Every time I've ever heard anyone teach on giving, this sentence or something similar is included;
"When you give, give to God, it's not our place to worry about how the money is used? Just let it go and trust that God's will will be done."
Ever heard anything like this? Maybe it's presented a little more eloquently, but that's the basic message. Now, I appreciate the heart who gives to God without wanting it back, that’s how we’re suppose to be. But, are we really suppose to be blind with our giving? Look, I may really appreciate a particular person as a Bible teacher and I may enjoy the fellowship of a certain gathering, but if what I give to the Lord only goes to pay for some guys’ house and car, what good is that? Now, you may be thinking, well, the Bible allows for that. Yes, it does, in Galatians, it says (paraphrase) share all good things with the one who teaches you the word. But, here’s my dilemma; what is the difference between Sunday morning and the home Bible study I go to? The guy who teaches the home study prepares just as much, the difference is he has a job that he works 50 hours a week at. The other difference is I tend to get more from the home study because it’s more intimate. But, I’ve never been concerned about giving and the teacher has never been concerned about receiving. The Bible teaches pastors receiving money as an exception, not a rule.
Now, I’ve also heard (a lot) the scripture in Malachi that says, “…bring the tithe into the storehouse” (tithing is a whole nother subject). I think it’s pretty absurd to assume that our “church” is the storehouse. Where does Jesus say to store up treasure? That’s right, in heaven. It seems to me that heaven is a more likely candidate for being the storehouse. With that, here’s my real point with this post; the New Testament talks about giving to the poor, widows, and orphans, not much else (those places you read of offerings for a particular church is for a poor persecuted one). If Jesus talked about storing up treasure in Heaven and then talks about giving to these groups, we have to ask if that’s what we’re giving to. I love to see churches involved in these areas, it let’s me know that they’re concerned with what Jesus is concerned with and I therefore can feel good giving there. But, those places that pay the pastors salary, pay rent, and put some in savings (if there is any), I don’t feel real comfortable giving there. You can get all that stuff at a home fellowship and still give to the poor. Is the pastor more important than the poor, not in my Bible? Now, if you go to a church like this, remember they are providing a service (i.e. childcare, donuts, and a place to meet) so don’t pull all your support. But, thoughtfully consider what your finances are being used for and if they’re not being stored in heaven, then you might want to consider reinvesting some or all of them elsewhere.
Tell me if I’m crazy or if this needs clarification.
1 comment:
Thanks for your comments.
inoutofseason asked: "What however is the Godly way of dealing with this matter as a church."
The answer I'm going to suggest isn't one that would be well received at any church I've gone to, but here it is anyway;
The pastor should stop receiving payment. 1 Corinthians says that the lesser parts of the body should receive more honor, yet the most prominent always receives the money. Why is that? Why isn't that sound system guy "on staff" or the ushers or the nursery workers? Why is the bible teacher always the first to be paid? Long before the poor see a dime, the pastor has an income.
Now, what's always the first complaint non-believers have about the church? It usually has something to do with money. "I went to this or that church and they asked for money while the pastor was driving a Lexus". I actually heard that today from a guy I work with. Paul refused to accept money because he knew it would be a bad witness, but how many people want to quote that? We're more interested in the verses that allow for receiving money, but the downside is to large to ignore. Paul was able to relate to the people because he had a job, he struggle and worked just like everyone else and then he preached the gospel. No one was able to ever speak bad of him in this area.
Another reason I think pastors shouldn't receive a salary is because it would deter so many who really aren't pastors. "Pastor" has become a profession in America, not a gifting or calling. People see it as a job where they have flexible hours and a solid income. No wonder the pulpits are filled with so much chaos.
I could go on and on on this subject, but I think if you stop and think about it, you know just what I'm saying. The only reason this seems radical is because we're so used to the way things are. But, just because we've done it one way for so long, doesn't make it right, it makes it religious.
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