Paying Pastors

I used to struggle with the idea of pastors and preachers getting “paid” for their services. I used to think that because the gospel is free, then those presenting the gospel should do it for free. I even felt strange about paying Christian artists and authors for their music and books. I thought they might be using Christianity as a marketing gimmick; a method of making money off of a very specific, sensitive and passionate audience; an audience who is so hungry for God that they are quick to shell out loads of cash to experience more of him and to learn more about him. But Paul helped me to adjust my thinking about such things. He said in First Corinthians, chapter 9, verses 7, 11 and 14:

“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? (verse 11) If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? (and verse 14) In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” 

Paul is clear. He said, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel”; that if they have sown spiritual seeds among you, is it too much if they reap a material harvest from you? I can attest that over the years, my pastors have sown spiritual seeds in my heart. The words that God speaks through them has helped correct me, teach me, and encourage me. The passion that they bring to the pulpit and the hours they spend pouring over the Bible is distilled in a way that is relatable is powerful. And when we pay our tithes; once we put our money into the offering plate it is no longer ours, it is Gods. And it is God’s plan that those who preach the gospel should be compensated. They should receive their living from the gospel. Most believers don’t have a problem with this model. But others may. It could even be a stumbling block to those who are seeking God. To them, I would say that we need to read, and understand, the words of Paul. When God calls believers to give their lives to the mission and ministry of preaching the gospel in a powerful and effective way, they do not have time to earn a living apart from the ministry. And the Bible reminds us that they shouldn’t have to.

—-

“The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Though this is true, and I no longer struggle with the concept of pastors being paid to preach the gospel, it can still be a stumbling block for me. I’ve said it before and I still hold to this line of thinking, that money always muddies my perception of someone’s motives. Because I can find myself asking questions like, “are they doing what they are doing only because they are getting paid to do it?” “Would they choose to volunteer their time, like they ask the congregation to do, if they weren’t getting compensated?” “Is pastoring just a job to them?” “What are their motives?” When believers evangelize or use their talents for free, I never question their motives. In fact, their motives are crystal clear because they are doing the work of the Lord without getting anything in return. But God has given us a pattern to follow. Paul said that, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” So if you struggle at all with this command, I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to trust God’s plan. Regardless of their motives, God can use them as a vessel to train, encourage and correct us. Even still, we should always practice spiritual discernment like the Bereans did, who when Paul preached, “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Links:
Free “Lord of My Life” Books: https://www.ktfproductions.com/books
Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/lord-of-my-life
Web Page: https://www.ktfproductions.com/loml-home
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ktfproductions/
Subscribe to the KTF Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2n9Lprk

Contact Us:
Email: writecmv@hotmail.com

Non-Persuasive

I heard a sermon recently where the preacher had those in his congregation stand who were CEOs, business owners, leaders and policy makers along with a list of those who possessed other powerful, influential, charismatic, and successful credentials. Many stood, proud of their accomplishments and the potential they had to influence others and to make meaningful changes in their community. Then the preacher said that he had good news and bad new for them. The good news was that God can use them too, implying that those who remained seated were the ones best positioned for God to use them in a mighty way for kingdom purposes. I found that message intriguing and true. The Bible teaches us that God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; that he chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. That is one reason why I believe Paul was used so mightily. Because by his own admission, he did not believe that he was talented or eloquent enough to persuade anyone on his own. In fact, he felt afraid, and in some ways inadequate when proclaiming Christ to a live audience. He said in First Corinthians, chapter 2, verses 2 though 5: 

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 

God uses the foolish and weak things of the world to glorify himself. I believe he does this so that there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that it is the power of God, not man, doing the work. Paul said that he preached not with wise or persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that their faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. When we think we are inadequate; when we are called to step our of our comfort zone allowing God to shine in a way where he alone can receive the Glory, then we are in the perfect place to be used by him.

—-

Thankfully, being effective for the kingdom of God does not depend solely on our abilities. It is not our persuasive words that will lead others to Christ, soften a heart towards him, or affect change in the lives of others. God can use us in spite of our shortcomings. I might even argue that God will use us because of our shortcomings. Yes, he may give us the right words to say, he may prepare the atmosphere so that the hearts of those listening may be more susceptible to the message, and he may - through us - draw others to himself, but he is doing all of the work that matters. We are only open and obedient to him - vessels that he can use in his master plan. So I would encourage you to be open to whatever God calls you to do. He may allow the gifts he has given you to play a role in his plan, or he may choose to only use your hands, feet and mouth as he does all of the work. The point is that he can us any of us. We only need to be willing and obedient. Are you willing and obedient? If you are, I would challenge you not to concern yourself with your own abilities or shortcomings when doing the work of God. Enter into his work prayed up, in step with the Spirit, and dependent on him with the willingness to do his will for his glory.

Links:
Free “Lord of My Life” Books: https://www.ktfproductions.com/books
Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/lord-of-my-life
Web Page: https://www.ktfproductions.com/loml-home
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ktfproductions/
Subscribe to the KTF Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2n9Lprk

Contact Us:
Email: writecmv@hotmail.com

Face to Face

I wear glasses when I’m reading or watching television. I don’t really need my glasses to see, but I do need them to see clearly. Without them words on a page are a bit blurry and images on the television screen are not optimal. But when I put my glasses on, everything is crystal clear. Details that were once unrecognizable are now fully revealed. Paul explains that our vision of God is somewhat similar. Right now, as we live in these corporal bodies, it is as if we can only see a blurry reflection of him. But there will come a time when we will be able to see him with crystal clarity. There will come a time when we will fully know him. Paul puts it this way in First Corinthians 13:12. It says: 

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror…” In Bible times the mirror wasn’t what it is today. Today, when we look in a mirror we can see an accurate reflection of ourselves. But back then mirrors were made of polished metal. The reflection wasn’t very clear. It was blurry; only clear enough to make out the major details. None of us have seen Jesus in the flesh. And the Bible mentions that it is death for a mortal human being to look at God face to face. But, Paul reminds us that there will come a time when we will see him face to face. Not only that, but we will know him fully. I believe that this revelation will be the highlight of our eternal existence; to know God fully even as we are fully known by him. I don’t know about you, but my mind is not able to truly understand the magnitude of that truth. But I look forward to it with eager expectation and I hope you do too.

—-

Jesus is the only one who has ever walked the earth with the full knowledge of who God is. This side of heaven, we can only see a poor reflection; we can only know in part. I thank God that we can at least know him as well as we can, but even what we do know takes faith. Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. Most of us only know in our hearts. Some of us have been privileged enough to have seen him in dreams or have heard the audible voice of God. Some have even claimed to have died and seen him. But for the rest of us, it is our faith that compels us. But take heart, there will come a time when you will see God face to face; when you will fully know him. If you are a believer today, I encourage you to take hold of that truth. I encourage you to wait in anticipation for the glorious revelation that is yet to come.

Good of Others

Jesus modeled so many things for us in the gospels. In essence, he showed us how to live. He showed us what it looks like to be perfect in God’s sight. Not only is Jesus the Son of God, but he is the only man who ever lived, and ever will live, who was without sin. So every word he spoke, and every action he performed should be examined as a model for how we are to live in this world. He taught us how to pray, how to obey, how to trust the Father and how to serve our fellow man. None of these things are effective without faith or without the aid of the Holy Spirit. But serving our fellow man brings with it an added level of difficulty because there are so many variables to consider when it comes to our flawed nature. For example, as a species we are quite selfish, which means that our flesh always wants to put ourselves first. And as believers we can become quite self-righteous, which can be a stumbling block to those considering the faith. But Jesus taught us to behave differently. He taught us that there are times when we should alter our normal pattern of behavior for the good of others. And Paul reinforced that notion in his letter to the Corinthians in first Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 24, which says:

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

At first blush, this verse may sound a bit extreme. Are we really called to stop seeking that which is good for us and solely pursue that which is good for others? No. That isn’t what Paul is saying. At the time Paul writes this, he is in the process of explaining to the Corinthians that we shouldn’t allow our religious rights, freedoms, and behaviors to cause others to stumble. We need to consider how we behave around unbelievers, seekers and new believers as to not leave a negative impact on them by doing, or not doing, things that are not sinful, but might be solely religious in nature. Later in this chapter, Paul uses the example of an unbeliever inviting a believer to a meal. That believer should eat whatever is provided without raising any objections even if he would normally choose not to eat it out of religious conviction. In doing so, not only is he not sinning, but he is not seeking his own good, but the good of the one who invited him to a meal. In the same way, we are to temper our religiousness if it might have a negative effect on the one we are trying to reach. Jesus ate with sinners, Paul made himself like those he was trying to reach, and we should temper our legalism for the good of others. 

 ---

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” I encourage you to put your religiosity on the shelf when dealing with those who are unbelievers, seekers or new believers. Don’t use Christian lingo that they don’t understand. Don’t turn your nose up at them when they have a beer or wine with dinner even if you don’t drink. If you are with someone who doesn’t drink but you normally have a glass of wine with your meal, choose not to order wine in their presence. Learn to overlook a religious offense if it is done in ignorance. If what you encounter is not sinful, or counter to God’s laws or his character, let it go for the good of others. And if your normal religious behavior may cause someone to stumble, abstain from that behavior while in their presence. I encourage you to be ready to lay aside your own good for the good of others. In doing so you will be practicing this mandate and reflecting the character of Jesus.

Be Adults

I don’t know for sure, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most Americans who call themselves Christians have never advanced in their faith beyond infancy. Some may have never read the word of God for themselves, others may be spiritually conflicted due to the liberal ideology we receive from the media and society in general, and still others may be content with merely dipping their toe into what it means to be a Christ-Follower. As a result, I believe that many who call themselves Christians do not understand the Bible enough, or have grown in their faith enough, to think and understand the deeper things spoken of in the Bible and have never advanced beyond the elementary things. Paul warns the Corinthians about this in first Corinthians chapter 14 verse 20 which says: 

“Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.”

This is found buried in Paul’s teaching about the gifts of prophesy and speaking in tongues. Now, I realize that there have been heated debates as to whether speaking in tongues still happens today, and even what it means to “speak in tongues”. But my question to those who would quickly dismiss the phenomenon is, “if you have a problem with speaking in tongues, what will you do if God decides to do something really crazy?” To have the faith to believe in the miraculous goes beyond thinking like a child. It is the realization that God sets the rules, God sets the boundaries, and at any time and in any way that lines up with his word and his character, he can choose to move. So I encourage you not to put God in a box, because when we decide that there are limits to what God will and will not do, I believe that we are actually revealing our lack of faith.

---

Like Paul says, we need to advance in our faith and stop thinking like spiritual children. Yes, we are to be inexperienced - or infants - when it comes to evil, but with regards to the deeper things of God; the things that stretch our faith and grow our understanding of who he is, we should be adults. I encourage you to filter what you hear and learn about God through the Bible aided by the Holy Spirit. Then open your mind and understanding to a mighty God whose power and influence are limitless. If you do, you might be able to stretch your faith in such a way, that God will move in your life in ways that are beyond what you can think or ask.