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The Apostle Paul, a small business owner

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Bro. Steve Winter:
The Apostle Paul was a tent maker.  His relationship with  Aquila and Priscilla was originally a professional relationship.

Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
Acts 18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Paul worked his business to make money and then, on his own time, preached in the synagogue.

Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Rom 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Rom 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Aquila also had a "home Church" and Paul approved of that.

Rom 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Regards,

Bro. Winter

jsc1215:
I enjoy reading the accounts of Paul's life.  He sought diligently to bring no offense to the gospel, even in his work and finances.

I attended a small UPCI church for several months in Edgewood, Maryland, where the pastor worked a full-time job as a waste water plant operator.  Sometimes he would get off work just in time to preach, and arrived in his work clothes.  I would probably still have attended had there not been troubles at home which required me to move.

What I also find interesting is churches that have "full-time pastors" - I am not against any man working full-time in the ministry, but at the same time there are those who live very, very well while the rest of the congregation is struggling to get by.  Sometimes I hear them hawk about tithing and giving - while those are necessary, must they always take up a good portion of the worship time?  Where is the money actually going?  I find it absolutely disturbing when a church organization is not honest in disclosing where the pastor is making his income.  While I still believe we should give as God directs, those in charge of the gifts need to be accountable for the distribution of such gifts - there is nothing wrong in asking questions!

I also have concern when the church admits to having poor recordkeeping.  This can cause unnecessary headaches later, especially if purchases or profits were made with properly reporting them to the tax people.  Churches covered under the 501(c)(3) status could have that staus revoked, and real problems will arise in the financial realm.

We all can learn from Apostle Paul in the fact he was still willing to work as well as minister, thus no one could accuse him of robbing from the church.

Bro. Steve Winter:

--- Quote from: jsc1215 on January 08, 2009, 07:58:29 AM ---
What I also find interesting is churches that have "full-time pastors" - I am not against any man working full-time in the ministry, but at the same time there are those who live very, very well while the rest of the congregation is struggling to get by.  Sometimes I hear them hawk about tithing and giving - while those are necessary, must they always take up a good portion of the worship time? 
--- End quote ---

Well make sure you consider how long that Pastor may have lived in poverty to build that Church over the years.  If he is a true man of God he is worthy of his hire.  If he can honestly afford a Mercedes and a $500,000 house then that might just mean that he has helped a LOT of people.

There is a great blessing that comes from tithing and giving to a true ministry.  On the other hand the false preachers have made such a mockery of all that, but false preachers make a mockery of a lot of things and that doesn't change the original.

Bro. Winter

T100:
....... but false preachers make a mockery of a lot of things and that doesn't change the original.

Amen.

It's to bad that non-christians focus on crooked preachers.

But that's how the enemy works: getting people to focus on
crooks, liars and thieves.

But he's been defeated 2000 years ago and he realizes his time is short.
He knows scripture and he knows what's coming.
In fact he knows scripture better than some pew warmers.

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