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Aren't we expected to pay a pastor/priest/reverend/pundit for their services performed?

In my religion, a lot of religious services is performed at one's house. Isn't arrogant of one another, to not pay this person.. Many of the priests perform religious ceremonies independent of any church.

Update:

I am not saying they charge a price. But face it, many of these individuals have to work multiple jobs just to barely get by. Don't you think times have changed and they should be compensated? Or should we be free-riding off the fact they cant demand payment?

10 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It is considered proper to pay a person like that for services rendered outside of the normal day-to-day scope of their duties.

    To not pay them for special services is very bad form.

  • 1 decade ago

    Payment, while not required, is appreciated. Most Churches cannot afford to pay a Priest a stipend sufficient for meeting the Cost of Living. A few dollars is always a help.

    Dinner would be nice. He's a guest in your house and has come to do a service for you - in several senses. Would you have a guest who is not there to do some service go away hungry?

    Source(s): Our church cannot afford to pay a Priest even minimum wage. That is why we don't have one on site and must depend on Priests from neighboring parishes. That is common in our area. We are one of 11 churches without a Priest.
  • 1 decade ago

    A true pastor or priest does not perform or conduct religious services for money. Christ and the apostles never preached for money, nor did they perform baptisms or heal the sick for a price. If a religious person performs an ordinance or conducts a service for a fee, then you may know he is not of God

  • 1 decade ago

    No, to pay a man of God for a specific service rendered is called simony and is condemned by God (2Kings5). Spontaneous free-will donations are ok though.

    It is however the responsibility of the community of that man of God to provide for his basic necessities such as housing, clothing, food and transportation (Matthew10:10 Luke10:7 1Timothy5:18); even then I have observed some abuses such as priests who claim that they need an SUV to minister to people out in mountainous areas but even when provided with such, refuse to go and provide ministry to these remote locations unless given a prohibitively high "donation" of cash by these typically poor people. Gehazi's beware !

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  • 1 decade ago

    Jesus and his disciples laid emphasis on spiritual giving. (Matthew 10:8) While appreciative listeners often came to their aid by voluntarily supplying basic needs such as food and accommodations, neither Jesus nor his disciples sought material benefits. (Luke 10:5-9) As the apostle Paul stated: “I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel.” Instead, he admonished true ministers of God to “let [their] manner of life be free of the love of money.” His visits from house to house were made so that he could ‘bear witness about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.’ (Acts 20:20, 21, 33; Hebrews 13:5) It was the religious leaders of the day who were described by Bible writer Luke as being “money lovers.”—Luke 16:9-15.

  • glory
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    A donation is expected and deserved. The cleric has spent many hours studying how to minister to others and has devoted his/her life to spiritual matters. It takes time. Usually, clerics cannot work a regular job to maintain their devotion to spiritual things. Many times they sacrifice themselves to attain a higher level of spirituality. They deserve an offering out of respect for their position./

  • 1 decade ago

    yes

    god tells us

    1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

    1Ti 5:18 For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.

  • 1 decade ago

    Spiritualist often use there services to extract money from the gullible.

  • bryan
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I know that Catholics pay for services renderd, do not know about anyone else

  • cheir
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    If they are worth it - and many aren't.

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