A dangerous error is that we have made this gift a paid position. There is not a Scripture in the New Testament that requires or recommends this. If that were the case, then why shouldn’t we pay those with the other gifts? When one Exhorts or uses the gift of Mercy, shouldn’t we also pay them? Or better yet, when those with the gift of Giving use their gifting, should they also not be paid? This would be ludicrous.
The church has put too much emphasis on this gift to the exclusion of the others. We have elevated it to a position of authority, although there is no indication in the New Testament that a pastor has authority. We have made it a paid position, although there is no New Testament verse that authorizes this. In doing so, we have promoted failure. The failure comes due to haughtiness, a feeling of authority and superiority.
A Scripture that is most often used to justify the pay is:
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages." 1Tim 5:17-18
At first glance, this appears to say that they are to be paid double, using the example of the ox being fed and the laborer worthy of his wage. We make a connection that the pastor, should get a wage, since his is “laboring”.
However, when one looks intently at the verse, it is actually an analogy, showing similarity by making a comparison.
As an ox is worthy of grain, while he works, so one who labors is worthy of a wage. By analogy, the elder is worthy of, “double honor”.
What is honor? Is it money? No. It is defined in chapter 6, we see that the slave is to give his master the same; honor. Would we see a slave paying his master money or paying his master respect?
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