Micah 3:11-12 tells us---"Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.” Therefore because of you, Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, And the mountain of the temple like the bare hills of the forest."
In my faith, there is no paid clergy--all have secular jobs to support themselves and their families They teach us for free, for they themselves received the "good news" of God's Kingdom for free.
2007-03-07 06:59:20 · 11 answers · asked by Micah 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That is how it is supposed to be. However, we weren't to pay more than we owe either and look at all the banks and credit companies making millions off of the interest alone. We have been warned of false prophets and the passage you quoted above states alone the ugliness of sin. Thank you and pray for those who don't understand. May GOD bless.
2007-03-07 07:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by cookie 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
In the Old Testament God made provision for the priests. A portion of the offerings brought to the Temple (or the sanctuary that predated the Temple) was to be used to support the priests. Unlike the other tribes, the tribe of Levi was the only tribe that did not receive an inheritance in the land of Canaan because the Lord declared that God was their inheritance. Because they and the descendants of Aaron had sole responsibility for the Temple the other tribes were to support them through the prescribed offerings. (read Leviticus and Numbers)
In Micah (and some of the other prophets) God was saying that the priests had turned away from what was prescribed for them and were doing things contrary to what God had told them to do. As priests these were gross sins and a turning away from the precepts of the Lord.
A shepherd of the flock does more than teach. The work of the pastor (especially one who serves with excellence ) is both difficult and time consuming. It is not a part-time job. It includes preaching, teaching, pastoral care - weddings, funerals, counseling sessions, nursing home, hospital and hospice visits, community service, administration, advocacy and peace and justice ministries and compassion ministries. as well as administration of the sacraments
It is not unheard of for pastors to work 60 - 80 hours per week. In such situations there is no time for a secular job.
Paul was a tentmaker but the Bible also said that "the workman is worthy of his hire."
Hope this helps.
2007-03-07 07:20:57 · answer #2 · answered by javaqueen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus sent the 12 apostles out and told them to depend totally on the charity of other people to survive. Also while He could manifest any provision he needed, Jesus often took gifts and ate with people.
Teaching the flock is a job, and to do it well, it would seem like it needs a full time dedication.
While, there are some crooks out there, but being paid for your work is not wrong
2007-03-07 07:08:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In this day and age, when someone performs a service, they should be repaid in kind. Much of the time that is money, which is why there are normally collection baskets of some type. I think it is fair that clergy and others get some type of payment because they have to live and eat, too.
Although they are clergy, they are still humans who have needs.
2007-03-07 07:06:05 · answer #4 · answered by rangerbaldwin 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you a Quaker?
I don't give money to preachers either. It's a tough question because preachers and pastors have to live and feed their kids etc. And even modest church buildings cost money. But there's always a potential conflict of interest when money is involved.
2007-03-07 07:05:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is very nice for your faith...in the denomination I belong too...some pastors are full time and indeed work fulltime, but still give a lot of time away and are not paid highly at all. Some are paid only a pittance to cover transportation expenses. No one becomes a minister to get rich save some of the questionable tele-evagelists.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2007-03-07 07:04:14 · answer #6 · answered by Just My Two Cents 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Paul in Corinthians says that the minister should be paid. If a church does not pay their minister they are rejecting God's word and not doing what they should.
2007-03-07 07:03:09 · answer #7 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I guess it's an ok system if you are willing to have a part time clergyman.
2007-03-07 07:04:37 · answer #8 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Im Free of charge
2007-03-07 07:03:18 · answer #9 · answered by Pastor Biker 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Why not be a Deist and do away with the clergy alltogether?
2007-03-07 07:03:01 · answer #10 · answered by mamasquirrel 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋