Should They Be Paid?

[Naomi]

Within the structure of our church it is expected/assumed that the Pastor's home, life, time is devoted to doing the work of the church. It also is assumed that his/her wife or husband shall take on many responsibilities which would not be expected of other ladies or men of the church. Often doing the duties of an assistant pastor.

Back in “The Day” this was not so physically and mentally taxing for the wives/husbands as most did not work outside the home. Today, most if not all, have other jobs which subsidize the family income. Yet, expectations remain much the same.

Should the wives or husbands of the pastors receive a stipend for their contributions to the ministry?

[Gail]

Yes.

[Liz]

I think they should too, IF they are doing the work.

[phkrause]

I certainly do.

[Tom Wetmore]

Absolutely! EGW clearly said they should.

[Dr. Rich]

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

[Gerr]

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

1 Ti 5:18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

[cricket]

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

What about the Apostles who left their fishing nets so they could walk with Jesus and instead be fishers of men? Did they have other jobs during the 6 day "work-week"? And if not, how did they eat, sleep, and clothe themselves?

[fccool]

Quote:

What about the Apostles who left their fishing nets so they could walk with Jesus and instead be fishers of men? Did they have other jobs during the 6 day "work-week"? And if not, how did they eat, sleep, and clothe themselves?

If that's your point... these people had no house, they had bare necessities, they certainly did not have any savings, and were not immune to state taxes

On the other hand, pastor's wives do a lot of work. Certainly should be paid. There's quite a bit of local church work that should be paid.

[Dr. Rich]

Originally Posted By: Dr. Rich

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

1 Ti 5:18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

Yep, words from a man who stole from Peter to pay himself! Jesus never said those words!

[Dr. Rich]

Originally Posted By: Dr. Rich

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

What about the Apostles who left their fishing nets so they could walk with Jesus and instead be fishers of men? Did they have other jobs during the 6 day "work-week"? And if not, how did they eat, sleep, and clothe themselves?

Were you there to witness Peter leaving his home, wife and children and nets to be with Jesus? Perhaps the whole family traveled with Jesus and they ate the fish they caught--as many do today--by drying them in salt.

[cricket]

Dr. Rich, no, I was not there to witness Peter leaving his home, wife and children and nets to be with Jesus. Instead, the Bible student is provided this:

16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

[Gerr]

Yep, words from a man who stole from Peter to pay himself! Jesus never said those words!

ESV Mt 10:10 "...the laborer deserves his food." JESUS.

[OzarkWoman]

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

I totally disagree. Our pastor spends so much time doing visitations, Bible classes and other pastoral duties. Where in the heck would he find the time to have another job? That really makes no sense at all. I also think that the spouse should get paid some kind of stipend.

[Tom Wetmore]

Were you there to witness Peter leaving his home, wife and children and nets to be with Jesus? Perhaps the whole family traveled with Jesus and they ate the fish they caught--as many do today--by drying them in salt.

Noting the use of the would "perhaps" suggests the reality that none of us was there...

[Dr. Rich]

Originally Posted By: Dr. Rich

Neither of them should be paid. Let them get paying jobs on the 6 days God said to do their work just like the rest of us. Being a pastor should not be a paying job as none of the disciples were paid and neither was Jesus paid. Each one of us should do the preaching as only Jesus is the Shepard of the flock. You will never find anyplace where Jesus said that a 'church' should be organized as a corporation, thereby having men control other men. In fact Jesus said not to have anyone be a leader because only Jesus is the leader. The reason Jesus wanted it that way is so that no one could control anyone else.

And don't tell me it can't be done that way because our church ministry has been doing it this way for over 15 years.

I totally disagree. Our pastor spends so much time doing visitations, Bible classes and other pastoral duties. Where in the heck would he find the time to have another job? That really makes no sense at all. I also think that the spouse should get paid some kind of stipend.

Yes, I understand your point and would agree cept IF everyone did as Jesus wanted them to do then we would not put the chore on the pastor. Just because people do not want to be bothered by doing things that Jesus said to do, does not mean that it should be left up to the pastor to do it.

Ask me to preach anytime and I will do it for free, as that is what God is requiring of me. But as jasd has posted before, be ready for the real truth to me heard, like it or not. I am not in 'this' to make friends or to make people feel good, neither was Jesus as He spoke the real truth and look what happened to Him?

Church should not be a business. The majority of them today are just that, including the SDA organization. Jesus said that there is only ONE leader and that his Him. We all should have the same rank and file.

[CoAspen]

Hmmm....sounds as if we have some people who have never met a 'working pastor' of today. To compare with what was happening with Christ when He walked the earth is rather short sighted and naive. It is also a slap in the face and an ignorance of all that is required of todays pastor. Tis rather boastful to say 'I would do it for free', insinuateing that pastors do it for money. Someone sounds a little 'jealous' to me.

[Dr. Rich]

Not at all Colorado Aspen, I just took a side of the issue as one who believes in what Jesus told His disciples to do in Matthew 28--just that simple. If everyone did as Jesus said, then there would not be any need for a pastor, or for that matter 'a church'.

Remember that Israel wanted a human king over the advise of God? Well then, that is about the same thing now in that we SHOULD not need the use of any paid pastor or for that matter, a seminary that produces cookie cut pastors and teachers. As was warned by a few in 1888, that IF Adventists should organize, they would some day become just a business as the Catholic religion was back then. There was/is good reason for the warnings in Rev. 2 and 3 to remember where we were in the beginning when everyone was studying and presenting to those around them what they found in their study.

[Aliensanctuary]

Leave it to humans to organize a thing to death. Then, the organization exists mainly to promote and support itself. From the organization's point of view, those who work to promote it should be paid, unless the work is performed by volunteers.