New poll: is it morally OK for a pastor to make $1,000,000?

We've got a new poll this week. But first things first: last week's poll, which asked "How far do you live from your church?" Lots of you voted, and there were some great comments on the topic, so if you missed the discussion, be sure to check it out.

Here's how the voting broke down:

  • 29% of you travel 5 - 10 miles to get to your church.
  • Next up are the 21% who drive 11 - 20 miles.
  • 20% drive 1 - 4 miles.
  • 15% live close enough to easily watch to church (under a mile).
  • 10% live more than 20 miles from church (your monthly fuel budget probably hopes you only attend one worship service per week, ha ha). And 5% don't attend a church.

Do those results surprise you? I'll confess I'm pleasantly surprised that so many people live within ten miles of church. (I don't, so I'm definitely not criticizing those of you with a longer commute.)

But now on to the new poll. Chris just posted a provocative video that hits on all sorts of touchy questions about money, church and ministry finances, and the so-called prosperity gospel. In keeping with that theme, our new poll asks a simple question:

Is it morally appropriate for a pastor to make a $1,000,000 salary?

Note that we're not criticizing any specific pastors who make that much money each year, and you can pretty much substitute "a lot of money" for "$1,000,000," if you see our point. Go vote in the poll on the right, and once you've done so, come back here and share your thoughts. Here are a few further questions to ponder:

  • Does it bother you to hear of pastors or ministry workers drawing such huge salaries? Or do you see that large paycheck as a means by which God blesses (some of) his followers? Or is it none of our business?
  • Would you answer change if the question was directed at a Christian who is a successful business CEO? Are ministry workers held to a different financial-stewardship standard than everybody else? Should they be?

Let us know what you think!

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Comments (31)

In my opinion it depends on what they do with the money they make.
Solomon and David for that matter were both quite wealthy. I didn't see anyone fire being rained down on them. ;-)
Who cares what we think?
Now, what Christ would think of such a salary is another question.
My pastor is "reasonably" compensated for the local economy.
I would say "no", as in I would not attend a church whose pastor makes that much money. (I am under the assumption that when you say that a pastor "makes" a lot of money, that he is receiving that money as salary and he is keeping it for personal use)

The Bible is very clear that as a church, our number one group to seek is the poor. It even says that rich people will have a very hard time getting into heaven (Matthew 19:23). If a pastor (or any person for that matter) keeps a "generous amount" of money for himself, I would say that they are not listening to the teaching of the Bible.

"Or do you see that large paycheck as a means by which God blesses (some of) his followers?"

Besides the Bible saying (paraphrasing) "if you do good with money, I will bless you with more", there is nothing in the Bible about God blessing us with a big paycheck. In fact, there are dozens of examples of disciples and followers giving away everything that they had, and NO examples of disciples becoming rich off of their conversion.

"Would you answer change if the question was directed at a Christian who is a successful business CEO?"

No. The Bible calls all to give to the poor. Granted, the Bible doesn't say "give everything you have are you aren't saved." But if you truly embrace the teachings of the Bible, then you will understand that having riches on earth means NOTHING in eternity, but to give to the kingdom now will have huge rewards in eternity. God doesn't call us to have prosperity on Earth (again, the Bible teaches against this idea), but He does call us to have prosperity in Heaven, and the way that we do that is to invest into Heavenly things now.

Matthew
The issue isn't so much "is it OK to make taht much?" It seems appropriate to ask what the circumstances are, as well as how that money is used. For example, pastors living in areas with a high cost of living will indeed need more to survive well, especially if they are supporting their family in so doing. More importantly, what does that pastor do with the money he receives? Is it used for extravagant living? Does the pastor unwisely buy the most expensive and nicest cars, waste money on a house larger than what is required to live in, or hoard earthly treasures for himself? Or does he utilize that money to help the poor, fight injustice, and see to the spread of the gospel among the nations?
Money itself is neutral. It is how we respond to that money that really determines the morality of our receiving. 1 Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. So to say is it right to receive a large salary is not a complete questions. The question is this: "Do we, by the way we spend our money, communicate to the world that God is great or that money is great?"
The workman is worthy of his hire...
There are too many variables here. A million dollars (in today's economy) isn't what it used to be. It's more than 10X what my family is living on, so I lean toward 'yes" its wrong. Churches are supposed to be about Serving [Jesus] and saving [souls], not about a cushy house and the latest SUV for the pastor. On the other hand, if the pastor's got 8 kids I might be more sympathetic. You'd have to put the question into some kind of context. How big is the church? How much money does it bring in? What does it do with it overall? How hard does the Pastor work? What does he/she do with his/her salary? The pastors I know also tithe, so some of that comes back in one form or another. Is there already a church-owned bus; campground; homeless shelter? All that being said, I have to say, I still think it's too much. There's too many hungry, hurting people out there in the world for one lone Christian to suck up that much all by himself.
No. Simply put, even with a high cost of living working as pastor in the most wealthy county/area in the country, the answer is still no. I don't care how (s)he spends it, unless most of it is given away, say 90% plus (the 10% left is still 100,000... twice the national average)its just more than they need.
Who is wise or mighty enough to question God as to the blessings or the amounts of such Blessings that He bestows on His Children? If God gives according to our faith combined with His required actions concerning such blessings, then those with "Great Expectations" should receive and those who believe that money is the root of all evil should not. The Bible says that the LOVE of Money (not just money) is the root of all evil. How we BELIEVE in our hearts, Speak with our mouths and Act with our money must align with God's Word. We can not out give God, therefore, who is to say how much God has given to a pastor is too much?
hmmm....so how much did Jesus make again? Oh that's right he was humble and didn't require pay, His works were from the heart! His work only cost Him His life...so what's the real objective, to spread the word or make money? Go figure. Read Solomon (Ecclessiastes).
If Jesus had nothing coming in the way of monies, why did He have a treasurer who kept the monie sack and stole from the group? Maybe God supplied over the basic needs of Him and His group? Does not God supply for you? Or do you work for nothing?
enough that he never needed or wanted, or the the 12, he even had a treasurer a thief, and jesus knew he was a thief. he had a house in (john) he supplied for 13 on a regular basis and still had enough that the thief was not in need.
I feel that it's OK as long as the pastor is drawing his $1,000,000 salary on his own accord. For example, Joel Osteen makes $200,000 a year from his job as pastor of Lakewood Church (which seems like a fortune to the rest of us, but is fair and reasonable for these times and for the amount of work and travel he puts into his ministry). His millions come from his books, not from his supporters. His supporters have helped his ministry to grow by leaps and bounds, reaching people (such as myself and my family) that others could not. That in itself is a huge blessing, and a wonderful contribution to society. That being said, however...I don't feel a pastor should draw a $1,000,000 salary from his church funds. Not appropriate or necessary.
I hate to brake it to you guys. The reason Joel doesn't draw more from his church is so people will think he is humble when in fact is a millionare from his books.
If Joel Osteen makes $200,000 a year as the pastor of his church and the congregation is okay with that, then who are we to say any different? Would I go to that church? No way. But for so many other reasons other then what the pastor makes.

A pastor can only make as much as the church that backs him.

I would love to have a job that paid me $200,000 a year. The things I could do with that kind of money! Would it all be for me? Would I give it to the poor? I couldn't say because I don't have that kind of money.

I know what my answer should be and if I was not being honest, I would say that I would turn around and give it all to the poor. Or at least 90% of it to the poor. But we all know the truth don't we? Most of us wouldn't be able to do that.

Now, that being said, I think we should all aspire to all being debt free first. Then, once you are debt free, start giving away 10%, 20%, and up to 50% of your income to every needy foundation you can think of.

But here's the catch... you can't tell anyone you are doing that. They must all know you are still the same person you have always been. If they don't know what you are doing then you will glorify God by keeping it to yourself.

Does Joel Osteen give 50% of his millions to charities? I have no clue. If he does that God knows and will bless that. If not, he has his reward.

Pay the pastor what you can to make sure that money is not a "stress" in his life. He too, has to live on this earth like the rest of us. If he requires $1,000,000 to live on, then evaluate his desires and choose to stay at that church or not.

I guarantee any pastor that has taken advantage of his congregation will not be pastor for too long. They might be rich for a season but that will be his reward.

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