The Support of Preachers by Anonymous
Here for your examination is a keen essay which could truly and immediately change the whole church - not to mention the whole world.
Money - misappropriated. And hierarchy, forbidden in Scripture, have been a big hindrance to the spread of the Gospel and to our beloved Saviour's Kingdom as well.
Yes, these are delicate subjects because we are talking about the livelihoods of well-meaning although misinformed people.
The key to unlocking this subject is the phrase "needs based".
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Acts 4:35.
The early churches, often small and meeting in homes, did not supply salaries for all the elder men (elders) or elder women. Only those who qualified received assistance. 1 Timothy 5. Likewise for those itinerant evangelistic workers who were "in the field".
Notice how the clever author of the essay cloaked his name to avoid blow-back in his own day. A. P. Brother stands for: A poor brother.
Notice also the magazine title which published this article: Millennial Harbinger. Obviously, they expected good things in the future and were thus highly motivated by their optimistic views. Unlike today, where pessimism usually reigns.
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You said, "Yes, these are delicate subjects because we are talking about the livelihoods of well-meaning although misinformed people.". But is this really a delicate subject? You are being much more charitable than I would methinks. But I'd better shut up lest I lose any sense of grace whatsoever :-(
What do you think would happen if churches and charities were no longer tax exempt? Would the madness stop?
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Hello my brother. Always great to hear from you. And where we might disagree, you're probably right. Haha.
Jesus did not believe that making merchandise of the truth was a delicate matter. Imagine the tables and money pots flying through the air. And the stinging whip of the Son of God finding it's mark.
And remember - the profiteers were breaking no laws. They thought they were "serving the Lord". And aiding in "worship".
Jesus looked into their hearts and saw their motives. Just as the apostles looked into the greedy hearts of Ananias and Sapphira and Simon Magus. Not to mention all the false teachers who were teaching: "Godliness is GAIN".
As for tax exempt status, we'll be thinking more about it. It's a government subsidy obviously. But for what? Most churches are not truly "non-profit" at all. Rather, they are businesses "for profit". When the profits stop - they cease to exist.
Rather than non-profit, I think of them as being non-prophet...
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David, you wrote:
"Jesus did not believe that making merchandise of the truth was a delicate matter. Imagine the tables and money pots flying through the air. And the stinging whip of the Son of God finding it's mark.
And remember - the profiteers were breaking no laws. They thought they were "serving the Lord". And aiding in "worship".
Have you ever wondered why Jesus permits the exploitation of His message and His people? I am reminded of a line in Mel Brook's movie, "Oh God." John Denver's character asks God, played by George Burns, "Why do you allow all the suffering in the world?" The answer was, "Why do you?"
This struck me the first time I heard it many years ago. People are willing to be exploited today as they were then, but Jesus is not here in a physical body to stop this.
Sure, unbelievers see what is going on in many churches, but most believers I know will defend the system in the name of all the "good" that is accomplished by it.
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I always tie everything that we do back to our lack of understanding of the depth of our sin, Dan. When you say that believers will defend the system because they feel that it does a lot of good, what you're really getting at is that we can somehow manage the sin in our lives rather than confess it and turn it over to the One who paid for it all. In today's church, the prevailing attitude is that we only need Jesus to fill in on those rare occasions where we slip up. This runs counter to "the good old days" where preaching was all hellfire and brimstone. Neither of these is a correct view of the Gospel. Preaching that God just wants to destroy you if even your toe crosses the line fails to show mercy and grace. Preaching that God is somehow a buddy who covers our tracks speaks to how we think that we can save ourselves. Either is a form of self-righteousness that is not supported in Scripture.
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