Today I want us to look at an article written by Paul Johnson way back in April of 1998. The article, Preaching What We Practice: Not Always the Answer is a great article dealing with subsidy and the role of Missionary vs. the Role of Pastor/Elder.
Perhaps the best paragraph in the article is,
I believe there's often a lack of delineation between pastors and missionaries. As Wayne points out, they are two distinct entities. Evangelist and missionaries carry Christ to where there is no church, with the objectie of establishing one. Pastors and elders minister where a body of believers is already established. Biblically it seems the ways in which they are sustained also differ.
The article goes on to discuss how missionaries are supported over and against how local church leaders are supported. One of the criticisms that the author finds is that too often, financial renumeration is the "calling" from denomination to denomination. We find some pastors going to the highest bidder. Also, he points out how the catalyst usually comes from the outside but that in order for new testament principles to be carried out, leadership must be grown from within the body.
Let us join together to pray that God would clearly present His vision for us and that we would be able to work together in order to assure that He is praise everywhere, all the time.
Oh yeah, go subscribe to EMQOnline and read this yourself!
