Should A Minister Charge For His Ministry?

A million dollars to play at a funeral ? !

Are there any true Christians who can afford to pay that ? !

Over a million??????? Man I have been undercharging, " Sigh" I have been doing all of them for free!!!

emekrus said:

Its actually in Naira, not dollars.

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1,000,000 Nigerian Naira equals
2,777.78 United States Dollar

(internet info, not verified)

emekrus said:

Its actually in Naira, not dollars.

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that still is almost three thousand and way to much. I am sorry for your loss friend.

The Word of God says in 1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire..
I do believe a pastor or minister is worthy to be blessed, However I believe that it should be established up front and that it be agreed upon. I really cannot answer as I volunteer all my ministry and only get from certain givers with cheerful hearts on occasion as they are compelled to give.

yeshuaslavejeff said:

A million dollars to play at a funeral ? !

Are there any true Christians who can afford to pay that ? !

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That is 2700 dollars in US money, still way too much. And no we should not charge.

Here in the UK, as a full time minister, serving a single Church, I earn less than the average UK salary. I am self employed, paid a stipend from the denomination, with no employment benefits or job security, but live in a church house free of charge - a 1929 built, 3 up, 2 down house that is damp and very cold with lots problems that are grudgingly tackled. I work, on average, 60 hours a week and am paid the UK national rate for presiding at funerals by the funeral directors, taxed at normal rates.

Not every minister has a luxurious life style, by any standards!

emekrus said:

And it is not still out of place for the local church to raise an offering for the minister’s honorarium. But that should be left to the prerogative of the local church. Apart from the basic needs, such as transportation, shelter and food, a minister need not demand for other thing.

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But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content ~1 Timothy 6:8

You are quite right about what you say. I agree with it fully.

Wow. That is quite exorbitant. If a minister visits a church as a guest speaker, then it's fair to pay him something. Paying to be allowed to speak with the pastor is an abuse. That should be part of the the pastor's duties.

emekrus said:

I wanted to know the basis on which the minister should be paid something. Being paid something has to do with charge. Giving the minister something from a freewill ought to be the case, wouldn't you think?

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Different churches handle it differently. Yes, there should be a charge if a minister travels to a church and speaks there as a guest preacher. Paying from a freewill offering is fine, as long as he is paid something. It should not be in the thousands though.

emekrus said:

My question remains, on what scriptural grounds should the charges be based. Cos we are not operating a capitalist system. This is God's business, and the only safe way to handle God's business is scriptures.
Doing things just because it seems right is definitely not safe, eternity wise.

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Consider these verses from I Timothy 5,

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; 18 for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves to be paid.” (NRSV)

emekrus said:

I'll rather want to reply with the king James Version

1Timothy
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

From the highlighted texts, it is very clear that the reward of the word labourer, is not to be determined by the labourer. He is to be "counted worthy of double honour". Not 'demand for double honour'.

Then as for the reward, the reward of the labourer is the responsibility of the employer, God.Even though he is to be counted worthy of double honour(honorarium) from what is available in the Church purse.

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Select whichever version you like. A pastor should be paid something.

Brother Emeke,

My short answer to the original question is that a minister of the Lord is not to demand or expect any money from the Lord's people/Church. Everything he receives should be received only by way of a Gift not by any commandment are the Lord's people to give any money.

The long version is this:

The whole law is fulfilled and tithing is fulfilled along with it, since it is not taught in the New testament under grace. If you read Hebrews 7:1-12 you will see that both the priesthood and the law of tithing that went along with it were fulfilled in Christ. If even one law was not fulfilled in Christ then none of them were as Christ says in:

Matt 5:18
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Colossians 2:14,15
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

When Christ said it was finished it was done/completed.
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 13:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

If your pastor/minister keeps you under the law of tithing he puts you back under the law of sin of death, under the Yoke of Bondage.
Not under the law(mosaic law). Under grace. Romans 6:14-15
Christ is the end of Law(Mosaic law) for Righteousness. Romans 10:2-13, Acts 13:38-41
No longer under schoolteacher(The Mosaic Law). Galatians 3:5-29, 22-26
Free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-4
Not justified by the works of the law(Mosaic Law). Galatians 2:16-21
Dead to the Law(Mosaic Law) married to another(Married to the new Law. The law of faith/liberty and christ. Under grace.) Romans 7:1-6
Cast out the bondwoman(The Mosaic Law).Galatians 4:21-31
Christ has made us free from the Yoke of Bondage(mosaic Law). Galatians 5:1-6, 13-14, 18


1. The passages your minister might try to twist are the ones where Christ was speaking with the Pharisees about tithing when they were still under the law such as Luke 11: 42. This was still under the Old testament law. NOT under grace(after Christ's death on the cross), had Christ told the Pharisees or anyone not to tithe he would have been breaking the law, since it had not yet been fulfilled.

Matt 5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 23:1-3
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

2. Your minister will also try to use 1 Cor 9:12-14 saying that since the priests of the old testament tithed of the things of the temple we are now to tithe of the things in the gospel. Which could make sense if you don't look at everything that Paul has said up until that point.

Paul said that those who sow spiritual(things not of this world) things should not reap things carnal(things of this world) but instead reap spiritual(things not of this world).
1 Cor 9:10-14
10 Or saith he [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Since we are living after the Gospel we receive the reward(spiritual fruit sown by the word) promised by the gospel(everlasting life). Whereas priests of the Levitical order lived of the things of the temple and received the things of the promised by the law(carnal reward, tithes, worldly reward).

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.


1 Corinthians 9 does not give the principals of tithing it only says that those who live of the Gospel are of the Gospel, as in they follow the things contained within it and are given their reward in the spiritual things that they have sown not as the priest's who receive their reward in this world(tithing).


3. Your minister might try to use 1 Timothy 5:17-18 saying that the honor the laborer(minister of God) is worthy of is a monetary(Carnal or Worldly) reward and this is why he should receive a salary from the Church. When we look at 1 Timothy 5:17-18 we see a different story.
1 Timothy 5:17-18
17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

1 timothy 5:17 says that elders who have well ruled are worthy of Double honor, but it does not say that ministers are worthy of double reward of a monetary nature. When we look at the next verse we see that it is giving the same principles as 1 Cor 9, that a minister is to read a spiritual reward for the deeds/good works he has done on earth.


4. Then your minister might try to use Acts 6, saying that Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead by the holy spirit for holding back tithe. But if we look at what is actually said we get the correct interpretation.
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

They were struck down for lying to the holy spirit. What they sold was theirs and the money from it was also. This shows that what we have is our own and what amount we give(if any) is up to us. But lying to the holy spirit is worthy of death. Tithing is not even mentioned in Acts 6, neither are the principals of Tithing. In fact it specially says that what we have is our own, that we should only give the amount that we want to give with a cheerful heart, not begrudgedly or by commandment. Those are the principles given in these passages.


5. Next your minister might try to us Philippians 4 saying that they gave what was required(by the law of tithing) to Paul that he be sustained. But if you read the whole thing you will understand it's true meaning. Paul never received a salary for the ministry work he did. We live of the gospel and are partakers of the reward it promises(everlasting life). Philippians says that exactly, that they helped with a gift, not a law that of necessity demanded they give to Paul but after their own hearts did they give freely to Paul as he had need.

Philippians 4:10-12,14-15
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.


They gave freely because none other church(as Paul said) wished to help out with giving or at the least they simply did not help him out of ignorance. Paul says that what the Philippians gave was a gift, not a commandment or a law, they were not required to give to him they chose to help him.

Philippians 4:17-18
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.


6. Lastly they will try to say that a minister must receive tithes in order to live,probably saying your robbing god if you don't then picking a old testament passage most likely Malachi, and that if you don't tithe you can't keep the church building that he will call the house of the Lord. After no necessity of Law are we to give. Supporting the ministers financially is a choice not a law.

2 Corinthians 9:7
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.


Ministers should work if they need/want money, not just preach and expect/demand money from the Lord's children. The lord will provide as we have need. Minsters(if they need a place) and cannot find work, can stay with members of the congregation as Paul did.

Matt 6:25-34, Luke 12:22-34 Paul was often hungry and thirsty, cold and naked for the Lord's sake. He received no tithe, he carried no purse of money but the Lord provided as he had need.

2 Cor 11:25-27
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness

We are the temples of the Holy spirit, we need no building made with human hands to call our church. Wherever the people of the Lord are gathered that is where the Lord will be. We are the temple of the Lord. Acts 7:47-50, Acts 17:23-25, 1 Cor 3:8-11, 16-17, 1 Cor 6:13,15, 17-20, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:14-15, 2 Cor 6:16.

Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

I hope that you at the very least consider what I have said that you may see the truth, I ask that you transform youself by the renewing of your mind

Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Remember that all things must be proven by the word of God alone.
Thess 5:21 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

2 timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 timothy 4:1-2, 5
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

May the truth and light of the Lord find you.