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" ([email protected])
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: [email protected] (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" ([email protected])
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: [email protected])
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 ([email protected])
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: [email protected] ([email protected])
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 ([email protected])
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: [email protected] (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 ([email protected])
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 ([email protected])
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 po