Expert: Todd Tyszka - 4/13/2010

Question
Why are the pastors begging so much? they need more money then Charity.

Answer
Hi Terena,
Thanks for the question. Every situation is different so I cannot speak for every Pastor. Like everything, there are people with different motives and that's no different with Pastors. There are hypocrites in everything. But typically, Pastors are asking for money because because it takes a lot of money to run a church and people are often unwilling to give anything. People often want to get without the giving. I grew up Catholic and everyone I knew or saw gave, if anything, a dollar or two. Well, even if everyone gave two dollars, a church of 300 people would only be getting $600 a week, hardly enough for a Pastor to live on, let alone to pay other people (e.g. staff), the mortgage, electricity, water, maintenance, supplies, etc. There would be no money for missions (people sharing Christ and helping others outside the church) and no money to help those in the church and community with needs. You stated, "they need more money then Charity." Well, the Church is called to "charity" so I'm not sure what you mean by that. The Church should be doing more than any "charity" out there.

A "church" is not just a building but it is a "body" of believers, a community, in which everyone is supposed to share. The book of Acts in the Bible describes the early church right after Christ died and resurrected, and at the end of chapters 2 and 4 it sets the model of the church as one of sharing, selling their possessions, unity, meeting regularly, studying the Bible, etc. It says that no one had need because everyone would give to those in need.

Terena, do you go to church? I encourage you to become part of a church community if you aren't already and give, to not only the church, but those in need like the early church did.

Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks again for the question.

Todd