If Paul Could Sustain Himself Making Tents, Why Can’t Our Present Day Pastors Su

1. 77

   ngurecoposted 15 years ago

   If Paul Could Sustain Himself Making Tents, Why Can’t Our Present Day Pastors Support Themselves?

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2. 81

   Born Again 05posted 15 years ago

   My Pastor spends countless hours ministering to our congregation. He is on call 24/7.  We have a Christian school as well.  Four days a week he's in his office. He spends the day counseling, preparing messages, receiving phone calls from distressed people, leaving at a moments notice for emergencies, preparing for outreaches, teaching a class at the school and countless other things.  I can't count how many times I've had to call him from an emergency room.  He will leave his wife and seven children, drive the 40 minutes to the hospital to minister to our needs. My thought is that his salary should be doubled! Yes, Paul made tents, but how large was his congregation? It's a difficult comparison to make. I do know of smaller churches where Pastor's are only "part time" and actually do have a regular job.

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3. 59

   scentualhealingposted 15 years ago

   it was a much different world then than it is now.
   and it depends on what your lessons are to learn for this lifetime.
   
   yes a minister is in every much as need as a doctor and keeps pretty much the same schedule.
   
   you might take his salary up with the parishioners
   
   but your minister knew of this when he chose to take on this job and so did his wife.
   
   we can not compare honestly to two lives as we are not to compare any ones life against an others life, because it is completely different by the lessons and where they are spiritually on their path.

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4. 59

   HubCrafterposted 14 years ago

   Dear ngureco:
   I see by looking through the questions here at HubPages that you have many questions about religious themes. I hope you are finding answers and not merely posing questions. Some folks with lots of questions seem to be without traction in getting understanding.
   The apostle Paul was not a pastor. He was an evangelist...a missionary. Both of these offices carry the idea of a temporary assignment...being sent for a particular and special purpose which is fulfilled and then the individual moves on.
   The pastorate is a different office entirely. This person is to remain in place; continuing in the community many times until the end of their lives.
   Looking at the words for these offices, we find that "apostle" and "missionary" are both "sent ones" ( the definition of apostle itself).
   Apostles were sent by Jesus Christ in person. Missionaries are sent by the church. Both are "sent ones" for the purpose of spreading the gospel and planting churches.
   Evangelists are not typically called by the church. It's most often a matter of an individual discovering their spiritual gift and following the lead of the Holy Spirit (as opposed to being sent out by the church).
   Paul describes himself as a using a special case (or the Corinthians were an especially troublesome church, lol.) He supported himself (he says) so there would be no excuse by the carnally minded (spiritually immature) Corinthians to doubt the sincerity of his love for them.
   When we see the reason for Paul's actions we realize it is not a rule he is creating but rather an exception he is using. Few churches today would treat their church leaders so poorly as the Corinthians did to Paul.
   Paul went the extra mile with a bunch of immature and very self-centered believers living in Corinth. Because we love our Pastor we support him and free him and his time for spiritual work. The working Pastor has little time for ministry compared to the one who is supported by his flock. "The workman is worthy of his hire" is the passage Paul uses to explain this important point.

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5. 53

   celafoeposted 12 years ago

   Paul did it and that sets an example for me and i have followed his example for 40 years.  works for me

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