THE PREACHER/MINISTER/PASTOR

(What Does The Bible Teach About Preachers?)

Part 30: Do Preachers Abuse Compensation for Preaching? (II Corinthians 11: 7)

Greetings Brethren,

Peace be unto you. Dark are the days and nights as the false Prophet come to entertain the people for pay. Sad even more are those that accept the lies of false teaching as the Gospel.

Peace and Love, Carl Patton a willing slave of Almighty God writing for the FreedomJournal 18 June 2006 in the year of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

In the name of God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth

Beloved the Apostle Paul directed and sent by the Savior set the paradigm for Preachers. Therefore he set specific precedents in time for today's Preachers. Precedents and of course paradigms are best noted in documentation. Therefore Paul as the most prolific writer in the New Testament has recorded as inspired by God the role of Preachers.

Brethren before we go further we (FreedomJournal) beg to make an important point for the record. "Let it be written that the greatest crimes of ungodliness in the church today results from the love of money by church leaders. As the world turns on an axis of materialism so goes the church as Preachers embrace gold and silver and not God."

Meanwhile Paul presents an example of a humble Preacher willing to sacrifice his life for the Gospel. Brethren we do not Preach nor teach that Preachers should be poor. We only maintain that Preachers should not as Paul has noted preach only for money.

Follow us to the 11th Division of II Corinthians. In the bracket of scriptures 1-15 Paul teaches the Brethren about the false Apostle. These Preachers came to beguile the people saying what they wanted hear with an objective for financial rewards.

II Corinthians 11: 7: "Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?"

Paul has chosen to support himself in part by his own labor. At Acts 18: 3 for example we see that he was a tent-maker by trade. Meanwhile the confused people at Corinth concluded that any Preacher that Preaches for free was not of Gods' authority. They wallowed in the lies of popular Preachers. Those that were rich and richer were hailed as great speakers etc. This is why Paul in the remaining verses (16-33) outlines his credentials as an Apostle of Christ Jesus. However turn to the next Chapter for a powerful companion scripture.

II Corinthians 12: 13: "For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong."

It is willed by God for Preachers to be supported by the people that receive the Gospel (I Corinthians 9: 14). Also when this support was accepted this was a means by which the church was recognized as the Lord's church. However Paul did not intend to deny the church at Corinth this recognition. Therefore Paul asks for their forgiveness. Are Preachers today that don't ask for a love offering or pay suspect? If you don't charge the church (small poor churches) for cleaning up the sanctuary are you suspect?

Cont. Part 31: Respect and Honor For Righteous Leaders

About the author:

"There was once a Poor man but he knew God. He was able to see God and through God he was able to see his Brethren and their needs. He was able to stay in prayer and grow in Truth and bear witness to this Truth."