For the Pastors-something to think about...?

Question

I"m a christian myself and dont have anything against pastors, but one day I was curious to know what do they all do with all the church tithes? I heard most of them keep in in their bank accounts and use it on materialistic things, like cars, houses, planes. I had one pastor who said that he was planning on buying two jet planes and a bigger house? I mean, what for? Why not use all that money for church members who really need it? There are alot of poor christians who really need a house or a car real badly or money for groceries. Alot of christians sacrifice their tithes and offerings for a blessing from God. Money that they have really worked hard for and it all goes to pastors who want to use it on materialistic things instead of using that money for christians who need money really bad. I remember the pastor who wrote the book, "THE PURPOSE DRIVEN", that helped Brian Nichols, the Atlanta judge killer to turn himself in. He said that he only uses God's money for souls, not junk.

He doesn't use God's money to buy a fancy car or house like most pastors do. He only focuses on souls and look how God blessed him. He made him and his book so popular and famous that his church is always flooding with new members everyday because of his attitude. And I'm sure his statement on Larry King Live put alot of church pastors to shame.

Answer 1

I don't believe one should be paid to spread the word of God. Jesus told his disciples to go out and preach the word and make disciples of all men. I do how ever understand that if one does not do any other job besides preach, they have to have some way to live. But the Pastors of today are mostly in it for the money. You can tell by the way they live. They should be spreading their wealth as well as the word to people who are less fortunate. As far as book writing about God......Yes it takes money to have a book wrote and published, but they are still making a killing off the book. And it is written about God and therefore, they should not be making money off of God.

Being dedicated to do Gods work is a 24/7 job-but isn't that their choice and what they wanted to do?

Answer 2

In the USA Pentecostal pastors have unusually high salaries. Some other pastors in extremely large churches have large salaries. But for most pastors with professional graduate degrees make $25,000 per year or less. In the Southern Baptist church about 70% of pastors work a secular job to feed their family. Some pastors do not draw a salary at all. Some pastors are independently wealthy and take no salary.
Then there are those who absolutely rape the system. They are in the pastorate for all the money they can con poor dumb people out of. Yes, it is wrong. But it just goes to show you just how low some criminals will stoop to get what they want.


Edit:: And as Chris said above-pastors put in more hours than any other profession- bar none, they do not get paid extra for it. It is the toughest job in the world. Pastors and their families are on display 24 hours a day.

Answer 3

My husband is a pastor. In most churches the pastor never touches the tithes and offerings. The church financial secretary takes care of it. He is paid a salary by the church congregtion. The offerings help fund this salary.

My husband has a four year degree and a masters degree and yet his salary is way below the national average salary. Pastor's also work 24/7. If they have family plans and a member is ill and needs them, they have to go - they would be looked on as a**hol** if they didn't go. Calls in the middle of the night, dinner, holidays and even on his vacation. Now this is what he wants to do, and God bless his efforts, but it isn't easy as it looks, they don't just work on Sundays.

I know it appears not to be that way for some, but believe me it is a very hard life moving place to place, call to call, for very little money---and being judged constantly. if you do get a new coat, a new any thing, even an used car, it is commented on as if you are stealing from sheep. Trust me the majority of them are not.

Answer 4

First of all, I'm a preacher, not a pastor. Biblically, they are not the same thing. A preacher is one who preaches; a pastor is one of a group of men who leads a congregation (also known as bishops or elders).

I don't make a lot of money; I'm just scraping by, as a matter of fact. I don't have access to the checkbook; the elders here do. They use the money to help people in need and to continue the Lord's work.

If some preacher puts the money in his personal account, or uses the church account as if it were his own personal account, call the police immediately, then call the IRS for an audit.

Answer 5

Pastors' income depends on the type of church. Megachurches, pentecostal congregations and independent churches tend to articulate their administrative structure around the pastor who usually is the founder of the congregation. In these cases he conducts all aspects of the business so that is hard to aplly certain degree of accountability.
Mainline churches are democratic and financial matters are kept apart from the role of the pastor. He or she is a professional who receives a salary.
Your is a legitimate concern and should be more loudly voiced. Money and property should be managed by the congretation and the pastoral staff should concentrate on matters concerning their vision and talents. Churches should have a clear mandate stipulating that the bigger chunk of their resources should go to combat poverty both at home and overseas.

Answer 6

I think I will chime in here. I have been reading the answers to your question, or statement. I find it interesting.

In 1991, I was renting a church parsonage, I was injured that year and was unable to work for a time. The church did not press us for the rent. That was nice. However, as soon as I was released to go back to work, before I could get back on my feet (literally) the senior pastor and the lay pastor gave us an eviction notice.

In 1992, when I was in need of some help, the pastor of Willow Creek Community Church preached a sermon on how much the community was helping others. He talked about a car ministry that helped people get their cars fixed. I asked about this later, there was none. I asken then to help me find a job so that I could care for my children, I was told that all the good jobs were gone.

In 1998, I was injured on the job. I needed light work. I asked the church for help. One gent, told me he and his wife had a job, and that his wife would call me. She did. She was setting up a remote office and needed to know how to set up a remot office. I spent two hours on the phone telling her exactly how to accomplish her goals. At the end of the conversation, she thanked me for the imformation, and then told me she did not hire anyone from the church because she had had a bad expuerence. That little consultations was the equavelant of $2,000 of design time. We, too, were bearly making ends meet.

In 2004, I heard a radio preacher out of Cleburn, Texas, proclame that Christians were sinless (without sin) because of Jesus.

I have no use for Christians. You speak a good line, but when it is time to prove it, you harm the one who is in need. It is a religion of lies, theaves, and cut throats. I will do nothing against the Christians, but I will have nothing to do with 'em (you) either.

As far as my religious background is concerned. I have run street ministries out of my pocket, I have been a youth minister for no salery, I worked as an in house missionary for Jews for Jesus in San Francisco, and I am ordained. Now, I am say "as ye harm none, do as ye will."

Blessed Be ....

P.S. Once again the Yahoo Spell Checker is acting up.

Answer 7

I'm so sorry that you are ignorant to how pastors get paid. They are paid a salary by the Deacons of the church, the actual "bookkeepers" if you will, of the church. They are the ones who set the salary, pay the pastor, as well as the maintenance of the church and money collected for different missions, etc.

While the pastor is supposed to lead the church, he is honestly just a paid employee.

The money you refer to that Rick Warren received was the proceeds for his book, not his salary. It was a bestseller and made him millions, so he figured out how much the church had paid him in salary and gave it back to them, as well as gave a lot of it away. Just as Joel Osteen in Houston does.

Answer 8

My uncle was a preacher for a long time at a small town church when I was younger. The tithes and offerings his congregation gave were his salary. That was the only money he ever got for doing God's work. He spent it on things like food for himself and clothing, practical things. He wasn't squandering it on the stuff you're talking about.

Answer 9

***For the Pastors-something to think about...? ***

Acts 5
5.When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6.Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7.About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8.Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9.Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

If you get the chance go and read the whole story,it' s a good one.
That land belonged to the murdered couple.So i do understand where you are coming from.

Have a blessed day.

Answer 10

We used to attend a mega-church where the pastor lived in a multi-million dollar house....At the time my friend was living on very little means. Instead of working extra, he worked for the church's bus ministry for free....One day my friend developed a horrible tooth ache and he approached the church requesting to please help pay dentist to pull tooth, as no dentist will see him without cash up front.....What do you think they said?......NO