Should clergymen and religious leaders get paid for their services?
@itslikethistome (796)
United States
August 5, 2016 9:32am CST
Jesus Christ never asked to be paid for the loving spiritual and physical assistance that he rendered to people. As a matter of fact he encouraged his followers to support their ownselves. Jesus never had his apostles pass money baskets throughout the great crowds of people that followed him and he never charged people when he miraculously cured them.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@sabtraversa (12937)
• Italy
5 Aug 16
A wage makes people more motivated, but unfortunately not in the spiritual way.
Some people would choose the ecclesiastical path because of material benefits such as a free home and food and all that wealth in the hands of clerics, especially the Catholic ones, doesn't make much sense. Some end up spending their money in vicious ways and they create scandals, there have been a few cases here in Italy.
Church people should follow the Bible, not their greed.
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@itslikethistome (796)
• United States
5 Aug 16
I absolutely agree with you. I could not have said it any better! Thank you for your comments. Your response is well appreciated by me.
@xFiacre (12598)
• Ireland
5 Aug 16
@sabtraversa I think you'll find that most of us are not in it for the money and we could earn a lot more and have an easier life in another job. Our wives and children would also have an easier time. As for the free house - we're kicked out of it on retirement, and we're usually dumped in a fancy house whose running is way above what we can afford.
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@xFiacre (12598)
• Ireland
5 Aug 16
@sabtraversa where I am it's a very full time job, on call 24/7.
@egdcltd (12060)
•
5 Aug 16
The problem then arises in how they manage to eat and live. If your job doesn't pay you, how can you do it? They'd have to stop and do something else. Sure, some abuse the position, but lower posts in the larger organised churches are not that well paid.
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@egdcltd (12060)
•
6 Aug 16
@itslikethistome They have a job - clergymen. It's a job that takes 40+ hours a week for a not very good wage. It's the sort of job you need to feel a calling to do. Anyone who is only working on a Sunday is not a clergymen. To become an Anglican or Catholic clergymen requires several years of training. Many have divinity degrees. It's not just a case of doing a one hour service on a Sunday; there are other services during the week, as well as looking after their parisheners. Plus, these days, many are looking after several parishes.
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@itslikethistome (796)
• United States
5 Aug 16
He/she can get a job. What is wrong with getting a job? Clergymen have at least 5-6 days to work a secular job to support his family and himself.
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@itslikethistome (796)
• United States
6 Aug 16
@egdcltd True Christians do not have to go to schools of thought and theology to qualify as real ministers. Jesus never got paid for the miracles he perforned. He, Jesus never subscribed or recommended theological classes for himself and others. His followers and apostles never got paid either, Jesus did not tell his disciples to make sure to collect money from these lost sheep. Jesus never recommended his apostles and followers to get a theologian education and then get paid by "fleecing the flock" once they established their "place of business" like today's theologian colleges recommend and do.....
People who feel a "calling" should do so without the thought of getting paid and without the grandiose thoughts of living in "luxury" while their adherents barely make it from day to day.....If these clergymen were really following in Jesus footsteps they would be giving of their time, energy, and assets and then expect nothing in return. Jesus and his true followers did it, and they are still doing it the way Jesus taught today (Acts 20:35).
