that cost the life of God’s Son to acquire? Some of these “church leaders” have taken what was freely given them, slapped a price tag on it, and sell it week after week…….. for a pay check!
The Apostle Peter condemned one who tried to buy it (Acts 8:18-24); how much more those who sell it week after week!
Of course, there might be some die-hard “men worshipers” who are reading this and thinking to themselves "Oh no! Not our “pastor.”
Our “pastor” isn’t in it for the money!
Our “pastor” is so humble; he’s so godly; he just looooves the Lord!"
Let’s try this experiment: stop paying him. That’s right. Stop paying your “pastor.”
See how long he remains being unpaid like the Apostle Paul!!
See how much he "looooooves the Lord" when he isn’t getting paid to "love the Lord!
Tell him he can still minister the word week after week, but also, he will have to get a real job like the Apostle Paul did.
I guarantee you, him, along with 99% of all other so-called “pastors” will be out of there, searching for a new pulpit to fill. "Looooves the Lord?" Yeah, right. It’s that weekly paycheck that he loves, and if the church won't pay him, he’ll pack his bags and sell himself off to some other church that will! Guaranteed !!!
Rest assured, most of the so-called “men in the ministry” today live according to this principle:
"No Pay, No Play"
1 Timothy 6:5-10
"......and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, IMAGINING THAT GODLINESS IS A MEANS OF GAIN. There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs..." (RSV)
The Apostle Paul, once again in plain language, condemns those who have turned “the ministry of the word” into a full-time paid job.
He condemns those that have made a living out of it. He condemns those that have turned the gospel into "a means of GAIN". In short, he condemns EVERY SINGLE PAID PREACHER THAT EXISTS TODAY.
Why haven’t you heard this before? Why hasn’t this teaching of the Apostle Paul been “broadcast” widely and proclaimed from pulpits across this land? Why is it that the “church leadership” has consistently avoided teaching and preaching on verses like these?
Well, to even ask such questions is to answer such questions. The reason why the “leadership” keeps quiet on this issue is because they themselves are the target of Paul’s wrath.
They are the ones guilty of having turned “the ministry of the word,” i.e. preaching, into a full-time job.
For them to preach this from their pulpits would be the end of their livelihood.
They have been forced to choose between God, and mammon – and guess what? They’ve chosen mammon. They have been faced with the choice of picking what they love more - their salaries, or the truth; and truth has lost out.
OR
The very people who are in the best position to inform their congregations of the truth of this matter, turn out to be the same people who have a “vested interest” in keeping quiet.
Indeed, the wolves have been placed in charge of the hen house, and are doing their best to keep the hens ignorant of the slaughter of truth going on.
There are many, many in “church leadership” today that have turned religion into a "means of gain".
Remember. A “pastor” is a professional religionist - one who gets paid to teach; to preach; to minister the word. And, as we’ve seen, is clearly and distinctly condemned by Paul.
Anybody who can read the verses of Scripture above, and go away with any other conclusion is either:
#1) a lazy Christian who refuses to think for themselves or
#2) a “pastor/elder” with a vested interest to protect.
It’s just like the tobacco lawyers from a few years back - trying to blind others to the dangers of cigarettes;
so also these church leaders have blinded their congregations to verses like the above. The day they start to deal honestly with verses like the above, will be the day they quit their jobs.
So again, don’t hold your breath here either.
2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many, peddlers of God's word; but as men of sincerity,
as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (RSV)
For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity,
but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. (NASB)
For we are not as the many, hawking the word of God… (Grk/Eng. NT)
For we are not as the majority.... (CLT)
ANY church leader, pastor, elder, preacher, - regardless of how popular he is, how handsome he is, of how good an orator he is, and regardless of "how many decades" he has been in the ministry,- ANY preacher that makes his living from a church is nothing but a crook.
And be not deceived, there ARE many that have been at it for decades!
Nothing could be more obvious as the Apostle Paul himself condemning those who "make a living" out of preaching the gospel. And was that the majority, or minority of preachers, who are, contrary to plain Bible teaching, making their living from peddling the gospel?
The Apostle Paul said that it was the MAJORITY. And guess what? It’s the same in our day too!
99% of all the professional clergymen have managed to turn their religion into their livelihood, in clear and direct violation of this verse. Yet these same people have the audacity to stand in their pulpits and condemn others for ignoring the same book they themselves ignore.
Is the word “hypocrites” appropriate here?
And the gutless and spineless church members in the pews keep putting up with it, gladly submitting to being sheared of their money!
Titus 1:10-12
“For there are indeed many unruly men, empty talkers and mind-deluders,
especially those of the circumcision, whose mouth you must stop, who
overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for the sake of ill gain.
One of them, a prophet of their own said: Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (Grk/Eng. NT)
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially
those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting
whole families, teaching things they should not teach, for the sake of sordid gain.
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." (NASB)
We should note that it was the "gain” (“sordid gain,” “ill gain”) these men were making, that is, the profit, the fact that they were profiting off the death of Jesus, and not the money itself, nor the teaching, which was “sordid” or “ill.” Their teaching was of course "something that should not be taught," but the money was just common everyday money. It is the profiting off the death of Christ that is being objected to. Even if they were teaching things that were 100% true, they would still be in the wrong for "doing a Judas", i.e. profiting off the death of Jesus.
Notice that Paul also calls these men "lazy gluttons". Maybe the fact that they were "lazy gluttons" has a lot to do with the profession they picked. There are many “ministers” around, contrary to their constant objections, that are in reality some of the laziest people out there. It is certainly the “dream-job” for a "lazy glutton" to have.
Another occupational trait Paul brings up is the fact that many “paid professional ministers” are full of hot air. They can just go on and on “spinning a yarn”. It does seem to make sense that an empty talker; a deceiver; a mind-deluder could really profit in this profession.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11,12
"...to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands,
as we charged you so that you may command the respect of outsiders,
and be dependent on nobody."
1 Corinthians 4:11-12
"...To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad
and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands."
Acts 28:30, 31
"...And he lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed
all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about
the Lord Jesus Christ quite openly and unhindered."
2 Corinthians 11:6-15
"...Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not in knowledge; in every way
we have made this plain to you in all things.
Did I commit a sin in abasing myself so that you might be exalted,
because I preached God's gospel without cost to you?
I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.
And when I was with you and was in want, I did not burden any one,
for my needs were supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia.
So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced
in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you?
God knows I do! And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine
the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission
they work on the same terms as we do.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising
themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants
also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness."
Here, the Apostle Paul implies that it is mostly the "ministers of Satan" who are getting paid to preach the gospel.
Paul also is explaining to the Corinthians the reason as to why he refused to accept any money from them for preaching. Remember, this was so disconcerting to the Corinthians that they thought the Apostle Paul was a phony!
“Ministering the word for free?” Even they were scratching their heads. Some of the Corinthians were reasoning that the Apostle Paul must not be a real Apostle, or at least not on the same level as the other Apostles.
Paul explains the reason he refused their money (not to be a burden to them), and also says he’ll continue to refuse their money, more or less daring their (false) Apostles (the "ministers of Satan") to follow suit.
He knows they won’t - just like the professional paid pastors today also won’t. They will all refuse to "put their money where their mouth is" and instead will continue to pocket money that doesn’t belong to them.
2 Corinthians 12:12-18
"...The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience,
with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored
than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you?
Forgive me this wrong!