BENEFITS
OF BI-VOCATIONAL MINISTRY
I
have been in vocational ministry in various capacities for nineteen years and
have seen ups and downs, good and bad, benefits, and struggles, and a variety
of types of ministries and ministers. A common discussion that has arisen over
the years is whether ministers should be paid full-time or part-time or even be
paid at all. I have seen opinions from across the spectrum as well including
those who believe that paying ministers is not biblical. While I disagree with
such an assertion (1 Tim 5:17-18), I fully admit that each minister’s calling
is unique. Context determines a great deal regarding wages; yet, there are
benefits and consequences to both full-time vocational ministry and
bi-vocational ministry.
I do not
discredit either or find either full-time vocational ministry or bi-vocational
ministry more admirable than the other. Both manifestations of ministry are
noble and worthy tasks. The purpose of my words today, nevertheless, is to
discuss the benefits of bi-vocational ministry. I personally wish more
ministers were bi-vocational for the reasons I will give. Not only that, I also
wish that more bi-vocational ministers put in the same work, schooling, and
attention to ministry as those who are full-time vocationally. Paul did so; why
could not any other minister in the local church? Ministry is hard; we should
support our pastors and understand what they do for the kingdom. I understand
three primary benefits to bi-vocational ministry that I believe all Christians
should realize.
A
Connection with Normal Human Life
From
observation and personal experience, bi-vocational ministers possess a natural
connection with normal human life that is at least difficult in full-time
vocational ministry. Often, people (usually falsely) associate full-time clergy
with laziness, lack of skill, and having an easy job.[1] While this is certainly a
false equivalence, ministers who also work in fields outside of the church
perhaps possess a natural avenue toward relating to others. A minister’s life
is anything but normal inside the church, outside the church, and in the home.
I was raised as a pastor’s child and then served in ministry after leaving my
parents’ home so I can attest to this fact. Far from difficult manual labor
(although ministry sometimes requires this, as much as people do not realize
it), ministry is difficult in its relations with people. People can be both a
tremendous blessing and a dreaded curse and often the same people. When people
both in the church and outside the church see and know that a servant of God
also works a typical job as they do and has the same struggles as they do but
still gives their time and devotion to God, a natural connection is built,
which creates amazing pathways for evangelistic opportunities.
A
Greater Ability for the Church to Use the Resources God Grants Her
Bi-vocational
ministers also reap the benefit of a greater ability for the church to use the
resources God grants her. Said in a more colloquial manner, less of the local
church’s money is not used on ministerial salaries. I do not discredit paying
ministers, for Paul instructs churches to do so. Nevertheless, it is a
practical feat for a minister to work another job so that the local church may
use their resources for the purposes of ministry. Since it is a minister’s job
not (only) to minister but to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph
4:11-14), the resources God grants the church should also be used for such a
purpose. Certainly, likely despite popular opinion, ministry costs nothing; it
simply requires willing and committed people to serve God and give of their own
time and resources. The resources of a local church, however, are exceedingly
advantageous to the work of ministry. When one is a bi-vocational minister,
less of the local church’s resources go toward paying a person’s bills (some of
which are truthfully luxuries) and instead toward the work of ministry.
No
Fear of Man; Complete Trust in God
The
final primary benefit to bi-vocational ministry which I observe is that a
bi-vocational minister naturally has less fear of man, i.e. their local church
body and instead has a complete trust in God. This is certainly the rule
knowing that there are exceptions. Without a church paying a full-time
minister’s salary, that minister may serve God unashamed, unapologetically, and
without fear of losing their livelihood. Truthfully, any minister, full-time or
bi-vocational, should serve in this way; yet, often, they do not. With another
source for provision (which, no matter what, is always God), a bi-vocational
minister may more easily trust God and not fear what will happen if they serve
God in the manner he commands. One who relies solely on a church salary could
easily struggle with obeying God when the tide is against them; yet, that is
precisely what all Christians are commanded to do.
Ministers
Serve for Free
A
pastor with whom I once served told our church that our entire ministerial
staff served for free. I pondered what he meant by that and realized it later.
While we were paid full-time salaries, the assumption should be that we still
relied on God for our provision. Ministers are to obey God no matter how
difficult or unpopular it may be. We cannot see into a person’s heart to know
their motivation for serving God. We should, however, take them at their word
when they say they serve God for his glory. While full-time ministry contains the
natural advantage or being able to focus solely on the work of the Lord, bi-vocational
ministry provides avenues of connection with people that might otherwise not be
gained. Paid or not, ministers should serve for free. The Lord’s work is holy,
as are his people and his ministers. No one should discredit bi-vocational
ministers but should instead hold them to the same standards as a full-time
minister and consider their work equally as worthy.
[1] To clarify my position here, ministry is not a job
but a calling. This is not to say that God cannot or does not call people to
other fields of work; ministers, however, while called in various ways, should
have a firm, clear, precise, and unapologetic call to the ministry of the local
church.
