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?

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

You apparently misunderstood me also. My statement was meant to say this: Base your answer on scripture.

As far as money, it doesn't say the words, but it does say "money answers all things". The fact is this, electric bills and other things aren't paid by fruits and goats. If they need money, then provide the money. If they live in a society that lives on goats lambs and cheese as money, the thats the provision. Ministers shouldn't be robbing, but it shouldn't be a question of if they can or should get paid.

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Self taught? You REALLY don't know me, do you?

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Thats not the only part I read. The LAST person to say that should be you, because I have quite often stated things and you neglected to respond to them, but only select portions. Besides, thats an insult to not only me but my teachers/mentors.

[Elder. Beverly Ponder, MBS]

I would Pastor for free. If God has called me to the position, than God would make sure that my living
expenses are taken care of. I would definately Pastor for free because I have been called to do so.

[Mark Wilson]

You definately have the right mind. Following the Lord with your heart in charge, not your pocket book.

[Prophet J. Stubbs Jr.]

The bible says that we as the people of God arent to muzzle the ox the treadeth out the corn(Deuteronomy 25:4),meaning that if you do all the work and are cosistant,then you mind as well get paid. On top of that acording to the scriptures we as the church are supposed to take care of our pastors so that they not want for anything. Paul said, "I pour into you spiritual things,now i would that you pour back into my carnel or natural things(1 Corinthinas 9:11),AND THATS BIBLE!!!! So people can say what they want but its lawful for pastors to get paid for what they do. As, a pastor though i wouldnt rely on the people to take care of me just to be on the safe side cuz folk b actn funny..lolol,because even paul had a job as a tent maker(builder)...
Be Blessed!!!

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

I TOTALLY agree with everything you said Pastor. There are two reasons why ministers keep and even get another job these days: 1) they feel that they do not want to rob the ministry of GOD, and want the funds to go elsewhere, which is understandable, or 2) the people of GOD will take and take and take from the ministers what they need, but will not provide back what the minister's need. The Pastor/Church Leader (because we have also Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and the like leading here) is called to court or to jail before the saints call a lawyer, the Pastor is at the sickbed faster than the doctor sometimes, providing funds for rent/mortgage but they aren't loan officers, and all sorts of things.

We often say "pray for your leader that their needs be met" and that awesome and true, but HOW ABOUT BEING THE ANSWER TO YOUR LEADER's PRAYER???

[Debbi Smith]

I love Pastor McClurkin's thought process and attitude. I also ditto him regarding the over indulgence that "some", not all pastors have. A couple of weeks ago I rented a car from a private airport because there simply were none anywhere else in Atlanta due to the Masters golf weekend. My husband was speaking with one of the groundsmen while waiting for me to find out that a well known clergy here owns three "3" private jets there. We were thinking "why and what's really going on?". In my line of business, I work with pastors and there really is a large majority of them out here who do not have the "its about me" mentality and have a genuine heart and passion for what God has called them to and "his" people. They are unsung heros of whom you'll never see their articles in Essence, Jet, etc... I believe they will be apart of the ones that will hear God say "well done my good and faithful servant".

[Minister A.D. Belfor]

Pastors/Ministers of the gospel ought be taken care of with respect to their needs. It is not a license to live life extravagantly at the expense of the people. II Peter 2:3 shows us that it is the way of false teachers and deceivers to make merchandise of the people and we have other scripture that says to shun even the appearance of evil. God has spoken even to my heart that we ought not be likened to these false teachers and their ways. Their has been a great exploitation of the gospel and we have to denounce such by living modestly...not in need or lack, but modestly. Pastors/Ministers of the gospel are worthy of their wages and it is by love that a congregation ought give to this cause minus the extravagance in and out of the churchplace. Even church buildings have become a place of glamour and extravagance! Then you have offerings for every kind of fund...the building fund...the expansion fund...the jet fund (b/c the Pastors believing for a jet) when there are still people trying to fix the broke down car their roll to work in everyday. We need to re-focus our objectives...our agendas...and our motives. Glory be to God.

Grace and peace

[Minister A.D. Belfor]

I appreciate the response. A healthy balance is needed for members and teachers/preachers ought be mindful of this too. I've heard pastors tell people that they ought not pay their light bills...gas bills...etc b/c they don't have enough anyway--so why not trust God and give more to the church...the bishop...etc, etc. Grave exploitation! Grave foolishness!

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

There is a bare minimum set and it is for a reason: If a person is led by the Spirit of GOD and they move in LOVE, then they will readily give everything. However, there is not always a prophetic from GOD saying speaking into your ear saying "give such and such amount to this ministry" or "sow $X amount into that minister", however, there are always expenses, and obligations to be met. For this reason, there is a standard to be set and met. We the "Protestant Church" have moved so far from works that we may even try to justify not doing good works. So quickly we say "my GOD shall supply all your needs", but we bypass the practicality of GOD. Apostles James covers this in his epistle. JAMES 2:14-26 says:

14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Initial salvation does not depend on any works except for the work done on the cross by JESUS CHRIST. After that, however, there are works that are required of us, and we shall be judged accordingly to them. Our blessings DO actually come from our works, according to JESUS Himself, Luke 6:38 for starters.

Consider this: A Pastor is praying for the sustain provision, a steady flow for the ministry and for himself secondarily, and you simply give a onetime donation or just tel him "be blessed, cause I hear GOD say it is coming", when GOD told you to give the steady flow. How do you think GOD will deal with you? Saints are like trees planted by the rivers of water bring fruit in their season (Psalms 1), but JESUS will CURSE that unfruitful tree like HE did the fig tree. A person commented questioning if GOD would curse for the tithes, will GOD said "I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion, mercy on whom I will have mercy".

If you hinder the ministry by not being the vessel of provision they need, then we know that GOD will use another vessel. The question that seems to be so easily ignored is this: what happens to the replaced vessel?


Psalms 1
Revelation 20:11-15

Be blessed all!

[Rev & Mrs McKivett]

i have been a pastor of a church. that was not big, and i did it for free. in fact i went to work and put money into the church.. If a person will not pastor unless they are paid. then they are not a real pastor. A church should support their pastor id possible. But a true shepherd will stay with his sheep if they are paid or not.