Mormon missionaries visited my home recently and, among other things,
condemned as unbiblical the Catholic custom of paying priests and
bishops. They were quite proud of the fact that the Mormon Church has
no paid clergy, claiming they follow the pattern set by the first
Christians. I was uncomfortably silent because I had no idea where to
look in the Bible for verses that sup****t the Catholic position. Are
there any?
Yes. Start your response with 1 Corinthians 9. In verses 7-12 Paul
takes up this very topic, asking, "Whoever serves as a soldier at his
own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating its produce? Or who
shepherds a flock without using some of the milk from the flock? Am I
saying this on human authority or does not the law also speak of these
things?
"It is written in the law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while
it is treading out the grain.' Is God concerned about oxen, or is he
not really speaking for our sake? It was written for our sake, for the
plowman should plow in hope and the thresher in hope of receiving a
share. If we have sown spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing
that we reap a material harvest from you? If others share in this
rightful claim on you, do not we still more?"
He goes on to specify that even though he would be completely
justified in being paid for his ministry (v. 18), he chose to forego
that right in order to eliminate a potential source of criticism from
his detractors. He explained in verses 13 and 14, "Do you not know
that those who perform the temple services eat what belongs to the
temple, and those who minister at the altar share in the sacrificial
offerings? In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the
gospel should live by the gospel." Also see Romans 15:26-27, 2
Thessalonians 2:6-10, and 2 Timothy 2:6.
newadvent.org
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