My Answer(s): Thank you for visiting my web site, and submitting your question and comment. It is good your pastor dedicate himself to your congregation. But, I ask you, isn’t this the duty of a servant of Christ, and all those claiming they serve Jesus? For it is written:

• Luke 17:7-10… 7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

As you can see from these verses, we as Christians, servants of Christ and other Christians must do more than what is required of us. Therefore, if your minister dedicate himself to the people giving him a salary then that is his duty, no rewards are given for doing what is required of you. And this Scripture call all Christians who do only what is required of them, unworthy servants. This means that your minister doing what is required of him as a pastor of a congregation does not give him a claim or right to your money.

Now, as to what you should give your congregation in terms of money, let the Scripture be your guide. For Christ Jesus in sending out the Twelve in Matthew 10 (NKJV) says, "Freely you have received, freely give" (verse 8), and again "a worker is worthy of his food" (verse 10). Then in Luke 10:7-8 (NKJV) Jesus sent out the Seventy, two by two saying, "remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you." These verses give us an understanding on giving and providing for the needs of those who preach the word to us freely without demanding we give them a tenth of our earnings. And that is providing for the needs of those who preach. Therefore, this requires one to know the expenses of the pastor and the congregation, in order to provide only these needs. After these needs are met for your pastor, there are no other requirements under the New Covenant, but to care for the poor in your family, congregation, and the world.

So we see from these verses, Jesus also mean for those He send out not to demand anything from those they preach to, but do rely on those willing to give to them. And whatever the preacher receive from those preached to, he should be content with it, not going "from house to house" looking for support or additional monies beyond his needs. Also this mean, that the preacher should take only what is needed for his care, and no more than that, which is freely given to him for the ministry. Therefore, these verses says no minister have a right to more than what is needed to support him and his household while preaching of the gospel, and his required needs to carrying out this ministry. This means your minister must supply you with the cost of his ministry, the rent of any space needed for meeting, and the cost of any services needed such as utilities or other required services for the congregation to meet. Now, this also, includes the minister revealing to you any salary agreed to by your congregation. (Paying pastors salaries is something I disagreed with, but there are some congregations that pay a minister a salary, as if preaching the word is some job or occupation, instead of servants to the congregation and Christ Jesus). When you know these things, then your congregation should raise these amounts to pay these expenses, and no more than these required expenses. And if the congregation cannot afford to support all the expenses of the pastor then he should get a job to support himself while preaching the word of God. But there are some preachers who prey on the poor and widows in their congregation requiring them to pay tithes and give beyond their means.

As it is written, there are preachers on this evil and adulterous planet, who are abusing their authority to preach. And this is if indeed they have the Spirit of Christ, and the authority to preach, for there are some who have taken this on without authority. For it is said,

• Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV)… "Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!"

So, we see there are many ministers who preach from their belly, and not according to Scripture, seeking to make financial gains on the word of God. There are few that seek to preach in all sincerity, the word of God, and His Christ. For just as the apostle Paul says, who being moved by the Holy Spirit: "That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel" (I Corinthians 9:18 NKJV). This verse tells us ministers should be willing to preach the gospel free of charge without pleads for money. Being content with what they have, working with their hands if need be. For it is written, "if a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2 Thess. 3:10 NIV). These verses give us further proof that all giving under the New Covenant are voluntary, and not commanded as tithes were for the wealthy men of Israel under the Old Covenant. Above all things one should never abuse their authority as a minister by demanding an offering and tithes from those preached to. This is wrong and sinful. May God stop them soon, I pray.

For it is written:

• Matthew 10:8-11 (NKJV) "8 … Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your moneybelts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs, for a worker is worthy of his food. Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out".

These verses refer to ministers preaching the word of God freely and not extorting money from those whom they preach to. These verses admonish preachers to have faith in God by not peddling His word, but depending on Him to provide for them. Or if needed then these preachers should get a job, for as the apostle being moved by the Holy Spirit says if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12). And preachers are not to extort money from those seeking Christ. For worthy and honorable ministers who rightly divide the word of God are worthy of their physical food when given voluntarily (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

Therefore, I exhort you to give only what is required to maintain your congregation meeting place. If your minister receives a salary, then find out what it is and if you cannot seek another congregation to attend, which is open about its finances. For if a person wish you to support him as a pastor, then it should be made known to all members of the congregation the expenses of the congregation and any monies paid to the minister or any other person in the congregation. Again, I pray to my God and Christ Jesus that you and your congregation may receive understanding, and began to serve those who are poor and needy. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, ministering for Christ