If Christian ministers are supposed to be like Jesus, why are they rich and married?

Question

Wasn't Jesus poor and single?

Answer 1

Correction My friend,

all Christian must strive to be like Jesus, not in a physical sense, but in a Spiritual sense.

Being Rich? Uhm.. well atleast my pastor is not rich, my pastor works and so does his wife. and all the money from the church goes into paying bills for the church. So uhm.. my pastor is not Rich.

The Bible says that not all have the gift of being alone, but if you cannot do with out, to go ahead and get married, because its better to marry then to lust and burn.

Answer 2

Many, perhaps most ministers are relatively poor, so that's not quite accurate, although it is fair to say that all Christians (not just ministers) should not place too much value in money. In terms of being married, that wasn't an essential part of being like Jesus. Jesus was also a carpenter, Jewish, wore sandals, probably had long greasy hair. To be like Jesus means to emulate his character, not imitate his superficial characteristics.

Answer 3

This is one of the most misunderstood topics in the bible. People automatically assume that Jesus was poor and could not have a wife. People misunderstand His purpose for coming here to the earth, to glorify God and go to the Cross,(not to accumulate wealth). You have to understand that Jesus had a family business with Joseph and Mary His earthly parents. They were carpenters by trade. In addition, while Jesus was in His ministry, He had a treasurer named Judas. So, He was never poor. If the Lord had to live on this earth for a full life time, He would have been the wealthiest man alive according to God's laws of reaping and sowing. As for marriage, if you go and read in Leviticus chapter 15 you will see that there were certain things about sexual intimacy which would have defiled the Lord Jesus, making Him defiled and with sin. That is why He could not have a wife. However, ministers and other believers no matter what their position can prosper according to God's Word. Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap. The Lord sets no limit on how much a believer can prosper as long as his heart is set on doing God' will. Prosperity is the natural way of God, to be in poverty is a curse. Lastly, God is the one who ordained marriage for his pastors, prophets, pastors, and priests. Abraham when he was getting ready to die, told his servant that the Lord has sent his angel ahead of him to prepare the way for my son Issac to have a wife. Also, the even the Apostle Paul said that he had to right to take a believeing wife, but chose not to.

Answer 4

Whoever said ministers were rich? Have you ever met any? aside from the ones you see on television....most Ministers give up everything to follow the cause of Christ and to spread the good news.

As for the married part...did Jesus forbid minsters to be married? No... in fact most of his disciples were married.

Answer 5

I would argue that Jesus was very rich when He was on earth! Never had to pay for a meal, had an entorauge wherever He went... never paid rent.

In all reality, Jesus was the day's equivalent of a rock star. Rabbis had great respect in those days and many people would flock to hear them and would gladly feed them and assist them with their travels.

Jesus wanted for no physical thing. That's rich, man!

As for single, I believe that Jesus did not marry in His life on earth, and I believe that was because He knew His fate. Hey, if you knew you were going to die on a cross, would you marry and have kids?

Answer 6

The rich part is wrong, but Jesus was God and so He could not be defiled by a woman. I am not saying that sex is a sin, because it is not. I am saying that a woman would have a sin nature and therefore taking away from Christ perfection.
I totally agree with you that the rich part is wrong though. Christ told the rich young ruler to give up all his wealth, and to follow Him(Christ). Also the Bible says that to whom much is given, much is required. What I mean by this is that pastors (who are given the responsibility to shepherd Christians) are held to a higher standard by God than just any Christian.

Answer 7

Christian ministers strive to be like Jesus, as we all should. The Bible does not say that a minister is to be poor and single, but I guess they are rich, but not the kind of wealth you are referring to. :)

Answer 8

Yes, Jesus was, but He didn't forbid ministers or any of His followers from being married or being wealthy. (Peter was married; one of Jesus' miracles was the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, whose daughter would have been married to him.) One-third of Jesus' parables are about personal wealth to teach us about the right attitude to have toward money and possessions. They're only sinful and/or idolatrous when we place wealth or a spouse or anything ahead of following God the Father. And being married -- God creates each of us to seek completion with one other person of the opposite sex. The goal of being a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, is to be like Him in what we do and who we are. Is what we have benefiting the cause of Christ or not? That's what you need to ask.

Answer 9

The Apostle Peter was married there is nothing the matter with a preacher being married .
Peter's, healed by Jesus
[Mar_1:30-31]

Mar 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
Mar 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

In Christ in Love,
TJ57

Answer 10

No. A man doing magic pretending to be the son of god. Surly he must have been loaded and all the ladies would want him. So if the christian ministers are supposed to be like jesus shouldn't they be doing magic.