Relates to Post: "Why Liberty University matters."

[Alex2165]

Relates to Post: "Why Liberty University matters."

For some while I want to have discussion on this subject.

First of all, I do not see much difference between secular colleges and religious institutions. Both entities dedicated to "education," both entities charge a lot of money, both entities have influence in politics, and both entities extremely corrupted.

I remember conversation with one person who claimed that he spent $50.000 for seminary to became a pastor. I also found out that on average pastors make, if right out of school, between 40 and 50 K a year.

And I always wonder, is the service to GOD shall be the calling or shall be a personal choice?

About pastors is written quite extensively in the New Testament, and I would like to show you some examples of it.

John 10.12-13
12."He who is a hireling (hired man) and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

13.He flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep."

These are the words of Jesus Christ. "hireling" means a "shepherd" who got paid for his work, in today's terminology it means pastor, which is a Greek word for shepherd.

It seems to me that this description of so called "shepherds-pastors" is reflection of the truth. Corruption of the "hirelings" is not new to New Testament. Old Testament also condemns teachers of the Law for the same greed and corruption as Jesus Christ condemns those who took responsibility to shepherd His flock for money, and because the flock does not belong to them they neglecting their duties.

So, the question is; Does religious "educational" institutions produce true shepherds for the Jesus' flock or they producing false shepherds who do not care for those whom they guide?

And another question. Should pastors be paid at all?

 

[Salty]

And another question. Should pastors be paid at all?

Yes, A man is worthy of his vocation

But 40-50 K does seem a bit excessive - thats 1k per week.
Especially if housing is included - + utilities, and ect -.......
Now if a church does want a full time pastor - - who just may be on call 24 hours a day
making hospital visits - preparing 2-3 sermons/ Bible studies per week - counseling,
officiating weddings and funerals -(and funerals - there is very little notice)

Rather hard for a Bi-vocational minster to be available at all times.

But then again - I'm used to that 24 hour on call - having been a vet of the US Army!

 

[Rob_BW]

Relates to Post: "Why Liberty University matters."

For some while I want to have discussion on this subject.

First of all, I do not see much difference between secular colleges and religious institutions. Both entities dedicated to "education," both entities charge a lot of money, both entities have influence in politics, and both entities extremely corrupted.

I remember conversation with one person who claimed that he spent $50.000 for seminary to became a pastor. I also found out that on average pastors make, if right out of school, between 40 and 50 K a year.

And I always wonder, is the service to GOD shall be the calling or shall be a personal choice?

About pastors is written quite extensively in the New Testament, and I would like to show you some examples of it.

John 10.12-13
12."He who is a hireling (hired man) and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

13.He flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep."

These are the words of Jesus Christ. "hireling" means a "shepherd" who got paid for his work, in today's terminology it means pastor, which is a Greek word for shepherd.

It seems to me that this description of so called "shepherds-pastors" is reflection of the truth. Corruption of the "hirelings" is not new to New Testament. Old Testament also condemns teachers of the Law for the same greed and corruption as Jesus Christ condemns those who took responsibility to shepherd His flock for money, and because the flock does not belong to them they neglecting their duties.

So, the question is; Does religious "educational" institutions produce true shepherds for the Jesus' flock or they producing false shepherds who do not care for those whom they guide?

And another question. Should pastors be paid at all?

An institution can instruct. It can influence. It can provide godly examples. It can't dissect the heart. Simon is not going to cease existing, unfortunately.

That's not to say that an institution should be free from criticism, if their "product" is continuously out of spec. But QA/QC is a bit trickier when producing a pastor

As far as paying a salary, I've sat under bi-vocational and full time pastors (though plenty of the bi-vocational put in full time hours). I think the New Testament is clear that paying them for their work is ok. 1 Timothy 5:17–18