Your Daily Slice

Iyar 11

Getting Paid

“…her priests teach for pay …” (Mic 3:11 ISR)

Everyone has an opinion, and many people are very vocal about voicing their own point of view.  Opinions concerning Bible translation and interpretation are myriad, and books concerning said opinions number by the thousands.  However, when it comes right down to where “the rubber meets the road”, they are all just that:  someone’s viewpoint and opinion.

And every religion and denomination has them:  from Orthodox Judaism, through the halls of Catholicism, to the tenets of what I refer to as “Westernized Christianity”, every single one has its favorite commentator/s.  Please don’t misunderstand me; I am not saying that all these commentators are wrong.  I am saying that what they are presenting are predominantly opinions, interpretations, assumptions and comments made concerning what each person believes is the accurate translation of the Word of Elohim.

Be that as it may, when an individual is paid monetary compensation to teach something that is Biblically wrong as something that is now right, or something that is Scripturally correct as being something that is now wrong (or done away with), this is when that particular individual stands in danger of Elohim’s judgement.  Let me give you an example …

There are several popular denominations where each individual church that is part of this organization is governed by a local, church council, made up of members of long standing.  Policies are voted on within this council, and pastors are hired through this council as well, using the same format as any employer would use to interview and hire a new employee.  I understand that there are those councils that even have a written “job description” for prospective new pastors.  These pastors – and I am not belittling their faith and/or relationship with our Creator – are, in essence, ruled and governed by these church councils, and they are expected to preach and teach along the guidelines laid out by that particular denomination. Should any pastor choose to detour from these guidelines, wages are either terminated or withheld.  Therefore, these pastors “teach” for their pay, with the majority of what they are teaching being erroneous and incorrect.

Teachers have the greater accountability to our Elohim for what they do (Jam 3:1), for it is by what and how they teach that they have the ability to bring many to the truth of Torah, or on the reverse side, lead many into a false doctrine.  Nonetheless, a bona-fide teacher is one that is anointed and appointed by YHWH our Elohim, and does not need a resume to be “hired” (see Eph 4:11; 1Cor 12:28).  Let me also remind all of us of how we are instructed, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” (1Tim 5:18; see also Deu 25:4; Mat 10:10; Luk 10:7)  An anointed and appointed teacher is worth financial compensation, and we are expected to participate in that.

The ultimate responsibility is upon our shoulders, those of us who hear (or read) the words of a teacher.  Is what we are being taught lining up with the entire Word of our Elohim?  Or is the teaching one that is being taken out of context, with the intent of deceiving, if possible, the chosen ones (see Mat 24:24)?  I urge you, brethren, to study out what you are being taught.  Be a Berean (see Acts 17:11).  Investigate, as much as is possible, the life and lifestyle of the one that is doing the teaching.  Does this person’s life reflect the teachings that they are giving?  And remember:  not every loud-mouth needs a soap box.

‘Nuf said.

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