In your opinion, should more Rabbis, preists, Pastors and Clerics WORK Monday to Friday? Yes or no?

Question

thanks.

(I say YES they should work...and stop begging. Making sure my teachers kids wear Gucci clothes and have a 5 bedroom house is NOT kingdom work...thats just me)

Answer 1

Sorry, can't give you a simple yes or no.

In 1 Cor. 9, Paul clearly outlined the rights of an apostle to marry, to eat and drink, and to receive compensation for doing the work of God. When a pastor does God's work six days a week and the congregation chooses to pay him enough money to support his wife and family and continue his work, I don't have a problem with it. However, if the pastor is taking more than he needs to fulfill his responsibilities to his family, then I do have a problem (Gucci clothes aren't necessary, 5 bedroom house might be if the pastor has a large family and it isn't extravagant or located in the most expensive subdivision in town!).

On the other hand, I think Paul makes it clear that he chose to support himself for some very good reasons, not the least of which was the credibility it gave him. In addition, I think the bible makes it clear that the things you do on this earth that you're rewarded for doing on this earth are not as "valuable" in his kingdom as the things you do without asking for rewards. Thinking in monetary terms, suppose God thinks that the work of a pastor is worth $100,000 per year...a pastor that takes $50,000 a year in earthly pay will receive the balance in heavenly rewards. The pastor that supports himself with WORK and serves the Lord for free will get the entire $100K in heaven.

My father is the "pastor" of a small church that practices a group leadership concept...he and two or three other men are the senior elders and they share the responsibilities of a pastor. Through delegation, my dad does most of the teaching and shares the other responsibilities (pastoral care such as hospital visits, keeping financial records, weddings/funerals, volunteer coordination, missions, etc...). None of these men receive any compensation for the things they do for the church...all hold (or held in the case of a few who retired as some point) a full time job outside the church to support themselves and their families. I believe God will reward these men for their service in heaven in direct proportion to their sacrifice...and in many cases, more than paid pastors/rabbis/clerics that chose to take their rewards on earth!

Answer 2

I don't know any Pastors, Rabbis, Priests, or Clerics that let their kids wear Gucci. Where I come from, the work of God is a full time job. No, they don't need to work Monday through Friday. They are accountable to their parishioners and have a lot of responsibilities there. There is no way they could do that AND have a job.

Answer 3

I find it interesting that most of the answers here are so prejudiced against the Mormons. Have you asked yourself where you formed your opinion? Just as with bigotry it has to be learned somewhere. Why not take a good hard look in the mirror and ask yourself what your opinions about the Mormons is based on. For me, I believe that you should judge a persons beliefs by what type of a person it helps them become. I am a Mormon, and I can tell you that in 54 years of attending church I have never once heard a member or leader put down another church. Yes we think we have the true gospel of Jesus Christ. So what! Does that mean we are putting down other churches or that we truly believe that we have the truth? If we do have the truth then isn't it our responsibility to share it with others? We know that other churches have truth in them too. Of course they do, and their are many many wonderful pastors, priests etc. who try to live and teach their congregations in the way that they believe is what Jesus would want them to do. The difference between the Mormon church and these churches is that we Mormon's believe that the authority to act in God's behalf that was given to the apostles of old has been restored and given to modern day apostles now and that these were restored through Joseph Smith. I know that this philosophy makes others mad and upset, but really we are not saying this to make you upset or to put you down but only to share the truth. So, before you decide to judge your Mormon neighbor why not do as Jesus instructed and try loving them first then you will see with eyes that are not blinded but with a truer perspective.

Answer 4

Yes - most should work.

There is a place for full time administrators and ministers though.

Many of these positions can be filled by retired (from the secular) members.

There are gifted and willing teachers that should be paid and there are those that need to deal in "human concerns" such as hospitals and shelters.

But for the most part - yes - the Tribe of Levi did as the example put forward by God in the Holy Scriptures.

Answer 5

if they WORK then they should not receive a salary form the church, my pastor does not receive a salary because he had a business (self employed so he sets his hours) before he became a pastor so he still works as well.
but if they devote 7 days a week to ministry and because of that can not hold down a 9 to 5 job then they deserve a salary,
believe me a pastors salary is very little they just get by on it.

and the bible says: to pay them a wage, it says even the OX eats the grain off the threshing floor

Answer 6

This question should be rephrased> Your English is bad.

However, reading between the lines, you obviously think that these people work only on one day a week.

My friend, you could never be so ill-informed and ignorant.

They are on call and work 24/7.

Whatever gave you that idea in the first place.? The Book of First Imaginations?

Answer 7

I say they should depend on God and not on man!!!

Answer 8

SHABBAT SAL0M