Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

The Scriptures authorize and command that the local church provide support for a man who gives his life to the peaching of the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul wrote about his liberties in Christ and spoke concerning the support of gospel preachers.

Have we not power to eat and drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof.? Or who feedeth a fock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? Or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Cor. 9:4-14).

This Scripture and others authorize gospel preachers being supported while they preach the gospel.

Thanks For Those Who Have Gone Before

Having read of the sacrifices of preachers in previous generations, I have concluded that my generation of preachers owes a debt of thanks to those brethren who have gone before us who have worked to educate brethren on the need for supporting gospel preachers. The living standard of most preachers has been enhanced by brethren who have tried to live by the “Golden Rule” in supporting preachers: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). 1 am thankful for these brethren who have this attitude and for those preachers who, despite criticisms such as “You are just preaching for money,” preached what God said about supporting preachers that my generation of preachers could be so wen supported. I express my appreciation to each of you.

Different Problems For Today

Paul stated that “the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor. 7:31), as he spoke of the constant flux and change which occurs in human affairs. Because what is true with the world is also true regarding preachers’ support, there are some changes occurring about which some brethren may not know as they relate to preachers’ support. I write them, not to complain (for I have no basis for complaint), but to inform those who are in positions to make decisions which affect preachers’ support. Here are some things you need to know:

1. Health insurance is out of control. The costs for medical care have exceeded inflation for several years. The result is that insurance costs are spiraling. In order to inform brethren of what is happening, I am disclosing my personal expenses for health care cost. I purchase my insurance through the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (200 Barrister Bldg., 155 E. Market St., Indianapolis, IN 46204). This is the group coverage provided for preachers in the Christian Church. The organization has been kind enough to allow preachers from the churches of Christ to participate in their group program.

The rate increases for 1990 were recently mailed to me and are as follows:

	Current Monthly Rates	1990 Monthly Rates
Family (1 or more dependents)	$335	$400
Single employee	135	161
Participant over 65	58	69
Couple, both over 65	116	138
Member over 65, dependent under	258	308
Member under 65, dependent over	193	230

The coverage is through Travelers Insurance and is pretty good (not to be compared with the coverage provided by large companies such as General Motors). It does not include dental or eye benefits.

A church which gives a preacher a $25 per week increase in salary has barely kept up with the increase in his insurance costs. If any of our readers thinks that these rates are out of line with the industry, I am sure that the directors of the Pension Fund of the Christian Church, whose only business is administering insurance coverage to their membership, would be delighted to receive what information he has to find less expensive prices for the same coverage.

I would like to recommend that churches consider providing health insurance coverage as a part of the salary provided a gospel preacher. By so doing, the health insurance is treated as a fringe benefit for tax purposes and the preacher is given some protection from the inflationary spiral of health costs. Then when raises are given, an actual increase in spendable income can be seen.

2. Social security costs. Being treated as self-employed, the preacher pays the full costs of social security coverage. Social security taxes for the self-employed for 1988 were 12.3 percent. On an income of $600 per week, $3800 + is paid in for social security taxes. If a church owns the house is which the preacher lives, the house is considered in his income; hence, the social security tax is paid on fair rental value of the house in which the preacher lives. Of course, income taxes must also be paid from the income which the preacher receives. On the illustrated income of $600 per week, $166.11 must be deducted to cover social security and insurance, leaving $433.89 from which to pay income taxes and to live.

I would like to recommend that churches at least pick up the employer’s half of the social security taxes. By so doing, the preacher is brought to the same level as employees in other occupations.

3. Housing costs. The cost for providing a house also has gone up. When the preacher moves, there are several things which happen to his housing costs. A few years ago, I moved during a time when interest rates were excessively high; my interest rate on my house changed from 8 percent to 13.5 percent. Obviously, the same amount of money bought a lot less house. Too, there are real estate fees involved in selling property. In our area, real estate agents charge 7 percent commission. Every time a preacher must move, he pays out 7 percent of the selling price of the house, eating up a portion of the equity he has accumulated in his real estate.

No one should need to be told that houses have increased in value in recent years (although the inflation rate for housing has slowed in recent years). Some brethren who have lived in the same location for 20-25 years may not be aware of what housing costs are. They built their 3-bedroom brick home in the 1960s for $20-30,000 and their payments were around $200 per month. To buy that same house today would more nearly approach $75,000. In our area, a $75,000 home is not above average. The mortgage payment on a $75,000 loan (at 10 percent for 20 years) is $723.77. On top of this must be added taxes and insurance, easily bringing the house payment over $800 per month. Utility costs must be added to this figure. Most of our readers know this from experience, but some who have been settled in one location for an extended period of time may not be aware of what housing costs run.

4. Automobile expenses. Providing transportation also has increased in recent years. The car which could be purchased for $3500 in 1973 now costs $17,000+. The gas which was $35 per gallon is now nearly $1.00 a gallon. Inasmuch as many preachers use their cars extensively in visitation among members, traveling to and from meetings, etc., a car allowance is recognized as a legitimate deduction on income taxes. Brethren need to remember that preachers have to buy cars at the same places they buy them and their car payments are just as great.

5. Other expenses. The normal expenses in a home also are incurred in a preacher’s home. Kids need clothes and shoes; grocery bills, spending money, and school expenses are incurred. Then when the teenagers graduate from high school there are college expenses. Next the costs of providing a wedding comes. Preachers face all of the same expenses as everyone else and have the same desires as other families.

Conclusion

When calculating a fair salary for a preacher, brethren should not manifest a spirit which tries to pay a man the least possible salary which will keep him. Such attitudes generate resentment in the hearts of the preacher, causing some men to quit preaching. Rather, brethren should try to be informed of a preacher’s needs. The statement in James 5 applies to churches, as it does other employers.

Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth (5:14).

Woe be to the brethren who withhold a fair salary from its preacher while the church accumulates a large account and the brethren live prosperously!

I recognize that the same problems mentioned above which are faced by preachers also are faced by the rest of the American population and a number of brethren are suffering, not receiving salaries which keep up with the increased expenses. My heart aches for them, just as it does for the preachers. Nevertheless, where churches have the ability to meet the preacher’s need, they should do so.

Knowing that good brethren will rectify poor situations when they become aware of them, this article was written to inform brethren of matters which their own local preacher may be too embarrassed or reluctant to mention. Why not initiate a discussion of this subject in your next business meeting?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 22, pp. 674, 694-695
November 16, 1989

By Luke Flynn

Once again, I have before me, a paper that is full of malice and venom toward the Lord’s church and those that would stand in defense of it. This paper does not come to me through the mail however. It comes through a second party, for the writer and editor of this paper will not send his “bag” of half-truths, misconceptions and delusions to anyone except those “in the pews.” This paper is called The Examiner which is a bit of a misnomer, for the only thing it “examines” is the obvious disrespect of the church and disregard of the Scriptures that the editor-in-chief, as well as his followers, hold dear. My dismay, however, is not with the same old rhetoric spouted forth from The Examiner. Any Bible student can easily see through the facade of “truth and freedom” advocated in this paper. However, I did want to take some time to talk about those who support and endorse this false teaching.

With the publishing of each Examiner, there is a page entitled, “Readers Respond. ” I must admit that I am more disappointed in some of my brethren than I am in the teaching in this false doctrine. With every issue comes statements like, “Love the paper . . . I cannot express the pleasure I receive . . . I am a teacher and am doing my part in sharing much of your material. . .,” “The Examiner . . . was very (emp. Holt) good. . .,” “Keep the good news going. . .,” (same person sent $50.00 to support the paper), “Thanks again for your fine work and your example of courage. . .,” “Best to you. . . ” and so on! It does not come as a shock to me that there will always be brethren who will not follow the “old paths” (Jer. 6:16), but will seek to “heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4). What does shock me is the alarming number of brethren who are either partially or wholeheartedly supporting (verbally and financially) this false teaching. It is a mark upon the church that shows forth just how far some have gotten away from the knowledge of the truth. Some have become spiritual derelicts and have left their first love.

There are not only individuals, but whole households and entire congregations that have been over turned by the evil and deceit of this false teaching. Brethren, have we gotten so far away from the Bible that we have forgotten the principles of God? Have we gotten away from the knowledge that the support of false teachers or even “partially” false teachers is a sin? Let’s take a look at the Scriptures. 2 John 9 – “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not Go& he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. If any one cometh unto you and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works. ” What is this saying? God is telling us that we who would support those who. teach error or even “partial” error are just as guilty as the one doing the teaching. Paul said, “Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sing- keep thyself pure” (1 Tim. 5:22). The Bible tells us to support a false teacher (verbally, financially, or otherwise) is to be as guilty as the one doing the false teaching. We are not even to give greeting to such a one. Those that teach error are cursed (Gal. 1:8-9) and will have the wrath of God upon them (Eph. 5:6-10).

All of my brethren who are reading this article and supporting the Examiner should be ashamed of themselves, repent, ask God’s forgiveness and get back to the work of our Lord. “Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). Brethren think on these things.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 22, p. 676
November 16, 1989

By Leon Mauldin

The time has come when we need to know what the Bible teaches.

For too long the church has been plagued with elders who do not know what the Bible teaches. Men have been appointed who were friendly and “mixed well” with folks (sometimes unfortunately somewhat like politicians). Or, have there not been occasions when, because it was observed that one was successful in his business, it was therefore assumed that he would make a good elder? Obviously the question has not always been, “Does this man whom we are considering for the work of an elder know what the Bible teaches?” (Tit. 1:9) Just think what would happen if elders in every church had a real working knowledge of God’s Word. They would be able to apply God’s Word to every situation in life as they went about shepherding God’s people. Isn’t that God’s plan? The time has come when we need elders who know what the Bible teaches!

The time has come when we need preachers who know what the Bible teaches. While topical preaching can be very edifying, there are too many preachers who are unable to take each book of the Bible, and know what its thrust is (theme and purpose, etc.), its major divisions, and give its contents. We need to see the continuity of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. We need to be at home in every part of God’s Word. It is easy for preachers to wind up with huge gaps in their Bible knowledge. Disciplined study will cure that.

The time has come when we need Bible class teachers who know what the Bible teaches. If the Bible class teacher does not understand the theme of the Bible, the unfolding of God’s plan of redemption, and how God’s Word all “fits together”; if he or she does not understand the context of the lesson text, and how that text fits in with the rest of the Bible, how can the teacher communicate these truths to the students? One cannot teach what he himself does not know.

The time has come when parents need to know what the Bible teaches. This has always been God’s plan (Deut. 6:5-7). God has wasted no space in his Word. There is no part of it that we do not need. There is no portion which your children do not need to know, that it might also govern their lives. But how often have we let our children down (and thus let the Lord down) because we as parents have not concerned ourselves enough with the business of knowing what the Bible teaches!

The time has come when we all need to know what the Bible teaches. It is an attainable objective for you to begin with a book of the Bible you are currently studying, and within a matter of weeks be able to tell what the book is about, its major divisions, and give the content of each chapter (from memory, without consulting notes). You can do that with every book of the Bible, by taking one at a time. It has been a joy to me personally to see brethren of varying ages and occupations, undertake this kind of study. We rejoice to see brethren grow in confidence as they surprise themselves at what they can learn and retain.

Knowledge is never an end in itself. But it is essential. For too long folks have tried “short-cuts” that leave out this vital element. But it is knowing with a view to doing that must be stressed. Only when knowledge is translated into action in our hearts and lives is God pleased. Our objective therefore in knowing what the Bible teaches is that we might be better Christians, and better equipped to serve God. Knowing what the Bible teaches will have the effect of making us better husbands and fathers, and better wives and mothers. It will make us better Bible class teachers, better personal workers, and better preachers. When folks think in terms of qualifying men to serve as elders, immediately the course of action is for the preacher to present lessons on the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. This is important, and more teaching on these texts needs to be done. But developing elders is an ongoing work. When a young man can take a book of the Bible, tell you its contents backward and forward (with an equally intense determination to apply it), is he not on the right track in preparing himself to serve as an elder?

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 21, p. 659
November 2, 1989

By Larry Ray Hafley

Think of all the advantages the Ephesian saints possessed. An apostle had founded the church and worked with them for three years (Acts 20:31). After that, Timothy worked with them (1 Tim. 1:3). Some of them “spake with tongues, and prophesied” after the apostle laid his hands upon them (Acts 19:6; cf. 8:18). They had “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 13; 2:6). They had been “sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13). Paul wrote a letter to them. Just imagine that all these things had occurred where you worship! What would your reaction be? How great would be your expectations? Then, suppose the church was active, alive aggressive and that the Lord himself knew of their tireless, tedious toil. What kind of church would it be? Great! Wonderful! Fantastic! Right?

Wrong. The Lord wrote a letter to he Ephesian church described above. With all of their positive aspects and glorious past history, with all of their diligent devotion, listen to what the Lord said to them:

I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent (Rev. 2:2-5).

Kind of scary, is it not? Look at the compliments and the words of praise. They were real, sincere, genuine. What would we say of a church today that was equally enthusiastic and “on fire for the Lord”? Here was a church that was debating false teachers, especially false apostles, and “posed them as “liars.” Note the terms that show hard work; observe their steadfastness, their endurance. How would we describe such a church today? There are no words in our vocabulary sufficient to praise such a congregation! Back to the frightening part – see the words of rebuke. The Lord says, in effect, “I am ready to cease recognizing you as one of my churches” (Rev. 2:5; 1:20b).

It had only been a few years since Paul and Timothy walked and worked among them. They possessed zeal, but they were about to be extinguished. What happened? What was the problem? The Lord said, “Thou hast left thy first love.”

Have you left your first love? It is not enough to charge the church with having done so. Have you left your first love? Pointing fingers is easy. “If we only had a good preacher.” “If we only had elders.” “If we only had other elders.” “If our singing was better.” “If brother and sister Snobby would just leave.” “If only brother and sister Friendly worshiped here instead of across town.” “If only” will not build a strong church. Pointing fingers does not solve problems. Blaming others and hurling excuses only compounds the difficulty. Evidently, the church at Ephesus had all the “if onlys.” They had it all. But the Lord said, “Thou hast left thy first love.”

What Does That Mean?

What does it mean when it says they had left their first love? Consider a marriage. The couple is together. They have a comfortable life. “Things” are essentially good. He has a job. The house runs smoothly most of the time. Meals are on the table. The children are doing fairly well. So, what is the trouble? “I don’t know. I just feel listless, unhappy, unfulfilled. All is well. The same things are going on day after day. Nothing has really changed, but our marriage is dull, dead and boring. ” This imaginary couple is going through the motions. They have left their first love.

It can happen to Christians and to churches. What is the answer? What is the solution? It is not a small thing. It is a serious matter. The marriage partners must renew and rekindle their courtship. They must get back to the basics of love, duty and responsibility. Kindness, courtesy and consideration have ceased. As a result, the marriage is stale, dry and undesirable. So it is with faith. Disciples go through the motions of spirituality. They attend services; they give money; they perform token efforts of “good works.” They draw near the Lord with their mouth; they honor him with their lips, but their heart is far from him. Their worship is vain, empty, lifeless (Matt. 15:8,9). “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph. 5:14). The child of God is commanded to be “renewed in the spirit of (his) mind,” and to be “transformed by the renewing of (his) mind” (Eph. 4:23; Rom. 12:2).

You will search in vain for a “spiritual high. ” There is no cure to be found in a “Pentecostal Pep Pill.” There is no shot that some religious “Doctor” can inject that will give you a “boost” from your lethargy and apathy. You must seize the initiative, “and Christ shall give you light.” Quit blaming others. Repent. Pray fervently and frequently. Feed on God’s word. Seek to serve and save others. You will be better in no time.

Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 22, pp. 675-676
November 16, 1989