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'Should church continue support of preacher
who misses worship to work?' Harrell Davidson |
Question: "Brother Davidson, Should a church continue to support a preacher who has a secular job and misses the Lord's Day worship on a regular basis because he has to work? This preacher is only at worship about half the time, but the congregation still provides him partial support. What about Hebrews 10:25? Answer: Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." We understand that it is necessary for a man to earn a living for his family, including the preacher. Let us illustrate with this factual illustration. In October 1958 a Gospel preacher started preaching fulltime with a salary of thirty-five dollars per month salary. His house rent was thirty-three dollars and his utilities were seven dollars. He worked by picking up and delivering clothes for a dry cleaning store being paid ten cents per garment he delivered, but he never missed a Sunday or Wednesday. Additionally, he worked seasonally at a cotton gin, but he never missed a worship service due to his work. He was a mechanic and worked on anything that had an engine, but he never missed a worship service. He farmed some with his dad, but he never missed a worship service of any kind whether it was Sunday, Wednesday or a Gospel meeting. All these jobs were necessary for him to take care of his meager obligations. Anyone, whether he is a preacher or not, who has a job that requires him to work every Lord's Day, needs to get a different job or maybe two different jobs. It is also understood that one doing public work is sometimes required, in emergencies, to work on Sunday, but most of the time the individual can make it to one worship service. As for the preacher in the question, how can he ever preach on being faithful in attendance and apply Hebrews 10:25 or any other passage that instructs one to be faithful? How can he preach on singing and making melody in the heart (cf. Eph. 3:16; Col 3:16) if he is not there? How can he teach and instruct regarding public prayers (cf. Acts 2:42) if he is not there? He is obviously working, but what is he preaching regarding giving unto the Lord as we have been prospered (cf. 1 Cor. 16:1, 2)? His tongue would also be silent when it came to time to proclaim God's Word with regard to the Lord's Supper every first day of the week (cf. Acts 20:7). "Half-time" is not acceptable for anyone to worship God. There is no such thing as a "half-time" Christian. We are either Christians or erring saints. There is no middle ground when it comes to our soul's salvation. Some may think that we are too harsh or critical, but we ask, which are the most important, material possessions or the soul? One of these days the material will melt with fervent heat (2 Pet. 3:10). The soul that is prepared will go home to be with God. This scenario is very, very poor judgment that influences everyone who knows the preacher. He, or anyone else who succumbs to this, is a poor example and exhibits a lack of love for the Lord and His blood-bought church (cf. Acts 20:28). Thanks for the question. |