What if Preachers Never Got Paid?

Ironhold

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My dad sometimes tells a story of when he was on his mission.

One day, he and his companion got a call requesting the missionaries. It turns out that the person who made the call was the minister of a local congregation.

The man believed in the Book of Mormon, such that he sometimes included passages in his sermons (the congregants never noticed, as they were supposedly never read their scriptures and just got by on what the minister told them). He claimed to have a testimony of the LDS faith, and his primary reason for asking the missionaries over was so that he could replace his old, worn-out BoM.

Then my dad and his companion asked him why he was still a minister.

You see, as a minister, the guy was getting a steady paycheck and a roof over his head (his church owned his house). By becoming Mormon, he'd lose everything.
 
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timewerx

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If you're trying to woo a woman and offered to mow her lawn, would you have the audacity to charge her for the work? What if you're sucking up to your boss, would you charge him up for doing some work on his classic car or repairing his computer at home during weekends?

It's ironic how we can be insanely generous towards anything other than God. How does loving God "with all of our..." fit into the picture?

What if preachers not get paid all of a sudden?? What if preachers had to get another job to support their ministry? I might ask God for that to happen. At least the preachers who will remain preaching are likely not to be false teachers who work for money rather than God.
 
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~Anastasia~

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I know many preachers who don't get paid.

I am not a preacher, not called to be one. But since this is a total hypothetical to me, if I were, would I do it? Yes, in a heartbeat, if I thought that's what I was supposed to do.

And if I was used to getting paid and didn't any more? Well, human nature would make us naturally rebel a bit more at that point, but the fact is, I believe we should still.

I don't think I've ever gotten paid a dime for anything I ever did in the service of God, and never expected to. I do it because it's an honor, because it's a joy, because I "pay back" a little of what He's done for me, because I love Him and love others for His sake ... for many reasons, which are all more than money.
 
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drstevej

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In 2009, the LDS Church in Canada filed the annual earnings of its employees there with the federal government. Out of 184 full time employees, the average salary was $83,000, with 2 of them earning between $80,000 and $120,000, 6 of them earning between $120,000 and $160,000, and the top 2 earning between $160,000 and $200,000. Considering that such salaries were way above the national pay average ($50,000 for business administrators in the private sector, which normally pays better than the non-profit third sector), plus taking into account the “living expenses” benefits that the Church seems to be quite liberal with (as per our earlier discoveries regarding mission presidents), it is safe to presume that the Church generally pays above-average wages with lavish benefits. It then stands to reason that Apostles may earn something between $300,000 and $800,000 a year, if not much more in the higher echelon (i.e. First Presidency and Senior Apostles). -

How Much Does a Mormon Apostle Make?

Had money been my motivation, I would have made far more as an engineer (Ga Tech, BSIE) than in ministry.
 
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Habbit Animal

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Would you consider being a preacher if they didn't get paid? If you are a preacher, would you quit if you could longer get paid for it?
Then detractors would accuse him of being a parasite on his flock.
Nothing says a preacher can't get paid. Nothing in scripture says Jesus wanted his disciples to live poor, nor did he advocate poverty and dismiss abundance.
Just the opposite in fact. Jesus wasn't poor. Why should those that teach his doctrine be so? Just to placate those who are jealous?
 
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LegacyJB

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Then detractors would accuse him of being a parasite on his flock.
Nothing says a preacher can't get paid. Nothing in scripture says Jesus wanted his disciples to live poor, nor did he advocate poverty and dismiss abundance.
Just the opposite in fact. Jesus wasn't poor. Why should those that teach his doctrine be so? Just to placate those who are jealous?

The scriptures teach Christ's real servants receive no payment. If you have to be paid to preach your version of what the scriptures say, you have no business being a pastor. His disciples taught without receiving payment.

When I stayed the night at friends houses I'd go to church with them the next day (Sunday) out of respect but I never put anything in the collection plate because preachers are entitled to nothing for payment. If they want to make money they can get a job. I tithe to the Lord's church because it goes to the Lord, not to some guy's pockets; He, through the prophets and apostles, decides how the tithing is to be used such as for church and temple buildings.
 
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NYCGuy

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The scriptures teach Christ's real servants receive no payment. If you have to be paid to preach your version of what the scriptures say, you have no business being a pastor. His disciples taught without receiving payment.

When I stayed the night at friends houses I'd go to church with them the next day (Sunday) out of respect but I never put anything in the collection plate because preachers are entitled to nothing for payment. If they want to make money they can get a job. I tithe to the Lord's church because it goes to the Lord, not to some guy's pockets; He, through the prophets and apostles, decides how the tithing is to be used such as for church and temple buildings.

The General Authorities receive a living stipend.

Further:

D&C 42:71-73
71 And the elders or high priests who are appointed to assist the bishop as counselors in all things, are to have their families supported out of the property which is consecrated to the bishop, for the good of the poor, and for other purposes, as before mentioned;


72 Or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their services, either a stewardship or otherwise, as may be thought best or decided by the counselors and bishop.


73 And the bishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just remuneration for all his services in the church.
 
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Habbit Animal

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The scriptures teach Christ's real servants receive no payment. If you have to be paid to preach your version of what the scriptures say, you have no business being a pastor. His disciples taught without receiving payment.

When I stayed the night at friends houses I'd go to church with them the next day (Sunday) out of respect but I never put anything in the collection plate because preachers are entitled to nothing for payment. If they want to make money they can get a job. I tithe to the Lord's church because it goes to the Lord, not to some guy's pockets; He, through the prophets and apostles, decides how the tithing is to be used such as for church and temple buildings.
They were compensated for their ministering to the people. Jesus told them to leave their purses at home and let themselves be fed and clothed by those that received them.
 
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Lollerskates

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Would you consider being a preacher if they didn't get paid? If you are a preacher, would you quit if you could longer get paid for it?

They never were supposed to be paid in the sense of a salary. Their salary came from having a domicile in the Temple/Church, and their food and supplies came from tithes of the people. Tithes were crops, animals, etc. - not money.

I haven't been to a church in a while, but I was under the impression that preachers do not get a salary, but rather they get "donations." I think if preachers didn't get a salary, fame, fortune, followers - a rock star life, then it would weed out wolves in the Church.
 
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NYCGuy

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The scriptures teach Christ's real servants receive no payment.

Cite the Biblical references.

The fact is, the Bible supports paying God's priests and ministers for their work. It should be noted that people should not go into ministry for payment. In the case of Catholicism, I wouldn't even dream of doing so. The salary they receive is essentially a "living" wage (for example, in one article I see that Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore can make as little as $18,000 a year to more than $31,000, while in the Diocese of San Jose, California, the basic stipend is $32,616 a year). You don't become a Catholic priest because you want the money. You go into the priesthood because you are called by God to it, and you receive that stipend because you literally give your entire life over to Jesus Christ and His children, i.e. this is a full time, 24/7, 365 days/year, for the rest of your life, calling. Indeed, this is the very reason why Mormon General Authorities receive a living stipend.

Is there scriptural support for paying clergy a salary? | Catholic Answers
Is paid ministry unbiblical?
What Does the Bible Say About Paying The Pastor?
 
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LegacyJB

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The General Authorities receive a living stipend.

Further:

D&C 42:71-73
71 And the elders or high priests who are appointed to assist the bishop as counselors in all things, are to have their families supported out of the property which is consecrated to the bishop, for the good of the poor, and for other purposes, as before mentioned;


72 Or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their services, either a stewardship or otherwise, as may be thought best or decided by the counselors and bishop.


73 And the bishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just remuneration for all his services in the church.

You mean the law of consecration? The one the Lord removed because the saints couldn't handle it due to pride?
 
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NYCGuy

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You mean the law of consecration? The one the Lord removed because the saints couldn't handle it due to pride?

Whether or not the Lord removed something is irrelevant to the point: Mormons criticize the practice of paying full-time ministers to support them (this is why we always hear about "unpaid ministry"). But then, we see right in Mormon scripture, God says to support the bishops, giving them remuneration for their services. So is unpaid ministry always wrong? Or is it only wrong when others do it? This is a clear example of talking out of both sides of one's mouth.

Further, General Authorities receive a living allowance.
 
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LegacyJB please explain to me why the LDS Church says to attend the temple and receive the ordinances that are mandatory for such access, one must be a full-tithe payer. Access to God's highest degree of glory should be free of monetary charge right? I mean that's what the Bible says. If you're calling out churches/preachers who are wealthy please explain the following:

-Why does the LDS church own 2-8% of land in Florida?
-Why do the Mormon leaders get paid a salary?
-Why wont the LDS church let people inspect its books?
-Why is charitable giving by the church over 14 years, less than what the ELCA raised in 1 year for hunger in the US?

I suggest you read this article: What does "unpaid ministry" look like? | Mormonism Research Ministry
 
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LegacyJB

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LegacyJB please explain to me why the LDS Church says to attend the temple and receive the ordinances that are mandatory for such access, one must be a full-tithe payer. Access to God's highest degree of glory should be free of monetary charge right? I mean that's what the Bible says. If you're calling out churches/preachers who are wealthy please explain the following:

-Why does the LDS church own 2-8% of land in Florida?
-Why do the Mormon leaders get paid a salary?
-Why wont the LDS church let people inspect its books?
-Why is charitable giving by the church over 14 years, less than what the ELCA raised in 1 year for hunger in the US?

I suggest you read this article: What does "unpaid ministry" look like? | Mormonism Research Ministry

I'll answer after you provide yours to the questions I asked.
 
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Phantasman

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Would you consider being a preacher if they didn't get paid? If you are a preacher, would you quit if you could longer get paid for it?

Jobs pay money. The teaching of the Word is a labor of love. If someone gets paid for providing love, we know the definition of that.
 
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Lollerskates

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Jobs pay money. The teaching of the Word is a labor of love. If someone gets paid for providing love, we know the definition of that.

I thought this was a given, and part of the basis of why missions usually do not pay any money unless you are actually doing a job (like ministry and teaching.) The tithes of the increase are payment for the preacher: 10% of all of his flock's increase (i.e. not cash.) Usually the carpenters, blacksmiths, clothes makers, etc. are the ones that give the preacher and his family living essentials out of appreciation, but many profound ministers had no house or food on the ready (e.g. Christ and His disciples just walked, gathered and "depended on the kindness of strangers.")
 
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drstevej

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If someone gets paid for providing love, we know the definition of that.

Please tell us. I know what they call someone who is paid for sex. But the term love when referring to preaching the word as a labor of love obviously is referring to agape love not eros love.

Were you trying to be cute and call paid ministers prostitutes? I would hope you would deny that implication.
 
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drstevej

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Hirelings hire out for mammon.
What you recieve freely, give freely.
If you cut off the money it will clear out a lot of pull-pits.

All of us are to be good stewards of what God provides. The choice to give is your own.
 
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