Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapped
Although some elders are not full-time, I would say they are permanent (under normal conditions), are they not?
From what I've seen, the local church both pays and doesn't pay those who serve it.
I know of elders who do not have another "vocation" who are not paid or supported by the church because they can live off of what they already have.
I know of elders who DO have another job who are not paid or supported by the church.
I know of elders who are solely supported by the church.
I know of elders who are supported by a church that does not have sufficient funds to do so, so they take multiple other jobs to cover the rest.
I know of serving ones who are supported (usually just barely above the point that covers their basic living expenses).
I know of serving ones who are not supported at all.
I wonder if Witness Lee's issue was with the "hiring" of an "outside person"? As opposed to someone being appointed from within and being supported because he otherwise could not do it. I understand both appear the same, and I am in no way defending the dripping derision from Witness Lee.
How do other churches (non-LC) handle the elder/pastor thing? I don't even know. Is it often members from within who grow/mature into the position? Or is it really bringing in someone from "the outside" who does not know the congregation? Genuinely asking here....not even really in the context of this discussion, just curious now because I never thought about it until now.
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Most churches are open and honest. They interview applicants and make a job offer to someone to be their pastor for a $ figure with benefits. They pass an offering plate for contributions to the needs of the church. They have fund-raisers. They may offer a book written by a pastor at no cost, in return for a contribution. They do what they do. Open and above board. Right or wrong.
When I was in it, there was a hole in the wall somewhere for you to make contributions and no one ever asked for contributions. This seemed to be the "purist" approach. That is, if the Lord leads you to give, then give. If there was a need, the Lord would make it known to the body, as individuals, and the body would give, in whatever manner they chose, to meet the need. Lee boasted about this as a put-down to other Christian churches as a point of "poor, degraded". Maybe another relevant verse is "pride cometh before a fall."
To pass judgment on other Christians for their practice of handling money is, IMHO, petty at a minimum, and maximum hypocrisy---especially when your "church" does the same thing. I.e., with the same judgment you judge, you are judged.
I honestly don't have much of a problem with paying folks to do a job, even in the local churches. My problem is the hypocrisy of judging others.
The denominations are at least honest about it.
Nell