Are we obligated by the scriptures to pay a salary to the God Called Minister? Should a minister expect a salary for preaching the Gospel or accepting the pastoral care of a church? Our forefathers in the faith have more than once had to deal with these questions, as there arose among them men who taught that the answer to these questions is, yes. Im sure to the majority of the present day Baptist family the thought of being against paying a salary to a minister would be shocking. Thats an indication of just how far the Baptist family has departed from the scriptural pattern and practices of the original Baptists. 

A common scripture used to promote a salaried ministry is  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (I Corinthians 9:14) but does that scripture really teach us that the Gospel minister should make his living preaching the Gospel? If thats really what it is teaching then the inspired Apostle Paul did not follow his own preaching because he preached the Gospel without charge. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.  (I Corinthians 9:18)  Not only did the Apostle Paul say he preached the gospel without charge, he also left on record in the inspired word of God that his craft (job or work) was tent making and he was active in practicing that craft.  And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers  (Acts 18:3).  Paul did not covet or expect money (a salary) from those he preached the Gospel among.  I have coveted no mans silver, or gold or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. (Acts 20:33,34)  These scriptures make it sufficiently clear that the pattern the Apostle Paul left us was to not covet a salary or full support for our preaching the Gospel but we should plow in hope and be willing, as he was, to labor with our hands. 

Although many Baptists equate small congregations with failure, God does not.  Our Lord said  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Furthermore there were several churches in New Testament times, which were small enough to meet in a members home. (Philemon 1:2, Colossians 4:15, Romans 16:5) Thus, it would be reasonable to assume there will always be some small congregations such as those of the early church. If you make the claim that the scriptures obligate a church to fully support their pastor or that a minister is under scriptural commandment to make a living by his preaching it would also require the minister not to expect anymore than what the small churches could give him. You can readily see the problems in such a system. The only options he would have in trying to fulfill that erroneous interpretation of the scriptures would be to go to a more affluent congregation or encourage churches to combine in order to have enough members to fully support him. Both options smack of the workings of a hireling system; certainly not the pattern that the Apostles left us. Sad to say but there is evidence that these options are now being considered by some calling themselves Primitive Baptists. The Apostle peter said Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; To go where the money is or to combine churches in order to build up the money base would in effect be feeding Gods sheep for filthy lucre. It would abandoned and/or eliminate those small congregations that the Lord spoke of in the above scripture. 

The Lord also referred to his disciples as a little flock:  fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32) Certainly that is not teaching that all churches must only have a few members but it does imply that his true followers will be smaller in number than worldly churches. I recently listened to a taped sermon of a Primitive Baptist minister on which he made the statement there is no scripture which says that the church is gotta be us four and no more in order to have the identity of the church. There is no place in the bible!! Well what about fear not little flock for it is the fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom?  Ive heard that til Im about sick of it. By the tone of his voice it sounded like he really mean he was sick of hearing it. To be sick of such a comforting expression of our Lord makes me wonder about the speakers motive. Could it be that those who are tired of little flocks usually are the same ones that erroneously interpret scripture to teach the full support of the ministry? Are they not also the ones who are endeavoring, sometimes out of a blind zeal, to bring the old church and its practices up in the eyes of the world in order to help build the Lords Church?  Rather than returning to early church roots as they claim, are they not departing from the true and living God that said, Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain?  (Psalms 127:1) The present day push for a fully supported ministry is rooted in the same feigned love that most oppositions to biblical principles are: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:10)  Is it not clear to the watchmen on the walls of Zion that many once faithful ministers among the Primitive Baptists have pierced themselves through with this evil?  

If the scriptures do not teach us to have a salaried ministry then what do they teach us about ministerial support? Do we have no obligation in assisting the ministry in temporal matters?  Should we allow a minister to labor among us without being mindful of his temporal need? Emphatically No!   I want to be just as strong and forthright in teaching that the scriptures do teach us to give in support of the Ministry as I was in opposition to a salaried ministry.  It is an undeniable truth that the Apostle Paul is teaching us in 1^st Corinthians chapter 9 that caring in a temporal way for those that labored among us is approved of God. 

 Paul answers those that examine his practices:  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?  (I Corinthians 9:3,7)  Could it be that he was answering some who examined his practice of not requiring money for preaching? Could he also be addressing others who felt they did not need to give because of his practice of not charging for preaching the Gospel? It appears that this is the case. Paul tells those that examined him that his teachings and practices are not of man. He makes the point that the Old Testament was written for our learning and he uses those Scriptures to teach that the principle of giving is still applicable in the Gospel age. Say I these things as a man? Or saith not the Law the same also For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things (I Corinthians 9:8,11).  Paul then plainly states the principle of ministerial support is also ordained of God in the Gospel age. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (I Corinthians 9:13,14)  

By his use of the Old Testament scriptures, Paul is not teaching us that we remain under the burden of providing for the Priesthoods (ministry) full support. Under that system a taxation (tithing) law was required. However in the Lords Kingdom giving should be motivated by love and not of necessity, which the old taxation (tithing) system required. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (II Corinthians 9:7) Since the Old Testament tithing law is not required in the New Testament church it follows that the mandatory full support of the ministry has also changed. Today the minister is to plow in hope however it should not be counted as a great thing for him to reap carnal things from those among whom he sows spiritual things. But to expect those carnal things to be a salary or the full support of the ministry would not be plowing in hope. 

After laying the foundation for ministerial support in the Gospel age, Paul clearly strikes down the notion that he is teaching that a minister is to be paid a salary or that he is to make his living from preaching the Gospel. He immediately lets the Corinthians know that even though it is sanctioned by the scriptures to help the servant of God; he has used none of the scriptures he had just quoted to claim any of their money or temporal things. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. (I Corinthians 9:15) Surely you can see that by his not applying those scriptures to himself, Paul is not teaching us that a gospel minister is to be salaried or fully supported in order that he preach the gospel. If you pay a salary to a minister for his preaching the Gospel, he becomes your hired servant, which diminishes his ability to please God rather than man. 

It is a scriptural truth that God calls, prepares, and sustains those ministers the Holy Ghost sends forth into their field of labor. Very few men who have the title minister, actually preach the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ therefore they are not embraced in the scripture they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. That would include any old Baptist hireling who is pleasing men rather than God. I feel confident that any minister that is called of God and directed by the Holy Spirit will always be taken care of in his temporal needs. God has ordained it that way and it is clearly sit forth by the following scripture. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep my self .  (II Corinthians 11: 7,8 and 9) Once again the Apostle Paul clearly tells the Corinthians that he preached to them the gospel freely, even taking wages from other churches to do them service, and would not be burdensome to them. The Corinthians were failing in doing what their duty required, allowing others to fulfill those duties. This example clearly demonstrates to us that the Lord will always provide the way for one who is preaching the Gospel. It also teaches us that the recipients of the preached Gospel should out of a Love for the cause assist the God Called minister in his temporal needs. Temporal needs are not always met with Silver or Gold. It could be providing a place to stay for a minister visiting among us. It could also be food from the garden or a variety of other things. According to scripture we all should be content with such things. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  (I Timothy 6:8)  

The Apostles instructed the early church to choose out seven men (Deacons) to serve the church in temporal matters. The Deacons should let the church know the needs of a minister, whether it is a need for money to buy gasoline for getting to church or other expenses he has as a result of his serving them. A church should help a minister with those things, which are lacking him because of his service to the church. There is no set amount; percentage or formula to determine the duty of a church to those who minister to them but each situation dictates the type and amount of support.  But if a church or the Deacons fail to do their duty, Im convinced that God will always supply a God called and God sent preacher of the Gospel with his needs. It may come through others, if need be, as shown in the above scriptural example. The failure of the Corinthians in meeting the temporal needs of Paul did not hinder him from preaching the Gospel among them. He did so without requiring a salary or any of their money. He practiced what he preached and trusted in God who ordained that: they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. Did not Paul (without a salary) do exactly what God ordain he should do?  Glory to His name!  Elder Claude McKee