The Importance of Claiming an "Unpaid Clergy"

[_bcspace]

Maintaining the fiction of an unpaid clergy is important to you and other LDS.

Doesn't appear to be fiction so far.

But it seems completely unnessary, extra-biblical,

The Bible itself does not claim to be the only and compete word of God. But yes, the concept is found in the scriptures, including the Bible:

freely ye have received, freely give, Matt. 10:8
these hands have ministered unto my necessities, Acts 20:34
working with our own hands, 1 Cor. 4:12
I preach … the gospel of Christ without charge, 1 Cor. 9:18
we … wrought with labour … not be chargeable to any of you, 2 Thes. 3:8
Feed the flock … not for filthy lucre, 1 Pet. 5:2
commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts … may get gain, 2 Ne. 26:29
if they labor for money they shall perish, 2 Ne. 26:31
priests were not to depend upon the people for their support, Mosiah 18:26
when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned … unto their labors, Alma 1:26

and in my experience lends itself to a holier-than-thou attitude (on the part of LDS) towards everyone else.

The doctrine is that we are the only true and God-authorized Church on the face of the planet and the salvation of Jesus Christ comes only be belonging to his Church. It's not an attitude, it's a fact.

My question is why is this idea of an unpaid clergy so essential to LDS? Can you answer that, bcspace?

Yes. Priestcraft is sin and results in all manner of evil; money coming before or in place of ministry etc.

[_just me]

Well, Jehovah didn't seem to see anything wrong with a paid clergy. He outlines in the D&C that bishops, counselors and elders are to be supported by the membership.

For many years in the church bishops, stake presidents and counselors got paid out of the tithes they collected.

D&C 42:71 And the elders or high priests who are appointed to assist the bishop as counselors in all things, are to have their families supported out of the property which is consecrated to the bishop, for the good of the poor, and for other purposes, as before mentioned;
72 Or they are to receive a just remuneration for all their services, either a stewardship or otherwise, as may be thought best or decided by the counselors and bishop.
73 And the bishop, also, shall receive his support, or a just remuneration for all his services in the church.

[_bcspace]

Having the family supported and needs taken care of so one can preach or minister full time seems quite different from an actual paid clergy.

[_just me]

Having the family supported and needs taken care of so one can preach or minister full time seems quite different from an actual paid clergy.

Many pastors and preachers do not make much money.

I really don't see a difference between a "just renumeration" and a salary. I'm pretty sure they are the same thing. Not really different than a living allowance that allows one to live more comfortably than the average church member.

[_Buffalo]

It's too bad that the church chooses to pay wealthy GAs instead of the "regular Joe" Bishops and SPs who could actually use the money.

[_bcspace]

Having the family supported and needs taken care of so one can preach or minister full time seems quite different from an actual paid clergy.

Many pastors and preachers do not make much money.

I'm sure there are some honest and humble pastors not of our Church.

I really don't see a difference between a "just renumeration" and a salary. I'm pretty sure they are the same thing.

I think most intellectually honest people do.

Not really different than a living allowance that allows one to live more comfortably than the average church member.

How do they live exactly?

[_just me]

Maybe you can explain the exact differences between a just renumeration and a salary because I ain't seeing it.

The GA's live better off their living allowance than the average LDS member.

[_Buffalo]

I really don't see a difference between a "just renumeration" and a salary. I'm pretty sure they are the same thing.

I think most intellectually honest people do.

Could you point out what the differences are?

[_Joseph]

oooooooooooooooh, that's right. They are not paid, they get a stipend.

Do you really think Jesus would be doing all this with legal doubletalk, obfuscation and hiding behind twisting so many words?

[_bcspace]

It's quite simple really. Contextually, the prophets and Jesus and the apostles living off the membership the way they did was not considered priestcraft in the scriptures then so such cannot possibly be considered today.

If you saw them taking extended vacations in Bermuda and the like, you all might have a point.