Let’s Get This Straight

My preacher (who’s blog this is – even though he lets me do all the writing) asked me to make some statements for him – So here goes. . .

He is concerned about the misunderstandings that arise primarily because of preachers who “get rich” selling books or music, or through some other creative activity. Here is an example – purportedly from Rick Warren (Saddleback Church in California) in a speech delivered to the Southern Baptist Convention quite some time back:

About midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. . . Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free. [bold is mine]

He (my preacher) said, “I have always “served God for free” because He has purchased me and I am His slave. I preach and teach because that is what He has told me to do. I shepherd people, care for them, llove them, and minister to them because that is my calling in life.

“The Church where I work wants me to do that as much as is humanly possible, but they recognize that I must also support my family and take care of my financial responsibilities. To do that, I would have to get a 40 hour a week job – and that would severely hinder my time and energy in meeting those desires on behalf of the people I serve. So, to keep me from ‘getting a job,’ they supply funding for my needs. That financial resource provision has nothing to do with my ‘serving God.’

“Unlike Pastor Warren, I haven’t written two or three ‘best sellers.’ But even if I did, while I would use the money for greater ministry opportunities, I would not be ‘refunding’ money to the Church. The whole concept makes most Pastors look as if they are a drain on the Church, or taking what really ought not to come to them. The Scripture says clearly, ‘the Shepherd is worthy of his hire.'”

I think my preacher just feels better after having had me say that for him.