Comments on: What Would God Say About A $3 Million Salary For His Messengers?

By: Papacool

Papacool — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:13:50 +0000

This topic could have endless discussion. Personally I feel that if God freely blessed you then one should give freely in return. When people see that a pastor is living well while some of the congregation suffers, a void is created. Resentment is soon to follow as the focus of the gospel is lost on financial and material achievements. While it is said that we will have the poor with us always, there comes a time when the poor should receive a hand up. I have found myself conflicted with judgmental thoughts as I have seen pastors receive free lodging and vehicles all in the name of religion. It seems that a shift in emphasis has been placed on being blessed financially and people are instructed to continue with their 10% tithe donation when they could not actually afford to do so. There have been instances where a person had to choose between medications, food, or giving to the church. I believe in giving only when I have enough to give. Any outside activities are prioritized after all essential bill payments have been made. So that when a person gives whatever they have left, they are not left in dire straits or resorting to eating cat food or going dumpster diving to make ends meet. Trust me, I am not against the system of capitalism, but I feel that those in the position of giving to those in need should do so without being told if they truly embrace the concepts of being Christ-like. There really would be no homelessness if the Golden Rule concept was applied, as the 1st Church established after the day of Penecost in the Book of Acts stated that people sold their excesses and that the CHURCH provided for the needs of the poor to be met. All things were shared equally with no regard to status quo. In seeing all of the different denominations citing spiritual consciousness, one has seen things such as racism and mis-treatment creep into the establishments. These places made by hands are only physical santuaries, while the true temple of the CHURCH is one’s body that should be treated with reverance to GOD. When it was discovered that money could be made from the flock with no regard to their spiritual well-being, it was off to the races for alot of people getting ripped off in more ways than one. I dare the prominent Pastors of the faith to actually put their money where their mouths are, in actually giving away their financial gains for the benefit of those in need. They may actually see the miracle of making a positive difference in a person’s life as a real GOD given duty. Goes back to Jesus telling the rich man to sell what he had and to follow Him. That level of sacrifice is what is needed in this world even as we speak. But I am not going to hold my breath until it happens because it would be the end of life as I know it. Peace out, Papacool.

By: Marcus Vessey

Marcus Vessey — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:19:34 +0000

Personal, when I remove the ‘spirituality’ factor from it, I look at churches as an economic organization. As such, the capacity of the pastor to generate revenue similar to a corporate CEO should be reflected in his salary.

I mean, let’s be real. We try to burden the pastor, but like any ‘product’ it must have demand. If there is demand, that means that the product is supplying a want or need. If I have a church of 10,000 members, and I am accountable to manage that, why exactly should I be compensated like a church with a 100?

Does the small barber shop owner make as much as the corporate CEO responsible for a company that generates billions?

If I reject your spirituality, your assertion of faith, and your sense of moral superiority (not saying I do but hypothetically) then analytical I look at the Church as an economic entity.

What bothers me more than anything else is the fact that so many folks who aren’t even Christians (not saying the author of this article isn’t) want to complain about how much the pastor makes. To me this smacks of jealousy. Particularly when 97% of them are not socially engaged, are not community building, are not working to help build anyone’s mental health, spiritual health, or psychological health.

By: Deeann D. Mathews

Deeann D. Mathews — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:40:20 +0000

This is a fascinating issue… the Apostle Paul argued that ministers do have a right to be supported by those to whom they minister the Word, but then the Apostle Paul kept his job as a tentmaker so that no one could say he ministered for any other reason but the calling given him by the Lord. I take from this that a church and its pastor ought to consider what would glorify the Lord best in terms of what the pastor should be paid. The economy makes this especially interesting, as some pastors could very well be as dependent on their churches today as pastors were in past years in our community. It is not that easy today for a Black man to find a “job” — and yet God can easily provide if it is His will that a pastor work outside the church. Every situation is different.

One also has to take into account that when the Apostle Paul was writing, he referred to the local church as basically all the Christians in a particular municipality, not the local church buildings we have on every other corner in some neighborhoods. It may be a bit much to expect of each small church to come up with a few tens of thousands of dollars in pastors’ salaries, particularly in an economy in which it is as hard for parishioners as pastors to find work. Could God make it happen — certainly, but that begs the question of if it is His will that His people divide themselves into little provincial, denominational, and yes, even racial corners. But even within a “big” corner… five churches on five corners in one neighborhood with forty active members each, provided they are doctrinally compatible, could marshal their resources much better as an church of 200 active members with four out of five pieces of church property to sell or lease to further the cause of Christ and meet the needs of the community, and a robust income base to support their pastoral and musician staff in addition to whatever they give to community outreach and service (of which evangelism is a part, and often more credible if accompanied by good works) and the care of members in distress.

By: Foad

Foad — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:40:51 +0000

I feel a pastor should earn his living from a job like anyone else, but not through preaching. In the past, and I don’t know if it is still the same in the Jewish faith, a Rabii was for instance a physician earning his leaving that way, but being a Rabii at the same time without getting any money for doing so.