I agree. Even though I absolutely love the preacher we have for our congregation, and I know you aren't talking about different people preaching per se, but even with our great preacher, I still want to hear what others have to say. In our weekly ladies Bible class, we have 4-5 different women who rotate each week, so they only teach once a month. so having more than just one person with this authority or responsibility, it's shared, and it's really helped our growth and in strengthening each other and learning from one another.
you are right, I feel like we rely on the preacher a little too much to do the studying and teaching because it's "their job".
This is so important, especially for those of us with families as our primary responsibility is providing for our own (1 Timothy 5:8), even above preaching. But this is going to be hard for brethren (preachers and churches) who have never known or forgotten how this works. In the 20+ years I've been preaching, I only received "full support" for about 2.5 years (and even then, I had a little supplemental income from my side business). I'm happy for men who are supported well for preaching, but I'm afraid that's going to be less common in the future, and I hope these same men keep preaching, even without "full support" like the rest of us have been doing.
Great article Jack! I agree totally. I am semi-retired on SS .. and I am working with a small church in Washington. This group of wonderful seniors mostly, cannot afford a full-time preacher. I have been here 7 years now and we are growing. I think you are right on all counts. Thanks for your insightful writing.
"To be clear, I don’t believe there is anything wrong with paying ministers. It’s well-supported in the New Testament text and draws on strong Old Testament precedent."
Pure curiosity: Show me the passage that "well-support paying ministers. The only examples I can think of is elders who teach (1Ti 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching) and Paul's support for missions. MAYBE the apostles, but that is about it.
Preaching the gospel was done to non-believers. If we think we need to have preachers preaching the gospel to those gathered in Sundays, we have a serious problem. Last I read, the believers gathered to encourage one another (Not one to many) to love and good works, to build up one another (EACH of you has...).
There was no such thing as a "paid minister" as we practice that today. More than that, we now have SIXTEEN kinds of minister, from youth minister (making THEM responsible for the spiritual journey of OUR children) to worship minister.
Our "together times" are not based on the songs, prayer, Lord's Supper (now done as fast as possible to give the paid minister more time) sermon, giving, and our songs (Our "five acts of worship:). Interestingly enough, we have build an entire hermeneutic to find supporting passages fo that - and by that, ripping those out of their context. Giving? Never intended to pay ministers, insurance, pension plans, real estate buildings and maintenance, and o, wait, we have to use some of that for evangelizing too. Our missionary outreach has shrunk by almost 80% - because we have to pay the local ministery staff, and maintain real estate.
So, let's bring ministry back where it belongs: In the hands of the "amateur" rather than the "professional (Master's Degree preferred)." Let's bring our "worship" back to the amateur, rather than the professional worship minister. Let us, as parents, accept responsibility for the spiritual development of OUR children, rather than yet another professional. Let us, as members, accept the responsibility for the encouragement and building up of the church. And, more than anything, let elders be the shepherds they need to be, and not the business managers they turn out to be.
Other than that... I appreciate reading your writing!!!
I agree. Even though I absolutely love the preacher we have for our congregation, and I know you aren't talking about different people preaching per se, but even with our great preacher, I still want to hear what others have to say. In our weekly ladies Bible class, we have 4-5 different women who rotate each week, so they only teach once a month. so having more than just one person with this authority or responsibility, it's shared, and it's really helped our growth and in strengthening each other and learning from one another.
you are right, I feel like we rely on the preacher a little too much to do the studying and teaching because it's "their job".
This is so important, especially for those of us with families as our primary responsibility is providing for our own (1 Timothy 5:8), even above preaching. But this is going to be hard for brethren (preachers and churches) who have never known or forgotten how this works. In the 20+ years I've been preaching, I only received "full support" for about 2.5 years (and even then, I had a little supplemental income from my side business). I'm happy for men who are supported well for preaching, but I'm afraid that's going to be less common in the future, and I hope these same men keep preaching, even without "full support" like the rest of us have been doing.
Great article Jack! I agree totally. I am semi-retired on SS .. and I am working with a small church in Washington. This group of wonderful seniors mostly, cannot afford a full-time preacher. I have been here 7 years now and we are growing. I think you are right on all counts. Thanks for your insightful writing.
"To be clear, I don’t believe there is anything wrong with paying ministers. It’s well-supported in the New Testament text and draws on strong Old Testament precedent."
Pure curiosity: Show me the passage that "well-support paying ministers. The only examples I can think of is elders who teach (1Ti 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching) and Paul's support for missions. MAYBE the apostles, but that is about it.
Preaching the gospel was done to non-believers. If we think we need to have preachers preaching the gospel to those gathered in Sundays, we have a serious problem. Last I read, the believers gathered to encourage one another (Not one to many) to love and good works, to build up one another (EACH of you has...).
There was no such thing as a "paid minister" as we practice that today. More than that, we now have SIXTEEN kinds of minister, from youth minister (making THEM responsible for the spiritual journey of OUR children) to worship minister.
Our "together times" are not based on the songs, prayer, Lord's Supper (now done as fast as possible to give the paid minister more time) sermon, giving, and our songs (Our "five acts of worship:). Interestingly enough, we have build an entire hermeneutic to find supporting passages fo that - and by that, ripping those out of their context. Giving? Never intended to pay ministers, insurance, pension plans, real estate buildings and maintenance, and o, wait, we have to use some of that for evangelizing too. Our missionary outreach has shrunk by almost 80% - because we have to pay the local ministery staff, and maintain real estate.
So, let's bring ministry back where it belongs: In the hands of the "amateur" rather than the "professional (Master's Degree preferred)." Let's bring our "worship" back to the amateur, rather than the professional worship minister. Let us, as parents, accept responsibility for the spiritual development of OUR children, rather than yet another professional. Let us, as members, accept the responsibility for the encouragement and building up of the church. And, more than anything, let elders be the shepherds they need to be, and not the business managers they turn out to be.
Other than that... I appreciate reading your writing!!!
New wine skins!
But in the same vein, I disagree that two incomes are necessary.
Two incomes are necessary to live a two-income lifestyle. Here too we need to reexamine our assumptions.