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| The Unfaithful Shepherd |
A few days ago, Trevin Wax posted a very interesting question at his blog. Does getting paid make a difference in how you lead your church?
I made me wonder if Trevin and I had wondered across some of the same material as I had recently read some things that caused me wonder about the same question.
Trevin makes reference to the occasional ministerial fantasy of serving as pastor without depending financially on the church for your livelihood. The assumption being that pastors are potentially held back from doing what God wants them to do by the fear of losing their job (and more significantly their salary). The obvious solution is to not depend on the church financially.
I have heard of a few minister who through independent wealth or handsome book royalties have been able to do this. I have heard of far more minister who have wished for such freedom.
The premise is that if the church does not respond to your "near perfect" leadership then you can speak your mind without fear of repercussions....and ultimately just pick up and move away if need be. Sounds like risk free ministry. Which is no ministry at all.
This is no way to shepherd a flock. Ironically this "working for free" makes you nothing more than a hireling. Connected to a call or to a congregation as long as it is convenient, comfortable and coddled. Things don't go your way, you just pick up your amble marbles and go home.
I am reminded that Paul tells that we are to expect a real fight in ministry. So much so, he tells us we are to put on the whole armor of God. And from what I read, there is no place in that armor to carry marbles!
Does this leave us vulnerable? Yes. But that is the call of the shepherd.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
John 10:11-13 (ESV)
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2 comments:
Tim, I'm glad to see you began blogging again! Much more disciplined about it than I could ever be :) I don't know if you considered it, but there is another side to the not paying the pastor that is not about saying whatever you want and that is being able to take no or a greatly reduced paycheck in order to assist a smaller work or a church plant until they can get on their feet and afford a full time pastor. I see that as a huge benefit to the church, not to get them out of paying a pastor, but to allow them to funnel money into outreach towards growth.
-Ben Howard
Thanks Ben, that is a good point. When done in spirit of self sacrifice this is entirely different than what I was discussing.
But I will also point out that there are many, many pastors today who are assisting smaller works without the benefit of financial security. They live at risk, but confident of Paul's testimony in Philippians 4.10-20. (Incredible passage everytime I read it.)
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