Preacher ‘Preesheeashun
October is “Pastor Appreciation Month” here in America. Churches all over the place are planning different ways to show their pastors how much they care. Thankfully, Riverside (my church) is no exception: this Sunday, after the morning worship, a covered dish luncheon has been planned. Even though I don’t think anyone is planning on giving me the keys to a new Cadillac, Mexican cornbread would be nice.
The Reason for This Post. Because of all this ‘preecheeashun talk, I feel it is appropriate to address something rarely discussed: pastoral compensation.
In a recent edition (Aug. 16) of the Sword of the Lord newspaper, the editor ripped some comments historian David Barton made during an interview with Glenn Beck. The issue being debated was whether or not a pastor should receive an income from the church.
Should pastors be paid to be pastors? Should they earn their living elsewhere? What does the Bible say? Barton and the Sword of the Lord stand in opposition on this subject. I wonder where my opinion will fall?
Barton’s Belief
In June of 2013, ChristianPost.com discussed an interview historian David Barton had with conservative radio personality Glenn Beck. In that interview Barton spoke of the need for pastors to be more like Paul and become “bivocational.” Anything else he considered “church welfare.”
David Barton, Wallbuilders.com
“What they (pastors) believe is that they can’t survive without it. Now, I’m a big believer in the way Paul did it. Paul was bivocational. He had his own income so that he wasn’t dependent on a church…Right now what happens is so many ministers depend on their church, and I’m sorry, I often call it church welfare. These are guys that get their check from the church and they don’t want to mess with their check, don’t want to jeopardize that.”
“It’s time for more pastors to become bivocational so that nobody can tell them what to do with their money. They own their own money…If the church money dries up, great, they are still ministers and they can still preach because they’ve got an income. So I’m really into that mold. And until we get out of the church welfare mold, the church takes care of me and I can’t afford to lose my check from the church. It’s going to be really tough to get the guys in a different direction.” – from ChristianPost.com
Essentially, Barton believes that a pastor should get a job outside of ministry so that he (the pastor) can better perform the work of ministry. In other words, a self-funded pastor is better than a fully-funded pastor.
Note: someone should inform David Barton of the statistics…most pastors are already bivocational. The economy and declining church attendance has made sure of that.
The Sword’s Swipe
In response to David Barton, the Sword of the Lord editor, Dr. Shelton Smith, wrote the following:
Dr. Shelton Smith, editor of Sword of the Lord
“Barton is ill advised on this. First of all, it is totally scriptural for pastors to be paid and paid well (1 Tim. 5:17,18).
Secondly, if a pastor hesitates to “take a stand” because he is “taking a salary,” he needs to get a backbone and use it. If he can’t figure out something so simple as how to “take a stand and a salary” without flinching, then your church doesn’t need him as pastor.
Third, any church that would hold the salary over the pastor’s head in an attempt to throttle his voice is not a church where I want to be a member.
Fourth, pastors need to be fully funded so that they can invest themselves fully in prayer, preaching, teaching, soul winning, administering the work, and shepherding the flock. If a man does well with all his responsibilities as pastor, he won’t have a lot of time left to make his living elsewhere.”
Booyah! In your face, Mr. Barton! Seriously, this was a good response, but I do have some minor issues with it.
My Perspective
My study before I built my new book cases. I was making final notes before a Sunday service. Preparation time is more limited when you’re bivocational.
If you are still reading, I would like to make a few observations. If you are not still reading, then you won’t mind that this piece is a little longer than the average blog post.
First, just in case you don’t understand the difference, bivocational pastors are not necessarily “part-time” pastors; they do full-time work for part-time pay. “Part-time” is a misnomer. Bivocational guys need to have other sources of income because the congregations they serve cannot afford to “fully fund” them. The amount of responsibility is often the same.
Also, what we are talking about here are pastors of congregational-type churches, not ones who are paid regardless of where or how they perform the duties of their calling.
Second, I would love to be fully funded (“full time”), but the compensation my congregation can afford is not enough to provide for of a family of four (in this culture), especially when my wife cannot do any regular work. If I were able to walk away from my other jobs (driving a bus, etc.) to spend more time in study, prayer, and other aspects of ministry, that would be wonderful. However, I must deal with the cards I am dealt, and God holds the deck.
Third, regarding David Barton’s thoughts, it would be great if every preacher could be like Paul, but we are not. It is unwise to use Paul as the sole template for pastors, for even though Paul was a tent maker, he spoke several times about the appropriateness of meeting the temporal needs of ministers (1 Timothy 5:17; Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; Galatians 6:6).
Bivocational pastors praying for each other at a conference in Pigeon Forge, TN. Small churches; big men.
Fourth, I believe the Sword of the Lord comment is perpetuating a tendency to think of bivocational pastors as second-class ministers. The editor starts off his fourth point by saying “pastors need to be fully funded so that they can…” Can? Are we to understand that pastors who are not fully funded are not able to do what they are called to do? Intentional or not, the Sword is implying that if you want to find a good pastor, you must first look for ones who are paid well. Essentially, if the part-time guy was a better preacher he might have a bigger pay check.
Let me be clear about this. God is the one who ultimately chooses the fields in which His undershepherds are to minister.
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” – Jeremiah 3:15
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” – Ephesians 4:11-12
Many great men of God faithfully serve smaller congregations, while there are some real heathen leading churches running in the thousands. A man who has a jet is not automatically a man who spends more time in prayer and study. Where one serves should not be an automatic indication of ability.
Finally, it is true that a pastor should faithfully expound the Word without fear. However, without question there are those who fear saying anything to offend the one “holding the purse strings.” But on the other hand, knowing where one’s paycheck comes from can be a useful check on ones ego, brashness, and tendency to run off at the mouth without thinking. Nevertheless, a pastor who muzzles the Spirit for fear of losing his income is no worse than a pastor who’s in the ministry to get rich, and there are a lot of wealthy preachers who fit that bill.
“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time [or pay] is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching [despite your income or other obligations]. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. [So, at that point they’re gonna fire you, anyway.]” – 2 Timothy 4:2-4 NLT
To my fellow pastors, keep up the good work and finish well. Our reward is yet to come.
Related articles
- Pastor Appreciation (bluechippastor.org)
- I’m back…with a new focus on helping pastors (readingremy.com)
- Appreciate your Pastor by your Support (pastorchrischefner.wordpress.com)
The Recovering Legalist 
It irritates me when individuals hold forth on subjects about which they know nothing. This man is clearly not a pastor. I simply see this as another attack on soldiers of Christ. Besides, even if ministers/priests/rabbis only draw one paycheck and that from the church/synagogue where they pastor, I never knew of any minister who did only one thing. They are treasurers, financiers, counselors, executives just like a CEO of any other corporation, only for a Chairman of the Board Who is Sovereign. Thank you for all that you do and in the face of so much opposition.
Thank you. Many think all a pastor does is talk for a couple of hours a week – how hard could that be, right?
Anthony,
I appreciate your post and the points that you make. As a deacon in a small Baptist church, It bothers me that we as a congregation can’t do a better job of taking care of our Pastor financially. We do the best we can, but I wish we could do more. That is one of the most difficult parts of serving as a deacon in a small membership church because there is never enough money to do everything the church wants to do.
Keep looking up!
Michael
God knows our hearts. He will provide.
Great article! I think your points were very accurate and well stated. I believe pastors should receive full time pay although I understand there are certainly churches who deserve a great pastor that can’t afford to pay him great; like yours. I believe that if God calls a man to that ministry He will provide since He is the ultimate provider. I am sad to say that I think we will see bi-vocational pastors everywhere except the mega churches as more people are drawn to the feel good Christianity (not saying all mega churches are like that) and also with our economy the way it is people aren’t tithing according to the bible for fear that God can’t get them through the week when our country is messed up financially. Not to mention the spiritual decline of our nation causing more church pews to be empty year by year.
Yeah, it won’t be long before mega-churches lose a little mega-ness. But let me tell you, the best church services I have EVER been in were at little, poor, run-down places with dirt floors. The pastors of those places were paid in chickens and eggs (no joke).
My first seminary sermon is October 29. Nervous? A little.
I am currently looking at potentially being bivocational, if a youth position works out. Our current pastor is actually tri-vocational!
One more interesting bit: I looked at Riverside on Google Earth yesterday (Tuesday). That is all. (Pretty place! Now, that is all.)
Ah, I’d love to be there to hear it (and grade it). Enjoy the experience 🙂
We are members of a 4 year old church plant and the pastor raises 100% of his pay through support, like a missionary. He reasons that this opens up money for other paid positions within the church, and it allows him not to feel obligated to certain agendas. We came to the church two years into it, and personally I would like to see our congregation support him financially, it seems to be our responsibility, but so far he is adamant about the way it is set up. This is our fourth church plant in 20 years (due to moves around the country) and it is interesting to see the many different ways of supporting the pastor.
Dear Sir, I have no idea who you are. I came across this site looking for other info on one David Barton. I saw his dvds on Americas Godly Heritage. I liked it. Wasnt too sure about the folks who were his hosts. That and other things I “heard”, started me digging a little deeper. Not done yet, but ended up here. I agree with what you said. My pastor worked as an engineer for the railroad while pastoring for many years before The Lord led him to pastor full time. What a step of faith. Anyway, I think i’ve found one more brother in Christ to add to my arsenal. Keep the faith. God’s blessings be upon you through our Lord Jesus Christ. Ricardo”Charlie”Saenz.
Thanks, Ricardo, for stopping by (I don’t know if I know who I am, either).
I, too, have Barton’s DVD’s. They are very informative, for sure. But, like you, the people who interview him on the DVD’s are a little on the odd/kooky side (a little too TBN-ish) for a history lesson.
I don’t fault Barton for his belief on preachers, for his heart seems to be in the right place. But I do think he needs to think through his opinions a little more.
I still haven’t seen bible for paying preachers.What I AM HEARING IS THE WORK OF ELDERS DEACONS AND MEMBERS.WHERE IS BIBLE
OK, I gave in and approved your comment, even if I’m not going to give much time to “Someone.” No name? We are real people, here.
Love your blog (just found it today). You are gifted in engaging people from many walks of life.
Looking forward to getting to know you as much as online relationships go.
Thanks for that compliment. It means a lot.