The entire thing is a scam for money by professional Christians intercepting money meant for God when God does not need your money. The word “church” was not in the Bible until 1611. The Greek word was Ekklesia” for 1611 years which meant “The called out” or simply “the believer” . All this brick and mortar, preacher , choir, pulpit stuff is not in the Bible. It is all a money scam. By the way , a “professional Christian “ is further anyone that takes money and uses it for house payments, car payment, 401k, kids college, personal use etc., in the name of God. That included preachers— staff— worship musicians etc. etc. Anyone who lives off of “ gifts or tithes to God”.
The entire thing is a scam for money by professional Christians intercepting money meant for God when God does not need your money. The word “church” was not in the Bible until 1611. The Greek word was Ekklesia” for 1611 years which meant “The called out” or simply “the believer” . All this brick and mortar, preacher , choir, pulpit stuff is not in the Bible. It is all a money scam. By the way , a “professional Christian “ is further anyone that takes money and uses it for house payments, car payment, 401k, kids college, personal use etc., in the name of God. That included preachers— staff— worship musicians etc. etc. Anyone who lives off of “ gifts or tithes to God”.
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The Apostle Paul disagrees.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
Funny, that was the same thing one of our previous pastors said and he made good on it by refusing all compensation for his leadership.
Paul and the other church leaders were paid to be a church leader. They received money for their services.
So don’t give.
well, it may be now, but not in the beginning of the US. The church was the only entity that provided for the poor and infirm. When people who moved to another town or state got sick, or got poor, they were sent back to the town they were born. The church provided for them. Nowadays those funds are spent on vanity too often - who can have the prettiest or biggest house of worship.
I am a missionary on a foreign field. In about 3.5 hours I am going to my place of work and I will be actively engaged with the people I am currently discipling. I have no other job. How, I ask you, can I eat, cloth myself, pay my rent, etc. if it is not gifts, financial support, given by God's people?
This is a good verse for your thoughts about a professional clergy.
I agree in many ways with your post.
Anyone who lives off of “ gifts or tithes to God”
What do you s'pose the assemblies do then, with all that money???