3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephasa ? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living? (1 Corinthians 9:3-6)
Thoughts: The sad thing is that even Paul, as good a theologian, as good a teacher, and one who sacrificed so much to spread the Gospel was opposed strongly. Paul was saying that he gave his all, even at his own expense, so the Corinthians would believe.
There has always been a debate about whether ministers should be paid or not. The Rabbis believed everyone should work for free, but also said that whoever supported a rabbi would earn a comfortable place in heaven. Mormons and Quakers do not have trained and paid clergy. Certainly clergy can have all the human qualities that we do not like in humans- pride, selfishness, artificiality. But clergy can also lead, inspire, organize, and teach. One seminary professor said, "To those who think education and leadership of clergy does not matter I have one question: 'If you were on the operating table, would you rather have a medical school graduate cutting on you or someone who said they had seen it done once before doing your surgery?'"
Prayer: Lord, we pray for fair and just leadership in your church. We also pray that our clergy would listen to you and be true to you.
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