There are many in God's flock that take a salary to minster his Word. Preachers, pastors, priests, popes, bishops, cardinals, and minsters. These men have sworn themselves to the service of the Savior. They are supported by the saints and given a salary to sustain their livelihood. However, the question is if this is just? Paying priests has existed since the Levite Priesthood. Originally, the Israelites would tithe a portion of their grain, oxen, or commodity to the Temple. The priests would take a share to live on, while storing the rest in houses for famine and other catastrophes. Today we do much of the same, only the clergy doesn't put a portion aside for the security of the sons of God. Can you imagine if your Church were to take the collected tithe and put it in an account for emergencies? If a brother or sister in the Lord were in dire straights, revenue could be requisitioned and given to them from the store house or account. It would be money put to much better use than building an addition for worship or collecting to funds to make fine coffee and pastries available. What if the tithe was used to help the living Church and not the cathedral and programs? That would be a novel idea. It would be returning to the Early Church, when the Gentile Christians collected money to help the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).
Paying priests is a subject of great controversy. I frankly feel a conflict of interest by taking money to spread the Gospel. It turns out that I'm not the only one. The Apostle Paul said, "I would rather die of starvation than lose the satisfaction I get from preaching to you without charge." (1 Corinthians 9:15, TLB). Paul addresses the Church of Corinth about them providing for preachers and other Apostles. He gets quite full of vehemence over the fact that Corinthian Christians pay and provide food and clothing for other preachers like Peter, but neglect to help him and Barnabas because they have their own businesses. However, Paul then realizes that there is bondage in taking a salary to preach the Gospel. He says, "I am not bound to obey anyone just because he pays my salary; yet I have freely and happily become a servant of any and all so that I can win them to Christ." (1 Corinthians 9:19, TLB). Here Paul has touched on the great danger that looms over all clerics who take money to serve the Lord.
With money comes influence. If someone is paying you to do something, they have a yoke over you. They have a web of control. If you don't preform or preach what they want, they can take your provision away or threaten you. If you take salary to sow the seed of the Gospel, you cannot freely share the message without the approval of those whom support you. This is the great travesty in the Church today. Many men and women of God are marginalized and kept from speaking the Truth because the board who pays them doesn't want to hear messages of conviction or prophecy that would compel them to change their ways. This is why Jesus says, "You can only serve one of two masters, you can serve either God or Mammon (god of money)." (Matt 6:24, Luke 16:13). The truth is most pastors and parishioners are trying to serve both Jesus and a Jury. Preachers must balance their service to God and to the people who control their salary. This door for manipulation is eliminated if we like Paul refuse to take money to Move Mountains and spread the message of our Lord. We aren't compelled to obey man if we freely serve Christ.
If we take a check or a coin for conveying the compassion of Christ, we open the door to Mammon and can be controlled by those who serve him. Money is not evil, but with it comes ties that can defy what Jesus Christ is calling his children to do. Ultimately, pastors and priests will have to make a choice. Will they do as God wills and risk losing their livelihood? or will they bend their knee to the Prince of Banking and thus systematically destroy their integrity and calling in the Lord? There is no middle ground, you can't serve two masters and the problem with the American Church is it is trying to appease both the Trinity and the god of money. Unfortunately, it is Mammon that tends to be worshipped and honored. While the saints sing to their savior, they build a temple and altar to the god of money. Something must be done to set free those who believe from the control of money and man. The answer lies in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians. He is a model of how to be freely ministering in Christ. The answer is responsibility. Get a job! Solomon (Eccl 6:7) and Paul said, "If man will work, he may eat; if he do not work, he neither can eat, nor should he eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Stop being like this entitlement society! Get up from your pew or papal seat and provide for your own needs so that you can freely serve God! Cease taking bribes and become bold for Jesus Christ! It's time priesthood have a price! That we have to sacrifice comforts for Christ! Be set free and start walking in God's Will instead of Mammon's Bill.
Comments
Post a Comment