JUNE 2007
Paid Professional Ministry

Acts 13: 1 – 3 KJV
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away

The King James Version of this passage says, “They ministered to the Lord.” The Greek word translated “ministered” is leitourgeÿ. It literally means to serve at one’s own cost or to assume an office which must be administered at one’s own expense.

Greek is a very specific language. English can be confusing as single words may have a variety of meanings depending on context and usage but the Greek language leaves much less room for ambiguity. Leitourgeo means not paid while latreuo means to serve for hire.

What are referenced in this passage specifically are acts of worship offered to the Lord, in service of Him, and at the expense of the server.

When we offer what we do to the Lord as an act of worship without seeking compensation, we may more easily keep the waters of motivation from becoming muddied by self serving interest.

By this definition, any service you render unto God for which you are not compensated qualifies as “ministering unto the Lord,” i.e. an act of worship. Conversely, when you are compensated, the question arises to whom are you ministering or who are you serving, God, others, or yourself?

Matthew 6:21
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

Where your money is, or where the source of your money is, there your heart will be also. To render a service without compensation requires sincerity of motive and self sacrifice.

The word “amateur,” according to Webster, refers to a person who “engages in some art, science, sport, etc. for the pleasure of it rather than for money.” In other words, they do it because it is what they love to do.

There is nothing wrong with working for hire, and for profits, large profits. There is nothing wrong with money, and there is nothing wrong with being compensated for ministry or for providing ministerial or teaching services etc, for hire. There is nothing wrong with it but at the same time, lets never lose sight of what it means to “minister” unto the Lord, to offer Him our skills, our service because we love Him and not for what we can get out of it.

I would never want to deny anyone the salary or compensation they work for and deserve. Church staff members and professional ministers must be compensated or we will not long have them with us. The point I want to make is that there is much to be said for “amateur” ministry, doing it because it was what we love to do. In fact, amateur ministry was one of the hallmarks of the protestant reformation. Back in those days they called it “the priesthood of the believer.”

We are all priests, we are all gifted, and we are all called. The vast majority of us are called to render pure service out of love and we will never be compensated. The compensation is in the lives touched for eternity by the service we render and in the response of our Lord’s heart to our offering.

Ministry, in the purest sense of the word, is by definition rendered free of charge or of expectation of reciprocity. Ministry is giving of oneself in service of others and the Lord. If compensation is rendered then it is by definition not giving and therefore in some sense not ministry.

There is nothing unbiblical about rendering a service for hire or providing professional ministerial services. The difference is in motivation. The one who is ministering unto the Lord does so out of love for the Lord. The one who is providing services for hire (though he may be sincere in his love for the Lord and others) does so for a paycheck.

Many argue that “ministers” should be paid on the basis of Matthew 10:10.
The King James says, “The workman is worthy of his meat.” But the NLT says, “Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.”

In the context of this passage, Jesus is not promising a profitable living only “meat,” or food, i.e. the supply of basic needs from the hospitality of others. In fact, the whole point in this passage is that hospitality is to be expected and graciously received. In the ancient world, travel was often by foot, and lodging was scarce, so hospitality was the expectation. Thus being “worthy of meat,” means that God will supply our basic needs through the hospitality and generosity of others. It does not foreshadow nor does it support the modern notion of professional ministry.

Consider the following:

Acts 18:3
Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was

Acts 28:30
30 For the next two years, Paul lived in his own rented house; (at his own expense) He welcomed all who visited him

1st Corinthians 9: 10 – 19
Christian workers should be paid by those they serve
11 We have planted good spiritual seed among you. Is it too much to ask, in return, for mere food and clothing? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? Yet we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than put an obstacle in the way of the Good News about Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their meals from the food brought to the Temple as offerings? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 15 Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge. 16 For preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t do it

17 If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice. 18 What then is my pay? It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher.
19 This means I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ

Philippians 4: 10 – 20
10 How grateful I am, and how I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but for a while you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. 14 But even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness.

18 At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 20 Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen

1st Timothy 5: 17 – 18
17 Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

1st Peter 5: 1 – 4
A word to you who are elders in the churches: I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. 4 And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor

“A great error in our modern way of doing things is to expect one man to possess all the necessary gifts for leadership. Thus, a church may have several hundred members but only one pastor. He is supposed to be able to preach, comfort and so on. In fact, of the eight gifts mentioned in our text (Romans 12:6–8) seven are usually considered to be the functions of the ordained minister, while the eighth is the function of the congregation. And what one gift is left to the congregation? It is that of paying the bills. Something is out of order here. Someone may ask if I am suggesting that laymen should preach. Without question, when a layman has a grasp of the Scriptures he should exercise his gift and preach at every opportunity. The growth of laymen’s movements is significant and is a step in the right direction—back to the New Testament way of doing things,” ~ Donald Grey Barnhouse, The Measure of Your Faith

“Opportunities come to people busy serving the Lord….If you want God’s guidance, get busy where you are, and He will show you the next step” ~ With The Word Bible Commentary

Love and many blessings my brothers and sisters,
David