Should Men Make Profits From the Discussions of Theology??

I think that admonition would apply to the people sharing their thoughts, not the people providing the venue. We've received life freely, and shouldn't charge others to hear about Christ.

The people freely receiving are the ones reading the comments. They're not obligated to buy anything from the advertising


I've had an opinion on matters like this, stemming from a childhood perception. But have encountered some change in that opinion.


In the church I was raised in (back in the 1970s), there was one pastor til I was about 7 or 8 years old, who groomed the man who would take his place.

The former was a locksmith who was self employed. I remember discussions about his salary in business meetings. He accepted no salary, reasoning that he earned a good living in his trade, and felt no need to burden the church.

But the church members kept insisting he be paid. So eventually he accepted a $100.00 per week salary, which he put back in the offering each week.

The next preacher was also not a full time pastor, working at General Motors. One of the first issues he took up was about his salary. He asked for $500 per week, then not long afterward asked for a raise to $650.

This was in addition to a good salary at GM.

Hearing a lot of the arguments in those meetings shaped an opinion in me that lasted over 30 years. Nobody should make a dime off this thing we call Christianity


When I owned a remodeling company, I cut prices for churches - to the point of losing money sometimes. And felt that's how it should be.

But once, at my own church, they wouldn't have it. They insisted on paying full price. I still snuck in a discount, though.


But I really did have an imbalanced view, and that has started to change some. I still do an enormous amount of labor work at our church for no pay. I invest time as our bible study teacher and Sunday School teacher, too. I also advise our pastor, who receives a salary. And he's one who is learning in our bible studies.

But God has really impressed upon me that my opinion on such matters may bind me, but I am not allowed to try to bind up others in the same fashion.

I am willing to work, work, work, and teach, teach, teach. All without pay. I use a One Year children's bible for Sunday School curriculum, which I buy out of my pocket. And I'm ok with that. And I'm ok if others don't.

I have a buddy who co-ops work with me. He's an associate pastor at his church. His church needs several thousand dollars worth of electrical work, and I told him we should go do it for free. He looked at me like I was stupid. What?? Free??


But the reality is that we have different views on money, and that's ok. Maybe that's a strength of mine, and I can help him grow more. But he's also got strengths in areas where he can help me grow

 

I used to have a view which said Christians shouldn't be making money off Christians - in any capacity. Teaching, construction, food, didn't matter. That was my connection.

My buddy is a licensed electrician, and we are each insured for $2 million. He pulls the permits, we share the work, and get paid individually from the company we subcontract from. I'm allowed by both states we work in (Ks & Mo) to work under his license.

 

Then you, by participating in this board, are a hypocrite.