If your church stop paying you today would you continue to play for free?

[LaylaMonroe]

The TITHES went to the LEVITES. The LEVITES had NO INHERITANCE. They lived off of what was brought to the TENT.

Like it or not, that's just Bible right there.  Many churches like to pretend that ain't even IN the Word...

[demikoo]

There was a period of time that my church stopped paying me because of financial diffulculties.  I don't think it should even be a question about my faithfulness to them.  They are my family and ground zero for my ministry.  So I kept playing and never missed a beat.  I did, however, help out another church that needed a musician to recoup some income.  Thankfully, God worked it out that eventually my church was able to pay me what I was making prior and add a little bit more to it.   

[B_XALTED]

Yes

[ronald]

Sorry to say, but no.  where I live and the distance to the church my fare is $34.00 for Friday rehersal and sunday morning service. SO therefore I could not afford the car fare. Nor could I buy cd's and songbooks to teach the choir songs. I also pay my bills with the money I get from playing for church. If I could get a part time job on the outside making the same money, then I would play now and then for nothing but not travel as far.

[chevonee]

Whether I get paid or not, I'm never going to stop playing. Playing music is not just a job for me, it's my passion. Music is my DNA...LOL

[Minmusic77]

Honestly, probably not.  I teach two choirs and I play for the praise and worship team.  This is a lot of work as you have to prepare material, come to rehearsals and then play for services, a lot of times all day sunday.  There is nothing in the Bible that states that someone should not receive money for their services, so...

[Sannysan1908]

I'm saying yes -- because it has been done in the past; as a matter of fact it has been said your pay is NOT here on this earth!!

[Sannysan1908]

There is nothing in the Bible that states that someone should not receive money for their services, so...

Yes...it's in the Bible....only two positions... - the preacher (Pastor) and the musician....Got to find the scripture/verses.....

[GUTCH]

what's getting paid lol. i've been playing for 15 yrs now and never seen any money and it doesn't matter to me. music is my passion and my talent is dedicated for God's service. everytime i see His power come in and the people get blessed i'm overwhelmed. things weren't that way before i joined this church. i give God my best in time spent preparing for morning worship. the Lord bless me in other ways and that's good enough for me.

[derrickford]

i  would play for my home church and my wife church for free. if the pay stop but not for noone else unless its for a sr choir or kids choir

[jgause2]

i still don't understand why this would be an issue.   What ever happened to "doing it because you love the Lord"?

[KurzLand]

My answer right now is I don't know, because i am not getting paid.

When I was 13-18 getting paid really didn't matter. But, now that I am going to school that is 1 hour away and church that is 1 and a half hour away then getting paid is an issue. Not because I love money, but because of gas and other expensives that parents don't pay for you no more. I will be 20 in december and mommy doesn't buy clothes for me anymore. Plus my goal is to live off music and didicate my life and ministry to God.
There are big plans to open up a christian studio with a couple of friends. That will be my full time job. So yes, I think in the near future I will ask to get paid.

i still don't understand why this would be an issue.   What ever happened to "doing it because you love the Lord"?

Everybody started playing because we love God. Now, some of the people in here play for fun and as a hobby. Then there are some of us, including me, that want to take our talents and ministry to a different level.



 

[fretai03]

I answered No.

Mostly because... If the church who was previously paying couldn't pay me anymore then I wouldn't play for them for free.

I would happily play for free at my home church tho...
Difference being that my home church will NEVER pay for a music ministry anyway so.. meh.

[demusicman]

I checked Not Sure...

If my church was going through a period of financial difficulty, I would be one of the many people who will take a period of not getting paid or even a pay cut. I wouldn't be the ONLY one. I would ask the Pastor to make the same sacrifice he would ask his "FOLLOWERS" to take.

If the church just doesn't value what I bring and just think that they can get better results from the money that they pay me, then I would leave.

The TITHES went to the LEVITES. The LEVITES had NO INHERITANCE. They lived off of what was brought to the TENT.

Feel me?

MrSparrow

I checked unsure also and I whole heartedly agree with Mr. Sparrow. Currently I am a full-time student and full time minister of music. Has been very hard to accomplish especially with managing two churches and school. However because of my status as a student my sole income is from my salary. This money takes care of my rent bills and some student fees so it would be kind of hard for me to take that bullet. However, since I, like so many other musicians, started playing before I got paid. I would have no problem taking that cut or have my salary taken. As MrSParrow said if the church was going through a financial problems, i would be glad to sacrifice. However, it shouldnt just be the musicians taking the cut.

[organplaya04]

Hmm well I said yes I would continue to play, because I only play for one church which is my home church. I've never played for another church before ..so I can't say....but I mean I don't think I would let money come between that ...

[ferrente]

Whether I get paid or not, I'm never going to stop playing. Playing music is not just a job for me, it's my passion. Music is my DNA...LOL

Music is my DNA....(I like that)

[Lildrummaboy66]

Yes...because what I do for Christ shall last....and plus I don't care about the money...I just enjoy doing what God has given me to do and that's play for the glory of God.

Co-sign!! And to add to this I am not compensated now.

[Neknek]

I have played for FREE! - 20 yrs now-He is constantly blessings me!-and I thank him for it!-I look at the situation in this way-God anointed you with the gift-He charged nothing for it-Why?, because he chose you!!-You Owe Him!!

[tammyid]

i still don't understand why this would be an issue.   What ever happened to "doing it because you love the Lord"?

AMEN!!!  I play for free.  I play b/c I love the Lord.  He's the reason.

[Pianist84]

Yes, I would continue to play because God has blessed with the talent to play the piano and I want to use my talent. When I play at church, I'm doing it for God. It's not about the money. It's about using your talent to minister to other people. So whether I get paid or not, I will never stop playing the piano.