XPost: alt.bible, alt.religion.christian.roman-catholic, alt.religion.christian   
   From: usenet@christrose.news   
      
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   Sun, 23 Mar 2025 17:51:13 -0500   
      
   Rod_E  wrote:   
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   > On 3/22/2025 12:16 PM, Christ Rose wrote:   
   >> Paul clearly taught that ministers of the gospel have a right to   
   >> receive material support, even though he personally declined that   
   >> support in certain contexts to avoid putting a stumbling block before   
   >> others. "Sincerely" James misrepresents the full counsel of God’s Word   
   >> on this issue. While some of the references are accurate, the   
   >> conclusion contradicts the teaching of Christ and Paul. Below is a   
   >> thorough refutation where needed, and confirmation where accurate,   
   >> based on Scripture.   
   >>   
   >> 1. Misuse of Matthew 10:8   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James quotes: “You received without paying, give without   
   >> pay” (Matthew 10:8, RSV) as a universal command against any material   
   >> support for ministry. This verse was part of Jesus’ specific   
   >> instructions to the twelve apostles as He sent them out to preach the   
   >> kingdom to Israel (Matthew 10:5-10). But in the same context, Jesus   
   >> said: “the laborer deserves his food” (Matthew 10:10, ESV). That   
   >> phrase reflects the right to receive physical provision for spiritual   
   >> labor. Jesus was not forbidding all support; He was forbidding   
   >> commercializing the miraculous gifts (like healings or exorcisms). He   
   >> explicitly told the apostles to accept hospitality and provision (Luke   
   >> 10:7), not to charge fees or profit from their miracles. That is very   
   >> different from saying ministers today must never receive pay.   
   >>   
   >> 2. Misinterpretation of Paul’s Example   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James rightly cites Paul’s refusal to burden certain   
   >> churches (2 Corinthians 11:7-9; 12:14), but he omits Paul’s clear   
   >> teaching that ministers do have the right to receive support. Paul’s   
   >> personal choice to forgo that right in Corinth was not a universal   
   >> pattern for all ministers.   
   >>   
   >> Paul said plainly: “The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the   
   >> gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14,   
   >> ESV). This command came from Jesus Himself (see also Luke 10:7). Paul   
   >> also argued that just as soldiers, farmers, and shepherds partake of   
   >> their labor, so gospel workers should too (1 Corinthians 9:7-11). He   
   >> then adds: “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much   
   >> if we reap material things from you?” (1 Corinthians 9:11, ESV). Paul   
   >> waived this right in Corinth to avoid hindering the gospel (1   
   >> Corinthians 9:12), but he did not renounce it as wrong or unbiblical.   
   >> In fact, he instructed others to financially support elders who labor   
   >> in the Word: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of   
   >> double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.   
   >> For the Scripture says… ‘The laborer deserves his wages.’” (1   
   Timothy   
   >> 5:17-18, ESV). Paul quoted Deuteronomy and Jesus to support payment   
   >> for gospel work.   
   >>   
   >> Paul also rebuked the Corinthians for failing to support him, and   
   >> described how other churches filled in the gap: “I robbed other   
   >> churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you” (2   
   >> Corinthians 11:8, ESV). Paul was not ashamed of receiving that   
   >> support. He only regretted that Corinth failed to do its part, and he   
   >> had to rely on others. That hardly supports the idea that all   
   >> financial support is unbiblical—it proves the opposite.   
   >>   
   >> 3. False Dichotomy Between Salary and Support   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James distinguishes “provisions” from a “regular   
   salary,”   
   >> implying that ongoing support is somehow sinful or man-made. But the   
   >> Scripture never makes that distinction. Whether it comes as food,   
   >> gifts, or ongoing pay, the principle is the same: believers must   
   >> support those who shepherd and teach them. “One who is taught the word   
   >> must share all good things with the one who teaches” (Galatians 6:6,   
   >> ESV). This principle does not depend on how often or in what form   
   >> support is given. Paul received repeated support from the Philippians:   
   >> “Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and   
   >> again” (Philippians 4:16, ESV). Their support pleased God and supplied   
   >> Paul’s needs, and he never rebuked them for it.   
   >>   
   >> 4. Misuse of Paul’s Tentmaking   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James appeals to Paul’s tentmaking (Acts 18:3), but not   
   >> because it was wrong to accept support. Paul made tents temporarily   
   >> and strategically, especially in Corinth where false teachers abused   
   >> finances. He did accept material help elsewhere (Philippians 4:10-19),   
   >> and he commanded others to support faithful teachers. Paul’s choice   
   >> was voluntary, not mandatory for all preachers: “Nevertheless, we have   
   >> not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an   
   >> obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12,   
   >> ESV). A personal sacrifice, freely made, does not revoke God’s ordinance.   
   >>   
   >> 5. Misapplication of 2 Thessalonians 3:8 and 1 Corinthians 11:1   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James uses Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 3 and 1   
   >> Corinthians 11 to suggest that accepting support for gospel work   
   >> contradicts apostolic example. Paul exhorted believers to follow his   
   >> example of not being idle or taking advantage of others (2   
   >> Thessalonians 3:6-10), especially those who refused to work. But this   
   >> has no bearing on faithful ministers being supported by those they   
   >> serve. Paul’s command was to imitate his self-discipline, not his   
   >> refusal of gospel pay. When Paul says “Be imitators of me, as I am of   
   >> Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), he refers to Christlike humility and   
   >> love—not vocational tentmaking.   
   >>   
   >> Conclusion   
   >>   
   >> "Sincerely" James fails to rightly divide the Word of truth. While he   
   >> correctly points out that Paul sometimes worked with his hands, he   
   >> falsely concludes that paid ministry contradicts the teachings of   
   >> Christ. Both Jesus and Paul taught that faithful ministers have the   
   >> right to receive material support. The sin lies not in receiving   
   >> support, but in peddling the Word for selfish gain (2 Corinthians   
   >> 2:17). Scripture condemns greed and manipulation—not faithful   
   >> compensation.   
   >>   
      
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