Worldly Pastors

[Natt]

I picked my son up from after school care today. It is run through a church. One thing I notice every time are there big flash and beautiful cars always parked at the pastor or business manager signs. This gets me thinking, to be materially well off you just need to get into those sort of positions.

The world is money mad at present. If we haven't the money just buy it on credit. I wonder how many pastors are pastors because they are good spokesmen and are lured to the paypacket a pastor gets. I hope not many, but I've heard comments that some churches make decisions based on business analysis. For example if it is profitable to have a female pastor they decide to have one.

On the other side I know a wealthy pastor who is sold out to Jesus.

These are just some thoughts I had today.

Edited December 4, 2006 by Natt

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

Dear Natt,

The Pastor of our church also worked a regular full time weekly job to support his family all the years I raised my children in his church. It was a small church and not alot of money involved. He gave up alot of his family time for the church, too. Yet he kept his families time quality that they are all Christians and working for Gods Kingdom also. His family is grown now. One of his grown children serving orphans and elderly in the east, one is a nurse and volunteer to help orphans around the world, one a wife and mother, another at home, as the pastor and his wife continue to serve Christ and the church, A few years ago the church had grown and the church members found they could give enough of the amount that he could quit his job and be more available to the growing church fulltime. ( I doubt it is anything like what he used to make either) GOD BLESS OUR DEAR PASTOR! .....and all the dear devoted pastors and priests out there! Of which I believe there are many!

Another church I was involved with here in town, the pastor had a really nice car and a really nice home by the church and a big church, that is getting bigger, and the church is self supporting and supporting an entire staff. I know he gives to more charities to feed the orphans and hungry and more around the world out of his pastorial income than one might imagine!

Things aren't always what they look at first glance.

Not all pastors have big flashy cars or even A CAR. Looking at the world view of pastorial devotion, missionary devotion and also those persons who do for God and do not let anyone but God know in secret all they give up for only HIM and His Kingdom, I can't see it this way.

There are the wolves and God knows who they are and we can be led by the Holy Spirit to have pastors who lead us in Gods Ways and not materilism. Those who are only in for the money or show for men to see, already have their reward (As Jesus said in Matthew)

The pastors I know, and there are a few more of them also, became pastors out of their passionate love for Christ and to help others to be saved. It is good to hear pastors, asst pastors, priests, and aspiriing pastors tell how they came to give their lives to the service of Christ in the churches.

ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEART

They are worthy of having their meals and income that I have seen; that they may give fulltime. Even income aside, it takes it's toll on the pastors children in some of the really big churches because of the demands on time involved.

I cannot resent that they should have a decent enough income for all they do.

I hope you can know some personally , if you don't, hope you will and be encouraged.

Blessings,

elkie

[Natt]

Elkie what you say is an encouragement. Yes I do know one pastor very well. He is always talking about Jesus and trying to get people saved. He also goes out his way to help people in need. I also believe it would be ideal for each church to support their pastor so they can devote their time fulltime. I also realise some pastors accumulate their wealth before going into pastoral leadership. I also haven't yet met a pastor who isn't wealthy. I was just wondering is it possible for some to aspire to be a pastor to get wealthy and not for Jesus. I also should say I haven't met any of them either but then I also don't know many pastors.

[Iryssa]

The church I go to has three lay ministers/readers, who receive small gifts from the congregation a couple times of year (once about now, once during the summer). Most of the money given to the church goes towards the maintenance of the building and the few charities we're involved with here in town, and a small sum also goes to the ordained minister (actually, I just found out he's a retired bishop) who comes to serve communion once a month. On most Sundays during the school year, we have around 40 people attending. During the summer, it goes down to about 20, since most of those who attend are students at the Bible College. Our lay readers are actually college professors who have been helping us out on our own time.

Come to think of it, the only cars that get parked out in front of the church are those of the congregation who are too elderly or sick to walk so far in the winter (though most still walk in the summer), and one belongs to my friend who just had knee surgery a couple weeks ago *rueful grin*

*sigh* I'm gonna miss my church so much when we move to the city...I wish I could just put it in my pocket and take it with me, because it's so much of what makes this place home.