Should members give money to their church?

Yep, they definitely have that right to be paid. Paul, didn't use that right so as to not create a stumbling block to the gospel. Some pastors should get out and work and live by the same example. Paul continued to work as a tentmaker during his ministry. Maybe if some of the pastors would get a job, the church could use their resources to better help the poor and downtrodden. My dad pastored churches for 20 years and not only didn't take a wage, he gave to the Church and kept a secular job.

 

Still, you can't throw out what Paul did. He worked a secular trade, traveled evangelizing, and started new churches, while working his trade. He did it and didn't charge because he didn't want to be a hinderance to the gospel. Something for todays preachers to think about. Some paid preachers are very hard working at their craft, some are downright lazy and look for the easiest way out possible. To answer the question, yes I give to my church, but not all of my offering. I don't see them helping the poor nearly as much as trying to build a bigger and bigger church, so I reserve the rest of my money to send to poor people in need.

 

The pastor, if he is pastoring correctly, already has a job. It's a mean and ugly christian who does not think his pastor is worth paying so the pasotr ought to get another job, a second job.

 

And this is the main reason I love to give to my local church, knowing that I am supporting the minister of the Gospel to me and others. It truly is a joy.

 

A Pastor is a servant of the people, but he is also a shepherd.

We not only should be taking care of him financially, but we should be praying for him daily.

I believe in tithing to the storehouse, but I reserve extra offerings for different causes if the need arises.

 

I disagree. Paul only worked when he had to. Note that Paul was usually supported by churches in his missionary work (Phil. 4:15, 2 Cor. 11:8, etc.). He only had two reasons for working at his secular profession: to avoid being indebted to the Corinthians he was trying to reach for Christ (as you point out), and to make ends meet when the churches were not faithful to support him.

The modern idea of "tent-making" missions is mistaken, in my view. There was a time in our ministry when the dollar was so very weak against the yen that we could not get by on our support from American churches. I actually wrote a resume and began looking for a job to support my family since the churches were not taking up the slack. Praise the Lord, He opened up another way. But I'll tell you, my heart was not in a secular job. I longed to serve God full time, both then and now.

 

If the members don't give financially, there won't be any meeting place; it takes money. As was started, the pastor deserves to get paid for his service to the Lord--especially if that's his only way of getting an income. Of course, we could always go back to meeting in people's homes. My RV wouldn't hold very many though.

 

I do give to my church, quite a lot. What I am against is preaching a false method of how people are to give. My church teaches this false method also, and they know my feelings on it. Pastors want the congregants to believe God for their finances but, when it comes to their church being provided for by God they don't believe God will provide ,so they start teaching OT laws(in Webster dictionary ways, not bible ways) to provide for the church.

 

I put in the bold to emphasis that portion of the post.

Do you not believe that God provides through the generous giving of others?

 

I can come down on all sides of this. I'll do something that I know I should not do( I don't have the quote in front of me) but if I recall correctly John R. Rice didn't believe one should give all their offering to the church but direct to what ever ministry they wanted are felt lead to give to.

I came out of a time when most pastors wouldn't let their pay get higher than the average pay of the men in the church, if it could get that high. And many a pastor would be cutting the grass at the church or fixing the roof or cleaning the place, not so true today in most places. Times have changed.

I don't buy the point that a bi vocational pastor isn't doing a good job, I've seen many a church grow with one for 5 to 10 years before they had a paid pastor. I've been in some churches in Ky., Tn., Ga. and Fl. that do not pay their pastor and have seen some great preaching and folks walking the walk, great folks to be around.

I think their are a lot of great pastors being used by God but I all so think their are a lot of pastors who have lost touch of their flock, as well as members who have lost touch of other members. Somethings I don't think is smart for pastors to are less they know it won't cause problems, as well as things for the church to do as outings.

We all have the sin nature in us and it caused me problems as well as one or two other folks. Our church has a day to go shopping sometimes, bus and all, and we have folks who can't pay for all their needs, had an outing to play golf and it was only a hundred and some dollars, it is only such and such if you have the money or time. Not that anything is wrong in any of it, but I don't think it should come from the pulpit, poor judgment.

Where is the day we are going this week end and help Mr. Smith get in the hay, or Mrs. Jones cut her grass, or Mr. and Mrs. Davis paint there house, I'm sure many churches have it still and many don't. A dear friend of mine said he would never have a pastor who didn't have callouses on his hands, he didn't trust a man who didn't.

We have all kinds of people and God can and will use all types of pastors, low or high or no pay.

 

Yes I do. Do you believe God will provide for his church using proper giving principles that he teaches in his word?

 

I am not sure what you mean by "proper giving principles." Can you elaborate on that for me. Thanks.

 

By using what he says in the NT to provide for his church. NOT using OT tithe laws that were never for christians and never money. They throw out 612 other laws and keep 1. They don't trust that God will provide the generous givers using correct principles, so they come back to the law and pick out 1 and then teach blessings and curses for that 1 to provide for their church. They don't trust God.

 

You are right. I do not believe you can build a case for tithing from the NT, but then neither do I believe you can throw it out the window. How is this so? Well, the word mission is not used anywhere in the New Testament, but I do not believe that you do not believe in missions and missionaries. Let me give you a quote:

Now as to tithing. I tithe, not because I feel it is a law but because God is and has been so faithful to me. How can I not love my Lord and the member of my church enough to give a miserly 10% of what I receive?

 

Herein lies part of the coersion used, guilt. It still isn't correct to teach it based on what you are saying here.

 

I think the question was should members give money to their church?

Yes. However you believe, if you want to have a church you had better be giving something! I for one like our new auditorium and in Houston, I love the A/C!:laugh:

I believe that the pastor should be paid, however, not many churches would pay a pastor what he is worth. On call 24/7, has to deal with the problems of all the members, their friends and family, and visitors.

The pastor has to smile and act "godly" when old aunt effie shakes his hand at the back door and then proceeds to tell him that he preached the wrong message.

Some pastors have earned Doctorate degrees. You think you are paying him what he is worth? What do you think he could be making in the world?

We need to thank God for Godly men that are called by God no matter what the cost, or the pay.

But, no pastor should be eligible for food stamps.

Am I wandering off topic? Sorry.:sleeping_2:

A pastor should live by the Gospel. First of all, I think that a pastor should LIVE by the gospel. How many so called pastors do not live what they preach?????? Humm????????? I have run into some.

Thank God for dedicated Godly men!

And yes, the church should pay their pastor and should pay him well if he is a good pastor. Good pastors are hard to find.

 

I did not say that I preach it to others. It is my own personal feeling, a thanks to Him who sustains me. Also, in my life, I found tithing helped discipline me to be careful with the resources that God brought into my life. I can only testify of my own life. I cannot tell you or others what you should or should not do. That is your decision and it is between you and God.