Can the servants of God be hired?
The Church of God in Hong Kong founded by brother Daniel Yu (Brother Fish) believes that the servants of God, such as pastors/overseers and elders cannot and ought out be hired by churches.
However, there are lots of reference in the Bible indicating that servants of God and for God were indeed hired for their services.
Deut23 v4.
because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
See also Neh 6v12-14, 13v2.
A prophet can be hired for service (to bless or curse).
Judges 18 v4.
And he said unto them, Thus and thus have Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his priest.
From this verse/reference we see that even a Levitical priest can be hired.
Matthew 20 v1.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.
The citizens of the kingdom of heaven are like hired laborers for God's vineyard.
2Kings 7 v6. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
See also 1Chronicles 19v7, 2Chronicles 24v12,25v6.
Even foreign Kings and armies may be hired by Israel for service and help.
So preachers may be hired and called for service when needed.
See also Job 7v1, 14v6.
Luke 10v7.
And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
The/Our Lord Jesus approves of hiring/wages for the laborers of the Gospel. Although it may look like a donation, it is not so regarded. Certainly not a one-off donation. It speaks of sufficiency.
Malachi 3v5.
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner from his right, and fear not me, said Jehovah of hosts.
Do not oppress the hireling in his wages. Do not reduce the share of the laborers by providing donation less than their due wages.
Matthew 20v8.
And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
The price of heaven/God is like wages to the laborers; not donation.
Luke 3v14.
And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
Wages for servants(on Earth) is a fair and just way. Not occasional donation.
John 4v36.
He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Wages are not necessarily monetary. They are reward, and not donation.
See also Roman 6v23 - The wages of sin is not a donation of sin.
2Corinthians 11v8.
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them that I might minister unto you;
The Apostles received wages from more than one churches. He did not receive donation only.
1Timothy 5v18.
For the scripture says, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.
You never just donate to the feed of your lifestocks and your workforce.
They consume what they deserve.
The Church of God in Hong Kong scorns the system of salaried pastors/workers, claiming that the servants of God ought not be up to the church authority to dismiss and to lay off.
The Church of God in Hong Kong has also removed power and position/authorities from its elders and visiting pastor/ministers. This is like decommissioning laborers of God, firing/dismissing church laborers(regardless of cause of decision/action).
On the other way it teaches that the anointed servants of God can not be fired/dismissed, as its doctrine against hiring pastors(salaried pastors).
There is little difference in its practical action in using workers except that no salary is ever paid.
The conclusion is that the churches of God need not force a system of donation(for earning and sustenance) onto its laborer force. People might come into office in love of the salary or power, people may have weakness. But taking the pay from the laborers does not strengthen laten human weakness. It just hides them. We must pray for the protection of God.
His Will be done!
It is a test of faith and integrity to work without salary.
It is a test of faith and integrity working with salary.
Come back to the whole Bible whenever your churches are to make Godly, beneficial decisions.
Can non-Christians donate to Christians? ?
I, Rev. David C S Lim, 林志誠 牧師, can be reached by internet 也在互聯网﹕
http://www.interlog.com/~dlim/Preacher.html
meshiah
e-mail 電郵 
dlim@interlog.com
And remember - - God answers knee mail.
A Life changing show
耶穌基督的救恩將人從根本而終極的惡中救出來，藉著救主，死亡不再是終極的惡，它已被置於生命的力量之下。
完全的善是由耶穌而來。
在天上和地下只有耶穌基督的救恩是唯一使人的罪得赦及與神和好的途徑。