I will admit when I'm wrong, and I was in this case: it was not Jesus that said not to get paid for preaching, it was Paul who said that getting paid for preaching "hindered the gospel" - 1 Corinthians 11-18.
So with a correction I would like to restate my question: do you think getting paid hinders "the gospel" because of the conflict of interest created?
sorry for making an incorrect claim
2006-08-25 02:49:10 · 9 answers · asked by bregweidd 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
2006-08-25 02:49:43 · update #1
17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.
2006-08-25 02:49:50 · update #2
Wow that's pretty heavy man!
Organized religion always has been more about money & control.
If you just wish to spread the word of God, just do so, out of love, not a desire to make money.
For financial gain & existence......get a job!
2006-08-25 02:58:06 · answer #1 · answered by petsrus2002 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Paul was not saying we should not get paid. He was saying that he was willing to preach for free so all could hear the good news, not one could say, I did not hear because I could not afford to pay the price to get in.
He also said that "a workman is worthy of his pay."
Jesus told his Disciples to not take any money with them so the people would have to support them.
Being a Pastor myself I tell you it is more then a full time job. We are on call 24/7, sometimes we are with our flock more then our family, for the most part we barely make enough to live, and our spouses have to work just to get by.
And I would not trade this life for all the money in the world.
2006-08-25 10:03:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If a Pastor is doing his job of preaching the word of God, and serving the church, then there is nothing wrong with it. Even the disciples relied on the people to feed them, and give them a place to sleep. So if people support pastors with money then so be it. I know my pastors doesnt have a job cause he spends his time in the church. He visits the sick, those in the hospital, and witnessing to the lost, and plus preaches.
2006-08-25 09:58:25 · answer #3 · answered by iwant_u2_wantme2000 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well I think that it is necessary in today's world for preachers/priests/pastors to get paid. However I do think that there should be some kind of cap that they are allowed to get from the church. Like the pastor is allowed "x" amount of dollars no mater how much the church brings in. Then another "x" amount of dollars for every additional member of his immediate family. If this method or a similar one was applied maybe we could get rid of all these fake televangelists.
2006-08-25 10:14:18 · answer #4 · answered by Native 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what Paul was saying but in today's world if you are devoting your life to only preaching the gospel, if you don't get paid then how are you going to feed your family?
2006-08-25 10:05:54 · answer #5 · answered by Coco 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It absolutely hinders it! Money is the root of ALL evil. I went to a church in Oregon, every Sunday, one of the assistant pastors got up in front and pretty much begged for money. He spent more time up there asking for money than the pastor did preaching. The church was so wrapped up in building this 11 MILLION dollar church that they lost their focus. They ended up building the church and the head pastor got busted for looking up porn AT church on the computer. Now its an 11 million dollar church with about 30 attendants.
I read somewhere that one of the best ways to make money is to start your own church. That is...if you have no conscience and no pride. And arent worried about eternal damnation. I dont know, starting a church just to make money? I think God might frown upon that.
2006-08-25 09:59:53 · answer #6 · answered by c10w22s 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think that if someone wants to preach the gospel, society should support them. They benefit society just like a doctor or an engineer does.
(So no, I don't think that paying preists is a bad thing!)
Peace!
2006-08-25 10:00:34 · answer #7 · answered by tslittleflower 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, i'm catholic. i wouldn't say the priest "gets paid". he pretty much gets enough to live on, which is necessary. he lives at the church. there are even people who work for the church that cook for him and buy his groceries and stuff so he can devote pretty much all of his waking time to taking care of his responsibilities to the church and the people. he's also the only priest my church has (which is unusual) and it's a pretty big church. so he's got a pretty full load. he pretty much eats, sleeps and breathes his job, which is, i think, the kind of devotion paul was talking about.
2006-08-25 10:03:25 · answer #8 · answered by practicalwizard 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you are absolutely right......Are many feeling the call of God or free money????
2006-08-25 10:06:33 · answer #9 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋