Apostle Femi Lazarus: The ethics of charging for spiritual services, balancing faith and finances

3 weeks ago 13

Editor's note: In this piece, Dr. Benard Andrew, Theologian/Counsellor, explores the morals of pastors and gospel artists charging for ministry. He argues that portion covering logistics is fair, mounting a fixed interest for spiritual work contradicts biblical principles.

Whether pastors oregon gospel artists should complaint a interest for their services oregon not has already been overflogged by different erudite Christian writers. Hence, my publication volition beryllium to reiterate what astir of them person said.

The cognition  of placing a fixed terms  tag for spiritual   services rendered to the Church oregon  immoderate  different   temple is an maltreatment  of the divine telephone  to service.The cognition of placing a fixed terms tag for spiritual services rendered to the Church oregon immoderate different temple is an maltreatment of the divine telephone to service. Photo credit: Zamrznutitonovi, SeventyFour
Source: Getty Images

I spot thing incorrect with pastors receiving fiscal oregon different worldly gifts (not needfully collecting oregon demanding a fee) for their services. The Bible clarifies this (Luke 10:5-7, 1 Timothy 5:17-18). Since the constitution of organized religion, priests and officials person ever been catered to by adherents of their faith.

In past times, they brought the nutrient of their tract and livestock to God’s temple; from what was brought to the temple, a portion was kept for the temple workers portion the others were burned up arsenic a sacrifice to God.

In modern times, the adherents of the religion travel unneurotic and determine what they deliberation is bully capable to springiness to the clergyman that volition conscionable his and his family’s needs. Nowhere is simply a Priest empowered to determine oregon dictate what helium gets. He is simply a servant of God and the people. It is important to notation that priests are apt to neglect the faithful who bash not spot the request to instrumentality attraction of them. This is communal cognition crossed each spiritual groups that link to the divine done the mean of a priest. Paul said successful 1 Corinthians 9:11,

“If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it excessively overmuch to reap worldly things from you?”

The cognition of placing a fixed terms tag for spiritual services rendered to the Church oregon immoderate different temple is an maltreatment of the divine telephone to service. Nowhere successful the New Testament did Jesus and his disciples request a fixed magnitude for ministering to people. The radical gave of their ain volition.

I person heard galore of my colleagues accidental they resorted to charging a interest due to the fact that they person been taken for granted successful the past. They volition walk their clip and money to grant invitations, lone to beryllium sent distant without adjacent a transport fare, which is precise bad. However, this should not marque america spell to the different utmost of charging exorbitant fees conscionable to travel and beryllium a blessing to people.

If you are invited to preach and you are unsure of the idiosyncratic inviting you, fto them cognize the outgo of your logistics, transportation, and accommodation. If they can spend it, fine. If not, past you bash not go. However, demanding a definite magnitude arsenic a interest oregon honorarium aft the wealth is spent connected logistics is not scriptural.

Demanding a definite  magnitude  arsenic  a interest  oregon  honorarium aft  the wealth  is spent connected  logistics is not scriptural.Demanding a definite magnitude arsenic a interest oregon honorarium is not scriptural. Photo credit: PixelCatchers
Source: Getty Images

On the constituent of Apostle Femi Lazarus’ mentorship fee and his disapproval of gospel artists charging a fee, I volition accidental this: He should openly specify what helium is doing. Is it a backstage concern oregon a spiritual service? It is worthy noting that helium is simply a curate that I know; helium has done his precise champion to grip this substance by sidesplitting the controversy, by acknowledging that conscionable arsenic the pastors privation to beryllium protected from Gospel minister/artist outrageous charges, ministers excessively should beryllium good taken attraction of.

Today, galore personage pastors person subtly introduced their businesses into the Church. By that, I mean profit-oriented businesses that support astir oregon each of the nett to themselves and bash not springiness it to the Church. They bash this to defraud the authorities by evading taxes.

There is perfectly thing incorrect if a pastor chooses to ain a business. He should registry it with the authorities and pay taxes similar immoderate different bully citizen. However, if you bash thing successful the sanction of God and the Church, you are expected to beryllium transparent and accountable.

Also, if you person nary occupation with charging a interest for your schoolhouse of ministry oregon mentorship academy, I bash not spot wherefore you should person immoderate contented with a Christian gospel creator who charges a interest for coming to perform; the monolithic elephant successful the country should beryllium moderation, and that wealth should not travel first.

My unequivocal presumption is that if you take to render a work successful the sanction of God arsenic his priest, whether arsenic a music curate oregon arsenic a preacher, it is unscriptural for you to spot a terms tag connected that service. You tin importune connected your logistics due to the fact that you person to beryllium capable to get determination successful 1 portion to beryllium a blessing, but you cannot request a interest for going to beryllium a blessing to God’s people. If you judge that helium called you to bash what you are doing, spot him to interaction your hosts’ hearts and beryllium a blessing to you. It is worthy noting that nary 1 tin wage immoderate curate for the services rendered to God; this work is measured successful eternity. God is simply a rewarder, a rewarder of those who diligently question Him (Hebrew 11:6).

Dr. Benard Andrew, Theologian/Counsellor

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed present are those of the writer and bash not needfully bespeak the authoritative argumentation oregon presumption of Legit.ng.

Dr. Benard Andrew is simply a trained Bible theologian, counsellor, and CEO of the Andrew Benard Foundation. With a passionateness for counselling, business, and philanthropy, helium is driven by a tendency to marque each time meaningful—for himself and everyone helium encounters.

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