The Bible Nerd

A friend recently wrote me and asked me about 1 Timothy 5:8. He is a missionary who is married and has a child. His wife’s parents are also missionaries, and his parents are in the ministry as well and are fully supportive of what he does. However, in a recent conversation, someone told him that he isn’t obeying this verse by being a missionary. My friend has to raise his own support to do missions, and many months are very tight financially for him and his family. He even works a part time job to provide additional income while doing a full time ministry! Is my friend being irresponsible by living this kind of faith based lifestyle? Should he “grow up” and get a job, or at least do a ministry that comes with a salary, health insurance, and retirement benefits?

First, we have to deal with this verse in 1 Timothy, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” The context of this passage is NOT about missionaries or people who do church or missions related ministry full time. Paul is actually in the process of giving Timothy instructions on which widows the church should be helping. Going back to Acts 6:1-6, we know the early church collected offerings or food, and then distributed them to widows in the church who had need. Paul wanted to define who is a “widow in need”, so there wouldn’t be arguments or unnecessary uses of church resources.

The verse that was quoted to my friend is actually about widows being supported by their family rather than the church. Paul’s reasoning is that the church’s resources are limited, AND it should be the family who primarily takes care of each other (clearly, Paul wouldn’t have been a good American Democrat!). So, he is saying that anyone who has a widow in his family, but doesn’t help her and instead just thinks the church will care for her, is a horrible witness for Jesus. Even unbelievers care for their own family widows Paul says. Even though this verse isn’t about people in full time ministry, Paul does talk about this in other places.

1 Corinthians 9: 13-14 says, “ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?  In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” In this chapter, Paul is explaining why he personally has forgone this right in order to remove any stumbling blocks from his missions audience. He doesn’t want people thinking that he is like a traveling Greek teacher, who is only in it for the money and fame. Therefore, Paul did tent making and only occasionally accepted offerings from churches (see Philip. 4:14-19).  He says directly here that he has the right according to Scripture, citing the example of the Levites and priests who didn’t have “other jobs”, and were fully supported by the tithe of Israel. In the same way, Paul says full time ministers should be fully supported by those they minster to.

I have read in many “simple church” books lately that paid clergy is a mistake and is unbiblical. They reason we waste thousands of God’s dollars every year that we don’t need to. They state that only “traveling apostles/church planters” should be supported, but no one else. I am guessing they mean missionaries are in, but everyone else (pastors, worship leaders) are out. One of the books even quoted Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 5:17, but conveniently left verse 18 out, “ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.  For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” Clearly, Paul means more than simply “honoring” teaching/preaching elders, as honor doesn’t feed the ox! The Levites and priests weren’t traveling preachers, as they had responsibility over certain locations and duties, and they were still supported in the Old Testament.

We aren’t going to cover who should be on salary in a church (way too many positions), but I think it is safe to conclude that God has commanded most people to work full time to support their family and church ministries (like missions). 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, “You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,  so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” However, there are some who God calls to do preaching/teaching (church planting and missions) full time, and they have Scriptural basis to live on raised support.

My conclusion to my friend is that he has been called to a different life, and God has promised to take care of his family, just like He took care of the Levites and their families. Of course, it is going to be hard to have faith when financial hardships hit, and he may never have a fat retirement fund. His call is no more special or deserving of praise than someone’s call who doesn’t live on financial support. Romans 12:6, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” Those on support should pray for their supporters’ jobs and their influence in that sphere of life. Those with paying jobs should pray that God provides fully for those in missions and ministry. Together, we will all work together to see the Kingdom of God expand!