Should a Pastor, Pastor a Church for free

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

Should a pastor that spends most of his time preaching and teaching get paid for what God has him to do? I know what the scriptures says about this, but would you pastor for free?

[TANYA DOVE]

READ MATHEW 23:23

[V.D. Coleman]

good word... interesting topic but a good one

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

The scriptures says
"that a man that preach the gospel should make his living from the Gospel." Now we as preachers are on call. 24/7. It would be nice to work 8 hrs. But God time is not our Time.
The bible says that "A laborer is worth his wages "

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

I could not agree with you more. The members must be taught in the word that if they give a phropher a drink of water that they will receive a phrophet reward. Good insight. No disagreement. I just want to see how others feel about the topic.Let us reason toghther.And yes some have abuse this for their own personal gain. And it will have to be a trust issue with the Pastor and his congregation

[Carone Gordon]

I believe the people of God must be taken care of. I believe that very strongly. Maybe the Lord allowed me to see this discussion this morning because I have been asking him questions. Anyone with answers please email me [e-mail] sometimes I am not too sure how to find my way back to these forums.

Over the last three years God sent me to 6 churches to minister on sowing and reaping. Its a call on my life that I do not abuse or take for granted. I am a sower. Once of the 6 times anyone has sowed back in my life as a result. I remember the fourth time, God told me to sow in the ministry I was going to minister in, I carried the seed, God told me the amount in a vision. That was my last.

All these times the miracle blew my mind as these a needy churches yet they got between 1-2.5m
The pastors always bear one testimony. They pastored their congregation for years and never once saw the church gave like that. Once one of the astor sowed back in my life.

Funny enough i was home and worried about my kids going back to school the term as I didnt have the school fees. But the pastor came two days after the miracle in his church and said to me 'God says I should sow back to you. Thats how my kids wre able to go to school.

Point I am making is that conscience doesnt always lead the people of God. How do we live? I am on a 21 day fast which will be ending on Thursday. Can i tell you while on this fast God sent me to a very prominent church back home with roughlty 1200 members. He told me to tell them to sow, I was nervous believe me but I got a hold of the pastor and he allowed me 15 minutes to share with his church.

Now this amaze me until today, I didnt break my fast from saturday until Sunday evening 6pm because I believe that miracles must follow the act of giving. I used 15 minutes to lift their faith, someone gave a house, and together seed and pledges the people gave close to $200m when I heard the figure I almost fainted.

thats the least time I have ever gotten to speak to the people. Guess what? I left trying to beg a ride or catch a cab, I have been praying for a cheap ride for so long. By tuesday my phone was disconnected for a small cost. My mortagae is 3 months in the back, my utility bills also.

I have not heard from the church get, I guess they are still busy rejoicing, unknown to me they have been millions in debt. I have never seen $1m. Paul says being poor yet making many rich. But there has to be systems in place to serve or leaders well rather than depending on the good conscience of people.

If your church is in a position to pay you, let the church do it. We all need to eat. Today I am here I have 100 in my name, that was given to me by a church i ministered at yesterday. Personally I do not work for gain. I just know I need to live, not sure yet how. But believe me I am putting it all before God on the fast.

We have to remember people always assume all is well with the pastor. Back home the memebers seem like my children so many women with kids and no father who call me, there is absolutely nothing home to give my children. I have given a number of them scholarships to lift them up so they will be in a better position to get jobs, but until then who help their hungry children?

These are issues I am faced with. Who cares for us when we care for all. Because you caring they think you are fine. Currenly our tithes is so small it doesnt get passed the church doors on Sundays. helping with lunch monies and busfares and dinners.

maybe myself and husband acting contrary to wisdom, We not sure, but pray for us. Who do we call when our kids are hungry. Ther school fees due soon, who do we call? We do not have a salary yet we slave ourselves for the ministry. We live so far from our church but we get there to clean up every sunday morning before the brethren who live next door. Anyways this is more than a mouthful, so see you all later.

Love you guys.

[Dr Rob Allen Jr]

PRaise The Lord Bro!
I agree...the workman is worthy of His HIRE. My comment was more about the issue of the TITHE. As you said...Sad to say...it has been abused but nevertheless...the truth is the truth.
Peace!

[V.D. Coleman]

AMEN.. WORTHY OF HIS HIRE....

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

Paul gave the plan on how the Church should provide for their shepard in 1 Cor. 16;1-2 "Now concerning the collection of the saints, as I directed
The church of Galatia,so do you also. On the first day of the week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collection be made when I come."

[Anna]

Pastor Edwards: Did you reallly read and understand that text you just posted:
You stated:

"Paul gave the plan on how the Church should provide for their shepard in

1 Cor. 16;1-2
"Now concerning the collection of the saints, as I directed
The church of Galatia,so do you also. On the first day of the week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collection be made when I come."
~~~~~~

Anyone reading this text without infusing any preconcieved ideas, it takes no Einstein, to see and understabd that this collection is for THE SAINTS, not for the PREACHER!!!

Please show us what Greek word in this text means PREACHER.

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

It says collection of the saints. Of in the greek is (ek.) which means from. So the srcipture reads Now concerning the collection from the saints. Paul was not collecting the money for the Saints. Paul was collecting money to take it back to establish the Apostle in the Church in Jerusalem. I am at work and will get that Greek word for you for Preacher.
God Bless . I answered the questions you wanted on page 5.

[Anna]

Pastor, I suggest that you recheck your Greek primer, since the lexicon and all of these translations disagree with you, the word in question is G1519, eis,
http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=1519

which means "into, unto, to, towards, for, among", translated in all these translation as "for" the saints, not 'from' the saints as you posted above. Note below:

King James Version
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.


American Standard Version
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.


Bible in Basic English
16:1 Now about the giving of money for the saints, as I gave orders to the churches of Galatia, so do you.


Darby's English Translation
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the assemblies of Galatia, so do ye do also.


Douay Rheims
16:1 Now concerning the collections that are made for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, so do ye also.


Noah Webster Bible
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.


Weymouth New Testament
16:1 As to the collection for God's people, what I have directed the Churches of Galatia to do, you must do also.


World English Bible
16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.


Young's Literal Translation
16:1 And concerning the collection that is for the saints, as I directed to the assemblies of Galatia, so also ye -- do ye;

NAB 1 Corinthians Chapter 16

1 2 Now in regard to the collection for the holy ones, you also should do as I ordered the churches of Galatia.
~~~~~~~~~
Yes Paul is collecting money FOR the Saints, the believers, not for an Apostle.
If you still want to promote this, please supply your evidence.

Otherwise, this text cannot be used to promote taking an offering for the pastor. To do so is making a "private interpretation" which is forbidden.

[Pastor Lorenzo Edwards]

Yeah I know the text and I explained it for you.
I have had 3 yrs. Of Greek and it could be difficult. What people fail to realize is one Greek word can have up to 5 meanings.
The Greek word for Preacher is:
1.Kerysso(kay-roos'-so) which means-one who; preach, proclaim publish. To herald. especially div ine truth. (The gospel)
2. Kay'roox divine truth especially one proclaim the gospel.
3. Hebrew-(ko-heh'-leth.)A lecturer abstract preaching.
So Sister it does not take an Einstein. to understand just one who searches the scriptures in it's original text.
Let's not put one another down. We all don't know it all. But let us sit down and reason with one another.
God bless you and thank you for asking the greek words.
If there is anything else I can help with I will. With the little knowledge I know and the help of the Lord we will do our best.