.There has been a lot of talk at The Well about money and salaries. Who should get paid? Should anyone get paid? Where does the money come from? What are we giving to? The talk of money can bring out the worst in people.
It has been an issue for years. Since we left the building we have had one full time employee, which would be me. Some have been very supportive some have been very critical. Some people have left The Well because I get paid.
I rarely feel bad about being supported for the work that I do. I have thought and prayed a lot about finding some sort of “tent making” job. But I think that decision would be one to appease others rather than doing something that I felt God was leading me toward.
I believe that if more people were committed to the cause of reaching the lost, making disciples and planting churches and less concerned with protecting our assets we could have made great strides by now.
My good friend John White has written an interesting article on Financing Apostles It is worth a read and maybe even a comment.
I admire you for your courage! The issue of money seems to be more important and more divisive in house churches than in the churches so many house church people rant about!
I read with great interest the article by John White and believe he has the Biblical perspective on the right of some in the church to be supported financially.
I believe there are more than a few pastors in the traditional church who won’t even consider the house church because of the unbiblical views that many in the house church hold about supporting those who are called to give their lives to plant and build churches.
Thanks again for your courage!
By: Craig on August 29, 2010
at 4:30 AM
Thanks Craig. I appreciate your encouragement. I can use all that I can get these days.
Press on brother.
By: Ken Eastburn on September 1, 2010
at 1:03 PM
Hi Ken-
Can you clarify what you mean by this?
“I believe that if more people were committed to the cause of reaching the lost, making disciples and planting churches and less concerned with protecting our assets we could have made great stri…des by now.”
Does this mean that you think that those who hold the conviction that local workers are not to be paid are just trying to protect their assets or hold that opinion in order to avoid giving? Do you hold to the opinion that those who do not support local workers are not committed to reaching the lost or making disciples?
I’m just curious as to what that paragraph means to you.
Thank you and many blessings in Christ to you and yours.
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By: Mike Hutchison on August 31, 2010
at 1:37 PM
No. I am not trying to say that those who have a different opinion are not committed to reaching the lost or making disciples.
I was referring to the financial debate in the house church movement that seems to be holding some back from doing kingdom work.
By: Ken Eastburn on September 1, 2010
at 1:10 PM