My Pastor has a big house....


Good replies.

Again, I was just curious....

Docmump, respond specifically to this please regarding people who make money from ministry related things, let's say 500K/year...
Should they buy a honda accord and give MORE of their earned money to church? Should they buy no more than a 2,000 sqft house and give MORE money to church?
Click to expand...
Also, do you practice the above principle of living for LESS?

T
 
BLAQUE PRINCE said:
- I am not going to ride better than the poorest person in this congregation when its off the money they come here and give to the Lord.
Click to expand...


huh??? The poorest person probably had NO car....he was just speaking just to speak. :rolleyes:
 



docmump said:
Dac, you are correct. God Blesses. My point is this. Why is the one who is musically talented playing? Why is he/she going into the marketplace? It is not to support their families. Not to go out and make money. Not even to go out to generate funds for the ministry. The purpose for him/her going is to introduce a sinner to Jesus Christ. That is with every Christian. Now, I agree that a pastor should have a 10 bedroom / 11 bathroom house. But I do not believe he should get it on the selling of tapes, CDs, books, DVDs, etc. But the church should supply his needs...
Click to expand...
Yes, but not only to the sinner, but to encourage other believers. CDs, books, DVD's, and such are the outflow of ministry that is already being done. The vast majority of it is a matter of packaging and making it available to the public...Akin to the apostle Paul's tentmaking.


docmump said:
...
Yes, that is true but remember what else did the Levites do? Nothing, they took care of the temple and the holy things only. They did not grow gardens. They did not work in the fields. They did not fight in the army. They worked in the temple and in other holy buildings. "Only." They were the priestly tribe and for their sacrifice, God gave them "all the offerings that were brought in."...
Click to expand...
And my point is that most ministries here in the western world would die in embryo if today's "levites" depended solely on what people are willing to give. The sad reality is that we don't plant churches well through the seeding process and they struggle for way too long as a result.
 
Originally Posted by BLAQUE PRINCE


- I am not going to ride better than the poorest person in this congregation when its off the money they come here and give to the Lord.

I agree with this statement...we should all think like this because if we can help someone along the way we should. There are a lot of people hurting in our churches and we should have enough compassion to reach out and help these people. I don't have any problems with pastor's living in big houses and driving the kind of car of their choice as long as they don't forget their calling that God has placed upon them to do. We have to learn to feel others pain and maybe then we will not be so fast to down them.
 
Some people just won't be happy until those preachers/evangelists give up all their earnings and live like a poor man--- especially knowing very well that if their own life was that rich, he/she would not be as willing to give up their own wealth. :rolleyes:
 
CriTAUcal said:
Some people just won't be happy until those preachers/evangelists give up all their earnings and live like a poor man--- especially knowing very well that if their own life was that rich, he/she would not be as willing to give up their own wealth. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Amen Crit.

You know, I read that statement about "I will not drive anything better than the poorest of my congregation" and I just shook my head. I have dedicated the better of my 22 years of practice representing the disenfrancised, the dissuaded, the disgusted, the just plain ole dissed. Although I fight every day for the poor to have their day in court, I sure as hell don't want to be poor because they are. I represent them like they are paying me the $450.00 an hour I am worth and do it with respect and dignity, but here again, I don't want to be poor with them. I don't think it is necessary for me to be poor in order to serve them, to respect them, to work for them, to speak on their behalf. I also think I am an example to them what hard work, opportunity and education will do and how it will improve their lives. I am a role model to young black women that but for the blood of Jesus, my faith, my tenacity I would be living in poverty, in dire straits and lost. NOBODY WANTS TO BE POOR starting with me!!! And I am not going to give up my lifestyle in order to serve the less fortunate and I don't think a preacher should either. If his church and his ministry is out working for the community then that should be the measure, not rather he is driving a chuck-a-buck or a Mercedes.
 
That statement was plum silly.

Why would he go backwards if...

Jesus came so that we may have a right to the tree of life and have it more abundantly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
JSUII said:
Originally Posted by BLAQUE PRINCE


- I am not going to ride better than the poorest person in this congregation when its off the money they come here and give to the Lord.

I agree with this statement...we should all think like this because if we can help someone along the way we should. There are a lot of people hurting in our churches and we should have enough compassion to reach out and help these people. I don't have any problems with pastor's living in big houses and driving the kind of car of their choice as long as they don't forget their calling that God has placed upon them to do. We have to learn to feel others pain and maybe then we will not be so fast to down them.
Click to expand...

And for those who are NOT called according to HIS purpose, will suffer in the judgement. For those people that are giving to ministries with a cheerful and pure heart, they will receive blessings for that.
 
Seeing Spots said:
I don't think it is necessary for me to be poor in order to serve them, to respect them, to work for them, to speak on their behalf.
Click to expand...


You shouldn't have to be. Some people tend to think that if one preacher/evangelist/person gives back all his money, then that's the ONLY way to serve.
Crabs in the barrell mentality and/or not knowing the WHOLE story of one person's life.
 
nevaehinvesting said:
Good replies.

Again, I was just curious....

Docmump, respond specifically to this please regarding people who make money from ministry related things, let's say 500K/year... Should they buy a honda accord and give MORE of their earned money to church? Should they buy no more than a 2,000 sqft house and give MORE money to church?
Also, do you practice the above principle of living for LESS?

T
Click to expand...
Nevaeh,
Your first point.
Docmump, respond specifically to this please regarding people who make money from ministry related things, let's say 500K/year...
Should they buy a honda accord and give MORE of their earned money to church? Should they buy no more than a 2,000 sqft house and give MORE money to church?
Click to expand...
Should a person (Pastor/Minister) take money from a ministry for profit? No. Jesus said let the people provide. I.E. If you are a pastor and you need a home, The church should provide one for you. Should that be a 4,200 Sq.Ft.? Yes, if the church can afford to build it. Should the church provide a car and buy the Mercedes 700 Series? Yes, if the church can afford to purchase it.

My point is the ministry. Should a person live off the ministry? No. The purpose for the funding of the ministry is to support the ministry. I.E. The church provides the car. The ministry should keep the car running. The ministry should provide the clothing, the lodging, the travel, changing of the oil, new tires, etc.......

nevaehinvesting said:
Also, do you practice the above principle of living for LESS?
Click to expand...
No, I am not trying to practice this principle nor am I speaking of this principle.

Lets say this another way.
My pastor has a ministry. We the congregation proudly support that ministry, through offerings, as well as support the pastor. Now, the question is "What should that ministry pay for and what should the church pay for?" I believe the ministry should pay for anything that supports his ministry. I.E. Getting to and from our church, Getting to and from any speaking engagements, Cleaning clothes, eating, travel, lodging while traveling, etc. Does this mean he can go out and purchase a 65-inch wide screen TV and charge it back to his ministry? No, the TV doesn't support the ministry even though it helps him to relax.
 
docmump said:
My point is the ministry. Should a person live off the ministry? No. The purpose for the funding of the ministry is to support the ministry.
Click to expand...


So, if a preacher writes such books about spirituality, getting closer to God, deliverance, etc., all that money needs to be put back into the ministry? Or does he get a portion, since it is his/her writings?????
 
CriTAUcal said:
So, if a preacher writes such books about spirituality, getting closer to God, deliverance, etc., all that money needs to be put back into the ministry? Or does he get a portion, since it is his/her writings?????
Click to expand...

According to the laws that define copywrites and plagiarism..."if it is HIS intellectual property...he can reap the benefit from it...." He can CHOOSE to give it all back to the ministry, but I don't think it should be required...
 
Of course, and I agree!!!!
But I'm addressing this to those who feel that ministers shouldn't profit off ministry.


J4J said:
According to the laws that define copywrites and plagiarism..."if it is HIS intellectual property...he can reap the benefit from it...." He can CHOOSE to give it all back to the ministry, but I don't think it should be required...
Click to expand...
 
CriTAUcal said:
Of course, and I agree!!!!
But I'm addressing this to those who feel that ministers shouldn't profit off ministry.
Click to expand...
Crit I will reply to this post because you said something in it.
Do not forget the purpose of the ministry. See, we, those who believe, are not doing this for nothing or enjoyment or entertainment. There is no such thing in any ministry. We have a purpose to reach the lost, to reenergize, and to reactivate those who have back slidden.

So, when one write a gospel book or a musical CD, What is it's purpose? To worship God? To evangelize? It should be. With that answer, does the gospel have a cost? Can you apply a cost? Anyways.

CriTAUcal said:
So, if a preacher writes such books about spirituality, getting closer to God, deliverance, etc., all that money needs to be put back into the ministry? Or does he get a portion, since it is his/her writings?????
Click to expand...
I believe that if he had a ministry to write books then the money should go back to the ministry to further it along and support it. If it is his own money, then I guess I would treat it like any other book. He should get the money.
 
CriTAUcal said:
Of course, and I agree!!!!
But I'm addressing this to those who feel that ministers shouldn't profit off ministry.
Click to expand...
Should a minister profit off the ministry? Not recieve a salary but profit off the ministry.
 



jag4life said:
huh??? The poorest person probably had NO car....he was just speaking just to speak. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


*smh* ...the person with the worst car. I paraphrased what he said.

Aside from that he was obviously not speaking just to speak because he made this comment in response to people asking why he didn't go ahead and buy a better car than the little buggy he kept running.
 
I believe a pastor should be taken care of just as the priest were taken care of in the bible. I don't have a problem with a pastor living in a big house, driving a luxury vehicle, writing books, etc. I have a problem with a church buying the pastor a $400,000 rolls, a jet, $1,000,00 homes, etc. and have a problem paying a persons house note for month, light bill, etc. It sadden me to see so many wealthy christian people not willing to help those in need.

Can you just image a Pastor driving to church on Sunday morning in his/her Rolls Phantom and refuse to pick up a person heading in the same direction.

Or flying in their helicopter and the members of the church are not allowed near it.

I believe when you are blessed by God, yo should be willing to bless others as well.
 
docmump said:
Crit I will reply to this post because you said something in it.
Do not forget the purpose of the ministry. See, we, those who believe, are not doing this for nothing or enjoyment or entertainment. There is no such thing in any ministry. We have a purpose to reach the lost, to reenergize, and to reactivate those who have back slidden.

So, when one write a gospel book or a musical CD, What is it's purpose? To worship God? To evangelize? It should be. With that answer, does the gospel have a cost? Can you apply a cost? Anyways.


I believe that if he had a ministry to write books then the money should go back to the ministry to further it along and support it. If it is his own money, then I guess I would treat it like any other book. He should get the money.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your view on this.
FYI: Unless times have changed or if the author is self-published, the author only gets 40% of his/her work.
 
CriTAUcal said:
Thanks for sharing your view on this.
FYI: Unless times have changed or if the author is self-published, the author only gets 40% of his/her work.
Click to expand...
That's OK with me. It was not the point I was trying to make. I was talkin about ministry work.
 
jag4life said:
Should they be expected to have another full time job to support themselves?
Click to expand...

So they should go into the business of spreading the gospel with the intent of making a living? There are other artists(not even gospel) that do it out of pure joy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top