We live in a day when there is a lot of confusion about the work of the ministry compared to the business of the ministry. If you feel you have an important calling and gift, there is a process of marketing and sales that is often taught as the way to open doors for your ministry opportunities, indeed, many denominations serve that very function, by allowing exchange of lists of performers and those requiring a performance.
I don't mean to devalue a ministry service, but there is little difference today in the process of booking a play, a band, or a preacher, and so often the process becomes the tradition and the tradition becomes the impediment between fulfilling your call in God by being led of God and going with the flow.
We are not to be self promoters, yet some ministries are in the daily business of marketing themselves, and that can lead to idolotry, having persons admiration because of advantage.
I think grandma can bake a pie or two, kindly giving to those that have less, building relationships and loving those that have less, and do a greater ministry than making a pie factory that distributes into several states with the picture of some old lady on the box.
I think the work of the ministry should not be the business of the ministry, in the traditional sense.
Yes sir... but the goal for most is to eventually work this into a full time income or house churches would be more popular. There are few who go to Bible College in an effort to improve upon the skills they fully plan on using to minister after work and on weekends.
The goal is full time gainful employment although not all reach that place.
When the goal is for something to provide an income for you... just like starting a business with hopes you can eventually quit your job and do it full time... it is a business venture in the purest sense.
Yes sir... but the goal for most is to eventually work this into a full time income or house churches would be more popular. There are few who go to Bible College in an effort to improve upon the skills they fully plan on using to minister after work and on weekends.
The goal is full time gainful employment although not all reach that place.
When the goal is for something to provide an income for you... just like starting a business with hopes you can eventually quit your job and do it full time... it is a business venture in the purest sense.
unfortunately it takes support to live and that support includes finances..
Too many commercialize the gospel however and that is the sad part.
__________________ To be able to unite in difference carries more weight than all the opinions the universe can hold
unfortunately it takes support to live and that support includes finances..
Too many commercialize the gospel however and that is the sad part.
But this is the result of the paradigm. Church buildings are needed to house a sufficient number of people to eventually provide an income.
The house church concept (which I believe is very similar to what was used during the time of the early church) provides for a group of people some of which operate as teachers, apostles, prophets, pastors & evangelists within the small body (generally 20 or so max) and minister to one another. There is no need for "paid staff". The ministry isn't what you are... it's what you do.
Last edited by Digging4Truth; 01-11-2011 at 01:51 PM.
I don't think the issue is whether a worker is worthy of his wages, rather from where do these wages come?
We know Jesus sent us to go into the world and preach, but we buy or rent a building and call the world to come into our facility. Error #1 Then because the facility needs funds to exist and thrive, we recruit people rather than go into the world and preach. Error #2 Then because others are also recruiting, we need to do our recruiting better than they do. Error #3 Then because it is easier to gather trained sheep than to raise and train your own, we steal sheep from one another. Error #4 Then we complain to others and areas are guarenteed and other are forbidden based on some map somewhere. Error #5 Then we cry out to God to bless the work of our hands, that is now totally unbiblical, and wonder why He does not. Error #6
I dare you to trust Jesus to provide your needs, not your good ideas, not your marketing, but He that rules all, that made all, and that calls, is He not able to set a table for us, even in the midst of our enemies?
We are stunned when good men die doing it wrong, just as David was shocked. However, the ox cart needs to go, Jesus has ordained a better way. 1 Chron 13:9-11
I don't think the issue is whether a worker is worthy of his wages, rather from where do these wages come?
We know Jesus sent us to go into the world and preach, but we buy or rent a building and call the world to come into our facility. Error #1 Then because the facility needs funds to exist and thrive, we recruit people rather than go into the world and preach. Error #2 Then because others are also recruiting, we need to do our recruiting better than they do. Error #3 Then because it is easier to gather trained sheep than to raise and train your own, we steal sheep from one another. Error #4 Then we complain to others and areas are guarenteed and other are forbidden based on some map somewhere. Error #5 Then we cry out to God to bless the work of our hands, that is now totally unbiblical, and wonder why He does not. Error #6
I dare you to trust Jesus to provide your needs, not your good ideas, not your marketing, but He that rules all, that made all, and that calls, is He not able to set a table for us, even in the midst of our enemies?
We are stunned when good men die doing it wrong, just as David was shocked. However, the ox cart needs to go, Jesus has ordained a better way. 1 Chron 13:9-11
The drill generally goes like this...
Some of the wiser ones start off in their homes. But this is viewed exclusively as a temporary situation. Then, as soon as you have enough people to take on the rent for a store front, off you go... finding a place to straddle the people with the weight of a lease.
Then, as soon as you have enough people to take on a mortgage, off you go... finding a place to straddle the people with the weight of a mortgage.
It is church by American standards. How much debt can we take on... add a little to that... and let's do it.
I am still amazed that God allows us to know the name of Jesus, the greatest of all truths, yet sometimes we can't figure out how to do the most basic living in His name, living as the church.
Instead we support the church, build the church, go to church, paint the church, decorate the church, remodel the church, and above all follow the pastor of the church, even off the cliff!!
The church that thrived underground in places where it was a crime to be a Christian criminal, they lived without 503C1 status, deductable giving, owning of property, and structured organizations, they lived in the Spirit, and some were killed for the gospel, but then that is also something Jesus said would happen to some of us.
I am still amazed that God allows us to know the name of Jesus, the greatest of all truths, yet sometimes we can't figure out how to do the most basic living in His name, living as the church.
Instead we support the church, build the church, go to church, paint the church, decorate the church, remodel the church, and above all follow the pastor of the church, even off the cliff!!
The church that thrived underground in places where it was a crime to be a Christian criminal, they lived without 503C1 status, deductible giving, owning of property, and structured organizations, they lived in the Spirit, and some were killed for the gospel, but then that is also something Jesus said would happen to some of us.
Imagine the ministry that we could have within the body if we didn't have all of those extras pulling at us.
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