Objection 9

From Sovereign Grace and the Scope of Election: A Comparative Examination of Attainment Theology and Grace Theology, with Particular Attention to the Question of Whether God's Elect Are Found Among All Nations and Religions

Your doctrine of an unpaid, uneducated ministry and no missions is just laziness sanctified.

Answer. The position must first be stated accurately, because the objection aims at a version of it that is not held here. Scripture plainly permits churches to support those who labor in the word: "even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14), and "the labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:17-18). Paul defended that right at length, and then voluntarily declined it: "I have coveted no man's silver... these hands have ministered unto my necessities" (Acts 20:33-34). The hireling of John 10:12-13 is not defined by receiving support; he is defined by abandoning the sheep because he cares nothing for them. What is opposed, then, is not the support of ministers but the merchandising of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Peter 5:2, "not for filthy lucre"), the machinery that turns souls into revenue, and ministry into a career one would not pursue without the salary. Ministers of this persuasion have historically traveled great distances at their own expense to preach where no one could pay them, which is not laziness by any definition. The objection confuses rejecting the machinery (boards, quotas, and gospel commerce) with rejecting the work (preaching wherever God opens a door).