Brother,
Considering that Jesus and the Apostles lived in a tribal agricultural society, with rules on hospitality, the problem is usually trying to translate the Bible into modern terms.
In the Judaic culture of the time, you could go to virtually anyone of your family, no matter how distant, or how linked and relinked by marriage, and stay a minimum of three days. If you got along well, and supllies were plentiful, you could stay forever.
Jesus, when he sent the disciples out said:
[color=993300] 9. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12. And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.[/color]
Jesus himself lay down the rules. Ask to see who is worthy....
The Greek has it thus:
Strong's Ref. # 574
Romanized haplos
Pronounced hap-loce'
adverb from GSN0573 (in the objective sense of GSN0572); bountifully;
KJV--liberally.
In other words, you don't go to the poor for your support.
Yes, you can ask, for food, for lodging, for basic necessities, in exchange for what you give.
If you are a pastor, completely devoted to gving your time to the needs of your congregation, and live modestly, they should support you to the extent that they can. And if they don't want a pastor, well, you get a job and evangelize on the side.
But when it comes to evangelizing, in a culture where there is no rule of hospititality, no binding of kinship, then one does as Paul did. He did without, or he worked for his needs. He also did without a wife, or children.
But Paul went outside his culture, to the gentiles.
In our world, Christians are not welcome as they once were, and yes, people are tired of being hit up for money for what they don't understand that they have an obligation to do.
One preacher I knew taught thusly : Don't give me any money until you are taught of me. Then, when you know my value, you must give what God places on your heart. And he taught that giving is a blessing to the giver, even if that blessing is spiritual alone. Not a prosperity guy, just a true believer in the word of God, and very good at trusting God for his daily bread.
Everything was open and above board, and nothing was hidden that was done with the money, because trust is so hard to build with the corruption that is normal to mankind, and so prevalent now.
He passed the plate twice a service - once for the church building that was soon paid off, and then became missions and charity projects. The second time he passed the plate was for his personal support.
And yes, the support did become generous, because he taught well, and became valued. He gave half of it away after the first few years, and forbade any of his very successful people to give more than 50% to him, or even to the church charities, because he had more than enough, and God would want them to enjoy their success, since they were obviously not wed to the dollar.
One problem with this approach. If you are called of God, and a good teacher, you still have to invest years before people will trust you, and you have to be willing to live with that. And your faith in God's provision must be absolute. You have to be willing to have nothing to have anything, and teach the Gospel. And this is a hard thing for a man with a young family, and a wife who didn't understand how hard it was going to be.
Of the ministries I know that follow this approach, several things are noticable. No building is built until the last cannot contain the growth. Everyone involved becomes and lives debt free, not even a mortgage or rent payment. It takes an average of ten years to get modestly comfortable support, then another ten years before one receives what God perceives is your due. And wives may have to work in the early years, or you won't survive to reach a place of trust with your congregation.
Not a happy situation unless the entire family is involved with the ministry, living and breathing it. It costs a lot. And it can cost you your calling or your family, your comfort and your pride, and sadly, these days is the only way it works. And frankly, even then, it only works if it is done in joy.
When it comes to approaching the wealthier Christians in your town, bring the matter to them as to a trusted friend, in complete honesty, simply laying out the problem. They will decide for you what your personal cost will be. And you have to talk over that cost with God first, and your wife second.
And lest you think I am being unduly cavalier about what your wife may think, God to me comes first.
And I am a woman.
Blessings,
Forrest
