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Rose of Shushan · (This post was last modified: 07-27-2009 07:40 PM by Rose of Shushan.)

Quote:Rose,

How totally unfair. This is why I hesitated to answer your biased question. If you dont see the value of having a man of God who is both trained and prepared to minister to the flock that is too bad. But when you suggest I do not "equip" the saints and that I have somehow received support from my church in a dishonorable way then you overstepped your bounds. This proves an anti-clerical bias. Which is quite sad a totally unfair.

I see the value of having believers as a whole, and not just one man , trained or equipped in order to be able to fully win souls to Christ and to minister to those around us. For me in an ideal church situation, there would be many people having differing roles.But each location is different and has different areas of ministry potential.there are so many different kinds of lost hurting and sick people out there and all of us have different ways to access the different people. But for me church is not a building where we go and meet once or twice a week to listen to a sermon or to worship together. That is not what I see in the NT. In the NT they organized money collections for needy brethren, each gave of what they had for other brethren, not one pastor, and it encourages us to all use our particular gifts and talents. Warming a pew on Sunday morning is not a talent.
I still don’t know how you equip your sinners err saints…giving them a sermon on how you understand certain bible passages and getting them to tithe to you ? I would love to know other ways that you equip your saints. Rick already asked a few questions which I thought might shed some answers but I didn’t come away from your responses too enlightened.

You say most of your flock live in mobile homes yet you live in a parsonage that boasts 1200 sq feet.are you for real? You expect these poor people to tithe to you and you don’t even care about the living conditions of its members. Its also interesting that you cannot share how much the tithe is with us, so much for accountability huh.
Anyway there are so many many ways that we can equip or just merely encourage people to then go on and find their own niche where they will be of use in the body.It is a vast field out there. And I don’t mean as a cleaner in the Sunday school toilet or making a quiche for the monthly potluck either!!! So for one man ie the pastor to get a tithe(which I assume will be 10 percent) that is just ridiculous.Especially in a poor congregation.They will never be able to then use money to employ in their own particular personal ministries.
Also I wonder what Priscilla would think of your attitude to women teaching .

Act 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Rom 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

And on the subject of being supported by a tithe...no such thing in NT!

1Th 4:10 And indeed you do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
1Th 4:11 And that you study to be quiet, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1Th 4:12 That you may walk honestly toward them that are outside, and that you may have lack of nothing.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us.
2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
2Th 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing; but worked with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you:
2Th 3:9 Not because we have not that right, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us.
2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13 But you, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.