Published by The Protestant church has some issues that it definitely struggles with in the public relations department. One of the main issues is the stewardship of funds. In this article we will look at the responsibility of the pastor to his flock, and the flock to their pastor. Hopefully we will be able to get past what seems to be small percentage of Christian leaders who represent the bad apples. Perhaps by digging into this issue, and educating those in the church, and those outside the church, we can help the people reach an informed position with more information, on how the church is suppose to operate.
What is a Pastor made of ?
The Bible gives the requirements and characteristics that a Pastor should be made of. Everyone who is pastoring does not meet these requirements. This is obvious due to all of the scandals that take place in the church on a daily basis. Perhaps if the parishioner took more into consideration when choosing a flock to become part of, this would not be the norm. Instead, church attenders are attracted to a feel good message, a hip choir, and a pastor who wears at least a couple thousand dollars worth of jewelry and suits every time you see them preach. How superficial the believer has become. One thing about business is, the successful one will change the product for the customers wants a needs. As a result, the mainstream church has began competing on a bussiness level for your tithes and offerings, so it is foolish of you to complain about customer service. The requirements of a pastor can be found in 1 Tim 3:1-16 NIV. 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. If you have not taken these principles into consideration when choosing a pastor to study under, then don’t blame God, he has already lay-ed it out for you in his word.
Should you bless the Pastor ?
Should I give money to the church is the question that is raised, and how much of it does the pastor get? We should take a brief look at some of the management systems of the Protestant church. In the Presbyterian and episcopalian systems, the church has a board of directors who vote on all of the decisions. Most of the time it begins with interviewing, hiring a pastor, and determining his salary. If you are one who tends to believe pastors are overpaid, then this might be the type of church you should consider. The problem here is, the pastor has no power to set an agenda for the church, and is powerless in what the Spirit moves him to preach on. This is all micro managed, and you will find that many pastors in this kind of system quickly resign. Remember 1 Tim 5:18, For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” The majority of pastors are over worked, underpaid, and always under the microscope of criticism. The facts are that less than 10 percent of all churches are mega churches. The average church has 77 members, and is struggling to pay the rent. With this problem being the norm, I wonder why anybody would be crazy enough to become a pastor. Perhaps it is because he loves Jesus and desires to do the work of the Lord. Remember what the Apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:6, Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
Begging Bread
I would like to believe that Christians are not so silly that they think God would make pastors take a vow of poverty like the catholic priest does in vain. The only reason the Catholic church does this is to not have to share in the profits of the sowing of the seeds in the parishioner. It amounts to the greed of the biggest religious machine the world has ever seen. There was a time in history when Catholic priests were able to marry, and they were airing the church property to the children in their wills. Swaggart, Jakes, Dollar and the rest of them are welfare cases compared to the Catholic machine and the Pope. That being said, the Protestant should be more motivated to give. The word tells us that if we don’t worry about how we feed our families, then a man who ministers the word of God should not either. Let us refer to Psalms 37:25, I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. Reach into your pockets and give graciously for these men of God to live, while they tend to the affairs of the church. Your blessing is tied to this, and it is not your job to judge the stewardship of the man, based on what a small percentage have done.
In case you did not know
The church has a myriad of responsibilities to the parishioner. Lights, gas, and phones in the church are just the basics, and what would a church be like if you came on Sunday, and the preacher had to conduct the service in the dark. Have you considered the small Baptist church in the southern USA, that has no air conditioning, and hands out old fashioned hand fans to the parishioner? Just imagine how uncomfortable this would be. The utility companies do not accept prayer as a from of payment. You will find that a rising number of church’s have been foreclosed on in this recession, and some of it is due to mismanagement of funds, but most can be attributed to the selfish tither. Giving to the church is fundamental for charitable contributions to be made to the community, and to the struggling member in need. I personally know of a family who’s home burnt down, and it was three different churches that paid the rent up a few months on a new place to rent, purchased new furniture, and gave them vouchers for food and utilities. If it had not been for the gracious givers in the church, this type of Christian love could not be manifested.
Final Thoughts
In final, we can conclude that we have a responsibility to give to the church for the upkeep of the ministry. The pastor, and all of the charities must be supported in order for the purpose of Christianity to operate on all cylinders. The gospel message is free, but it costs money to get the word out. It is not Christ like to beg from the pulpit every moment of the service, but it is Christ like to give, and we as ministers of the members of Christendom have a responsibility to give because there truly is a blessing behind it, and the blessing is the kingdom of God reaching out and touching the community and the world around you.
People outside the church, and even some in the church, have no idea what the pastor does or where the money from the collection is spent.
God has called every Christian to not just GO to church, we are to BE the church. The church is a living organism, not an organization. The pastor is not the head, Christ is. In a healthy, growing church, the pastor should be equipping the people to do the work of the church, not exhausting himself doing the work himself.
Are you the only pastor of your church? That would be very lonely. Our church is one of the busiest buildings I have seen, 7 days a week.
These are hard times for sure, a local church near me had to shut down recently due to lack of funds.
Went to a Christening at a Congregational church not too long ago and I was amazed how open they were about their finances. They published their budget and needs every month in the bulletin.
The Catholic church has a huge billions of dollars stock portfolio and that just doesn’t seem right while people are starving in the world.
My husband is a Catholic and his church is not overflowing with riches material wise. This church struggles the same as any other. God bless them all.
I am not a church going person myself. However, I do see on a regular basis in the community I live in just how much a church can help the people around. You are right, it is not just utilities for their own needs that a church covers. I have seen with my own eyes, a church reaching out and helping a friend of mine pay HER utilities, and even went so far as to help pay her deposit to get into a place to live.
Churches are not there simply to beat you over the head with the ‘word of Christ’. They are there to help and support all people in times of need.
Very inspiring words you have written. Thank you Clafleur
Our church isn’t the wealthiest church but gets a little extra that we help with neighboring church. Nice thoughts!
You show me time and time again your interpretations of the Bible are flawless, it is the responsibility of the parishioner not get caught up in the pageantry of pastors that only do for themselves and send a skewed message from the scriptures. If everyone really looked at the reality of present day pastors and Jesus Christ, you see a huge difference in their lifestyles comparitively. Jesus did not wear gold and other flashy gimmicks to speak the word of God, actually quite the opposite. The church does need funds to thrive, to hopefully reach the many. The bills still have to be paid to keep the lights on in the church. It’s up to the parishioner where their loyalty lies….within one flashy pastor or a small pastor that honestly embraces their parishioners with the faith he dutifully carries on. Another great article of the duties of the church and church goers. A+ Message here!
Pastors, in my opinion are some very busy people. They don’t just go home after peaching their sermons on Sunday and rest. They have to visit the sick in the hospital and the shut-ins at home, they have to prepare all week for the next Sunday’s sermons, attend church meetings about church affairs and the community affairs and on top of that the family needs have to be taken care of.
Pastors, in my opinion are some very busy people. They don\’t just go home after peaching their sermons on Sunday and rest. They have to visit the sick in the hospital and the shut-ins at home, they have to prepare all week for the next Sunday\’s sermons, attend church meetings about church affairs and the community affairs and on top of that the family needs have to be taken care of. I think we should bless the pastor.
I am a Catholic and I give a bit of amount during the offering and leave for God to decide. If a church of whatever origin misuse funds, it would be to the liability of the church leaders for they very well knew the scriptures. I suppose this is the irony of seeking spiritual upliftment in church gatherings if issues like these come to light. Everyone could sit under a tree cross-legged and be enlightened if one is only willing to sacrifice.
This is true. My pastor is well spoken. Good work.
Good job in addresing issues of the church. I think we ought to look at our hearts and why we give. When I give, I am not giving to man but to God. If you look at the old testament the Levites did not have an inheritance because theirs came directly from the Lord through the offerings.
Pastors should not be quiting their calling because they cannot provide for their families due to lack Parishoners giving. How we give or don’t give shows our relationship with God.
Preachers have to draw a fine line when exhorting his flock to help pay the bills. It would help if more folks would take their kids to church instead of sending them. Our church is a polling place and our pastor would be ever so pleased to see such a crowd on Sundays as he does on election day.
I enjoy your articles because you make me consider aspects of a life of faith that I would not normally visit. Not that I’m anticipating any great change in my current lifestyle. But I do like to be made to think.
As for your writing style. It flows, it draws the reader in and along. My only criticism is you may want to make MUCH more frequent use of spell check. Luv ya Rev!
This would be the first article that I\’ve read of yours. A very good outlook on giving in the church. But still, one must look at the whole focus point of giving as a person is lead to give. The Bible teaches that a cheerful giver is always best. Meaning give your tithes and offering and be happy about doing it. So does that lead us to believe an unhappy giver shouldn\’t be giving? Would a person be blessed just the same? What if a person donated their funds somewhere other than the church. Would the creator reward them for this allowance? And when does the reaping and the sowing comes to fruition in all of this? And, I haven\’t even touched on being a good steward over the tithes and offering. Shouldn\’t the giver be a good steward over the money also by holding the establishment accountable? I think this article opens up the opportunity for alot of cmmunication. And, sadly to say, I don\’t think no two people would be rightly wrong or precisely correct. It all lies and how you as a person was trained to decipher scripture. Thanks for sharing.
I wish I could comment long like the others but I might not be able to because I don’t know who a pastor is. I know Catholic priests and Catholic Church Charismatic leaders. May be The pastors are similar to the priests but they marry and have a family. Whatever the case is Jesus is the real pastor and a priest. Rest all comes after Him. Jesus doesn’t require money, but humans require and so do pastors. May be I am confusing the intellects here. I feel Claffeur can tell better.
Liked your article.
I am not a church going person but if a person belongs to a church and knows the church is truely helping needy people instead of the money going to pay for splashy cars and a fine house, then they should pay their tith.
Wonderful work, Clafleur.
Pastor’s are under-appreciated, overworked, underpaid and taken for granted. Expected to fend for themselves while taking care of those around them. And in most cases once they retire, are forgotten by the church in general. I find it quite disgraceful that people who call themselves ‘God’s children’ treat their Teachers/Pastor’s so badly. No wonder the ‘World’ has little to no time for the Church. What makes things worse are all those ‘imposters’, people who call themselves pastors but have not been ‘called’ by God. They are the ones who are causing all the trouble in the Religious world. The ‘Pretenders’ who run around making up new rules and interpreting God’s word for their own profit by misleading people and causing condescension in the Church.
Minister C.Lefleur good work! We are to bless the pastor as Gods servant according to scriptural knowlege, as Gal.6:6
states. when we obey gods word He will bless us. “God gives
wisdom when we obey.
Minister C.Lefleur good work! We are to bless the pastor as Gods servant according to scriptural knowlege, as Gal.6:6
states. when we obey gods word He will bless us. \”God gives
wisdom when we obey.
Interesting article. In addition to Catholic priests not allowing the passing down of church properties, the vow of poverty originated in 9th century asceticism engendered in monasticism which became the rule not only for monks but also for priests in the Roman Catholic tradition. Although this asceticism is less pronounced today, the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity have their origins there.
Come on the Catholic church isnt a big evil enterprise. I grew up a member of that church. The priests needs are taken care of it isn’t out of greed by the church. They have a ton of things they spend money on. (like lawsuits from molested children both real and contrived) Hospitals, the cold war, etc. The portfolio of the church is appropriate given its size. I don’t want a church that is run like the typical American household.
I personally believe a pastor should roughly be in the middle income range of his flock. I have no problem with a good pastor bringing in 100,000 a year. I think some of the pastors of the mega churches definitely get out of hand. But the average pastor is squeezing by on far less than he deserves and taking crap for every dollar he is given.
Well, C, I can’t seem to comment as a blog user, so I’ll do it this way.
I grew up in the Episcopalian church. The average pastor was allowed to stay in his parish for a total of five years before being moved, and was given an average salary on which to live. The ones I spoke to were on an average income level comparable to their area; their issues were with the time frame, not the money.
I spent 20 years in the Southern Baptist church, and those pastors, too were paid by their organization rather than directly from their flock. They were not nearly so well paid, but had somewhat less restrictions placed upon them as far as their preaching was concerned, and they were allowed to stay in their church unless the flock removed them.
I have now been in the non-denominational church for 15 years. The flock, together with the pastor, decide what is to be preached and what is to be paid. Most pastors have outside jobs as their churches cannot afford full salaries.
When it works, I prefer this method, for the whole church is responsible for double-checking the validity of the preached word, and regular study and questioning is the prevailing method. Nothing is accepted out of hand. This drives everyone into the bible. Finances are also the responsibility of the body, and everyone is in the loop at all times. It can be a hard road, though.