Responses to "Rich Preachers"
Titled "Rich Preachers" this column joked about the opportunities to sell things in today's church, then citing John Wesley's
example, this column asked how much money a minister can appropriately make off ministry -- is there a limit, or is the sky the
limit? Your responses:
From: "James J. Lake" (lakeaje@neta.com)
It`s not the amount of money that a preacher makes, it`s his attitude and integrity concerning money and material things in particular.
Pay those well who work hard and serve God faithfully and fire the phonies and the con-men whenever and wherever you find them.
Elders and deacons need to show some spiritual grit and step up to the plate and encourage the good guys of God in rewarding them
financially for work that is done well. --Hey I can dream ! -- Jim Lake
From: rcroft@clearnet.net (Robert Croft)
I certainly believe the one doing ministry is worthy of his hire. However I don't think God intended us to get rich off of his calling us
into ministry. What Would Jesus Do? I wonder how many millions He would rake in a year in these modern times? --Bob Croft
From: "Jerry E. Thomas" (jazzynazzy@reborn.com)
No, there isn't anything wrong with making money off ministry? All--well--OK--most of us know that we work and earn our salary.
We are on call anytime or place--sometimes at a moments notice. I have no regrets about my situation and I enjoy doing what God
has called me to do. Nor do I feel guilty about receiving my check two times a month. What really angers me--yes angers--are the
ministers--pastors, evangelists or whatever--who call members of my congregation or any other congregation and say, "I have this
business opportunity to present to you." After all is said and done--Amway comes out of this. This kind of deception is wrong. If
you are not going to be up-front and honest about what you want to tell people then don't tell them. Amway and the like has driven
more people away from God and the church than we can replace or bring back to God. If you are in the money making business,
maybe that's what you should be in instead of ministry. -- Jerry Thomas
From: Namewitheld@xxxx.com)
At 58 I'm still young and idealistic, looking for that Senior Pastor of a large (1,000+ member)church who lives the same lifestyle as
the average family in his congregation and invests his excess income in the work of the kingdom to which he professes his devotion.
If you know of one, let me know his name and address. I'd like to send him a thank-you letter! Don't use my name -- I still have to
work with some of the fellows who haven't yet caught John Wesley's vision and heart in this matter! --Name Withheld
From: Huntley (Huntley@aol.com)
If ministers had to give up these extravagant extras, how many ministers would be in the ministry? Unfortunately, many are in it for
the profit. We all must take John Wesley for our example and not be in love with filthy lucre..
From: jgoof1@juno.com (jgoof1@juno.com)
Jesus never said it was wrong to have money; even if you're a preacher. We seem to have the idea that the farther we are in debt then
the holier we are because we call it sacrificing and that's holy. In reality it has nothing to do with how much money we have but our
attitude toward it being God's and how we are to spend it. Besides, if the churches aren't going to support the preacher as they ought,
then the preacher needs to do what he must to make what he must; even if it's in the millions. The amount of money we take care of
for The King should have nothing to do whatsoever with our ministry. --Jeff Jones
From: DBLRNC (DBLRNC@aol.com)
I am familiar with Wesley's sermon that you mentioned. I always wondered how he really lived if he gave it all away. But doing the
math, if he earned what would be $1,400,000 in today's money, and kept only 2%, that means he lived on $28,000. That may not be
a lot to some people, but you can definitely live on it. --David Lyons
From: del5@juno.com (Delbert F. Shinabarger)
Seems to me that the issue of "wwjd" and your thoughts on money fit sort of well together. Wesley apparently didn't need to ask
himself what to do...he just did what he knew was the right thing to do.
From: DwMikesell (DwMikesell@aol.com)
We live in a capitalistic society that views free as worthless. The Bible teaches that a laborer is worth his hire. If a person writes a
book, preaches a sermon, produces a song, gives a seminar, or in any other way provides a product or service, that person should be
recompensed at market value. The key issues for the person in ministry are motive and financial management. Are you ministering
to people for the purpose of what you can get for them? That is a problem. Do you horde your income to yourself? That is a
problem whether your income is great or small... --Dwight Mikesell
From: ERugen1020 (ERugen1020@aol.com)
I guess it all depends what value money has for you. If you are in ministry to make money, than any amount is too much. If your
ministry to please God, the money isn't important..... $5 in one guy's pocket is too much.... a billion in another's pocket is fine. The
real question is.... why are we bothered in the first place...... a guy with 1000 people will make more than a guy with 100 people.
Fair- no/ both probably see the same number of people a week, take as long writing their sermon, and have similar people
problems....(one may have more infrastructure to worry about) Fact-yes/live with it... you never have enough money anyway.
--Rich Rugenstein
From: "Eugene A. Glendenning " (velgene@fairfieldi.com)
I do not accept your statement regarding making a profit of a meager salary and run down parsonage. True I am able to keep soul
and body to gather on the meager salary and sheltered by the run down parsonage, But a Profit? -- E.A. Glendenning
From: gunsalur@wesleyan.org
Trying to get rich from ministering is one thing. Getting rich because you are ministering is another. I think the former is a bit
suspect. But in either case, once the money is there, one would be hard pressed to do better than Wesley did with his money.
--Russ Gunsalus
From: larry101@juno.com (larry wilson)
(( Is it wrong to get rich in the ministry?)) Heck no, Keith. That's just what Jesus had in mind when he said, "If anyone would come
after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, take up his cross and follow me." Look . . a crown of thorns may be nice as a symbolic
statement. But today, you've got to communicate. Nothing does that better than a glossy photo. (Never mind that the main people
we're communicating to are our kids, and the main thing we're telling them is that we love money, and her whore sister, prestige.)
Anyway . . put all that temple cleansing malarkey out of your mind. Nobody wants to hear that small-minded, negative thinking.
What we need are skilled communicators who can reach a secular audience with the with the thrilling news that . . . THE DOW HIT
4000! -- Sincerely . . Simon P. Magus, Ministry Consultant P.S. Keith, your readers might be interested to know that I'm
available as a booking agent. For a modest fee I can schedule promising young "ministers" into some of our nation's larger venues.
Some of my clients include Marjoe Gortner, Jimmy Bakker and Robert Tilton. In exchange for your soul, I can give you the whole
world . . . any (more) takers??
From: Guy Beasley (gbeasley@Charleston.Net)
That's a thought stirring column. The strange part for me is that I know I can't out give God, but I don't jump out there and give
25%, 50%, or 80% - and watch God do miraculous things. I know I'm missing a blessing, but still don't make a stretch of faith.
More columns like that can make a stretch. --Guy
From: "John L. Carnett" (jcnet@anet-stl.com)
Three words: Where's Your Motive? Jesus tells us to "make friends with unrighteous mammon." Why did Jesus want you and I to
make friends with unrighteous mammon? Jesus knew that we live and die in a world controlled by governmental and world financial
systems. In making friends with unrighteous mammon, we take from the world (like a king would take the enemies spoils) and use it
for righteous activities... i.e. the five-fold ministry (in essence giving it away). To answer your question. If it legal by God's and
man's law, do what you can to gain that which can be used to sustain and further the Kingdom of God. --John L. Carnett
St. Louis, Missouri
From: drjzimmer@juno.com (John R Zimmer)
In Deut. 25:4 "the ox was not muzzled," allowing it to eat some of the grain during the work of threshing. It appears by this
example that God shows that those who work for the sake of the gospel should expect benefit from their labor. Paul in writing to
Corinthians felt he ought to have material support; but he exercised his right not to in (I Cor. 9:12) so no one in that corrupt city
could accuse him of preaching for money. However in verses 13-14 "both Jewish and pagan priests" received their living from
temple offerings. Verse 14 "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. In
Philippians 4:10-13 indicates Paul's ability in knowing how to receive a gift; but does not show his concern; about financial
support. He has learned that whatsoever state he is in to be content. "Contentment and godliness is great gain." I personally feel it
is all right to receive money for services rendered within the ministry. At the same time we need to keep money and ministry in
proper perspective and give back to others what God has blessed us with. I don't think the sky is the limit; but I do think that
perhaps congregations need understand and evaluate salaries that they give to their pastors. I don't feel keeping the Pastor both
"broke" and "humble," does a whole lot in enhancing the gospel of the Kingdom of God. --John R. Zimmer
From: "Larry J. Fowler" (lfowler@mcdowell.main.nc.us)
As for wealthy pastors. I don't believe we have too many of them in the trenches of ministry. Most of my colleagues... are still
qualifying for the Earned Income Credit. Many are going in debt to pay the self insurance payments. Well to say more would to
begin my favorite whine: "I just want a cost of living allowance". --Larry J. Fowler
From: "NameWitheld" (NameWitheld@XXXXX.com)
If you print this clean it up and don't use my name. But, thanks for putting this whole issue into perspective... Though most of your
readers may miss it, you are right in reminding us in a sly way that we ALL make money off our ministry. And by using Wesley as
the example you reminded us of his constant point... that we are ALL rich preachers. While many of your readers will probably use
this as an opportunity to beat up on XXXX XXXXXXX and others, they need to be reminded that, given the economic state of the
vast majority of the world's preachers, they are the "rich Preacher." Like Nathan's story raising ire in David, your column catches
us all. "Thou are the man." The question is not "what about him?" "What is that to thee?" YOU follow me. Convicting!
Send a note to Keith at kdrury@indwes.edu?
Tuesday Column FREEware by Keith Drury
You are free to duplicate or publish this article without permission.
The collection of Keith Drury's Tuesday Columns and other Writings:
http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday
Keith Drury teaches practical ministry courses at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Click here to return to Keith Drury's
Writings listing.