VOLUNTEER OR PAID MUSICIAN?

[JFunky]

...hey, like I've stated before....I'm going to tithe "just to play it safe" aaaaaaand I may not be getting payed with earth's money and treasures but what's going on in my life and church is more rewarding than any dollar and Euro will ever be worth. LOL  At any rate, I have a responsibility that has been placed upon my life and the rewards and treasures are not here on earth but rather in Heaven.  I hope to walk down the "street" of gold one day when it's all said and done.

...I'm not a physical Jew but in the Spirit....I am one of His Chosen People.  My Pastor gets Salary and I don't......you know what? ..... I don't lose any sleep over it.  God gave me a good job and the money is good along with the benefits.  Through that blessing God allowed me to buy an '07 Camry.  God gave me a beautiful wife and beautiful little worshipping daughter along with a new house and good health.  (...and a small gut.lol)  I have "no debt" because God has taught me to administer the money I earn wisely.  All I pay is my regular Living bills.  I'm 27 going on 28 in May.  God allowed me to see the sunlight today and is allowing me to read this thread with my eyes and use my fingers to type and breathe by my own without the help of a machine.  He even blessed me with a $25 dollar gift card to Chilli's Restaurant today so that "I" could eat with my family.  Praise God! lol

...Yep.  God has definetly kept the blessings coming and overflowing.  All of the Glory in "my" life and what "I" do belongs to God.

...at the end of the day, God gives me 90% of what I earn to keep for myself.  He only asks for 10%.  "I" think "I" would be pretty selfish to keep the full 100% knowing that there are Missionaries that are out doing God's work in jungles and Third World countries needing supplies and help.  I know where the tithing in "my" church goes. In my church, we see where the money goes and at the end of each year we have a Church Report that has everything on it like what was spent and where it went just for those that like to look for any misuse of the churches money.  They fail each year. lol  God is great.

  ...as for me and my house:  we will continue to seek the Lords blessings.  If he says that He will overflow my life with blessings (Spiritual blessings or Money or both) and I will be called blessed by the Nations.....then "I" would be dumb not to partake on that promise.

...once again.....these are "my" beliefs and what "I've" witnessed in "my" life.  Again, you guys do what you want and believe what you want.  Nowhere in my previous posts did "I" state that you have to believe what "I" believe.  It's your life and your choice.  Don't do anything you don't want to do.  Be blessed and stay blessed.

[JFunky]

Whatever dudes. 


Number one.  Like you said JFunky.  All the Levite musicians got paid. 

So if your Pastor considers himself a Levite, then he should pay and if the musician is considered a Levite, then he/she should get paid.  No question about it. 

...all Levites got payed so it wasn't just the musician Levites. (Gatekeepers, Maintanance, Musicians, Singers etc.)  A Pastor is not a Levite though.....A Pastor is a Priest.  So to answer Sugarbears question about the Choir and Sound Techs and all of that.......according to what the word says about the Levites "and" if you guys are considering yourselves to be Levites then the answer is this..........it's ALL or NONE!!!

[sugabear]

...all Levites got payed so it wasn't just the musician Levites. (Gatekeepers, Maintanance, Musicians, Singers etc.)  A Pastor is not a Levite though.....A Pastor is a Priest.  So to answer Sugarbears question about the Choir and Sound Techs and all of that.......according to what the word says about the Levites "and" if you guys are considering yourselves to be Levites then the answer is this..........it's ALL or NONE!!!

that's what seemed logical to me. But as you may know logic isn't always right when it comes to understanding the things of God. I feel that when I accepted Christ as my Saviour I was grafted into the vine, partaking of the blessings of his chosen people and becoming one of his chosen. So, in all things, I expect a "chosen people's" blessing when I apply the principles to receive.

[dude-on-drums]

...all Levites got payed so it wasn't just the musician Levites. (Gatekeepers, Maintanance, Musicians, Singers etc.)  A Pastor is not a Levite though.....A Pastor is a Priest.  So to answer Sugarbears question about the Choir and Sound Techs and all of that.......according to what the word says about the Levites "and" if you guys are considering yourselves to be Levites then the answer is this..........it's ALL or NONE!!!

Yes indeed!  That is very true.  All or None! 

[JFunky]

...by the way, Priests (Pastors) always got payed even before the Levites entered the Temple.  This to once again clarify the point that a Pastor is not a Levite.

...I disagree with the fact that the organists or pianists get payed and the drummers get left out.  What's that all about?  That ain't right at all. 

[tko05]

Read Romans chapter 4 especially verse 16. In this chapter Paul states that through faith Abraham, who was the first Jew, is the father of the circumcised (Jew) and the uncircumcised (gentile). This tells me that every word and every promise (which includes Malachi 3:10) applies to all of us! Not only those of the biological seed of Abraham, but also those of the faith of Abraham. However, people seem to take God's promises and make a law out of it i.e. if you don't tithe God will curse you etc. By doing this we put ourselves back under the law that Jesus died to free us from.

You grab hold of God's promises through faith- believing in your heart that God will do what he said he would- not in fear of punishment for breaking a law!!

BTW i do agree with Sheen about tithes not having to be money or a set amount of anything per/month/week... Give what you want when you want because God looks at the heart (motives) not at the gift.
God bless!
 

[SabianKnight]

I've been playing drums for almost twenty years now and I've never been in a paying situation at a church. I wouldn't be mad if I was passed a couple of dollars, but it doesn't matter at all because I enjoy serving. I'm currently going to school for audio and I'll be graduating next month. Now I don't feel led to be a part of the sound ministry for free because my skill is something I've invested in. The price for my education is compensation in this area, so I guess I understand where you're coming from as well. I guess the best thing to do is use Godly wisdom in these types of situations.

Sound is considered a professional position and if you search the right job markets you can do that and get paid however you need to bring some wok experience to the table from live concert venues etc - sound reinforcement, wiring, recording, monitor mixes etc. From every project you want to show an ROI (return on investment) value. You first have to value your self, your gift, and your education.

I also suggest as sound goes that you look into the professional trade organizations and conferences that exist in he worship arena. PM me for links.

But same for drummers, musicians, even singers. Show your value. There churches that pay there section leaders but not  he rest of the choir. They consider leadership necessary... and prepared leadership a must. Thing is most of us won't make this a full-time thing. We want  walk like a real Minister of Music should (which is everyone in the music ministry dept... or should be). There is a Pastors and Musicians Guild conference every year at Hampton University (mostly keys and organist) that emphasizes reading music, being professional, salaries/compensation & benefits.... Their members have published books on how it should be done, decent and in order. Apply this to your instrument, your dept team, your church. Show yourself to be of value to your local church... then pray and move on if that is not the place for you. Most urban churches suffer from not knowing how to properly govern these gifts of God. They regulate them to talents which disrespects the purpose and potential of the vessel thereby lessoning the local body.

[dude-on-drums]

Sound is considered a professional position and if you search the right job markets you can do that and get paid however you need to bring some wok experience to the table from live concert venues etc - sound reinforcement, wiring, recording, monitor mixes etc. From every project you want to show an ROI (return on investment) value. You first have to value your self, your gift, and your education.

I also suggest as sound goes that you look into the professional trade organizations and conferences that exist in he worship arena. PM me for links.

But same for drummers, musicians, even singers. Show your value. There churches that pay there section leaders but not  he rest of the choir. They consider leadership necessary... and prepared leadership a must. Thing is most of us won't make this a full-time thing. We want  walk like a real Minister of Music should (which is everyone in the music ministry dept... or should be). There is a Pastors and Musicians Guild conference every year at Hampton University (mostly keys and organist) that emphasizes reading music, being professional, salaries/compensation & benefits.... Their members have published books on how it should be done, decent and in order. Apply this to your instrument, your dept team, your church. Show yourself to be of value to your local church... then pray and move on if that is not the place for you. Most urban churches suffer from not knowing how to properly govern these gifts of God. They regulate them to talents which disrespects the purpose and potential of the vessel thereby lessoning the local body.

Teach...

[SabianKnight]

Read Romans chapter 4 especially verse 16. In this chapter Paul states that through faith Abraham, who was the first Jew, is the father of the circumcised (Jew) and the uncircumcised (gentile). This tells me that every word and every promise (which includes Malachi 3:10) applies to all of us! Not only those of the biological seed of Abraham, but also those of the faith of Abraham. However, people seem to take God's promises and make a law out of it i.e. if you don't tithe God will curse you etc. By doing this we put ourselves back under the law that Jesus died to free us from.

You grab hold of God's promises through faith- believing in your heart that God will do what he said he would- not in fear of punishment for breaking a law!!

BTW i do agree with Sheen about tithes not having to be money or a set amount of anything per/month/week... Give what you want when you want because God looks at the heart (motives) not at the gift.
God bless!
 

The amount of a tithe is clearly stated as a tenth of all your increase. That amount is stated in the word. A tithe in biblical times was anything of perceived value attained above what one already owned. These modern times translate into 10% of your gross income as we do not operate on the barter system.
Your offering is your choice and should be representative of your best ability to give and does not have a set value. I was taught an try to maintain a 10% offering but that is according to what I have be taught and tried and belived on (30/70 or 10 tithe/10 offering/10 savings - me/70 household living expenses rule that has even be exercised in todays financial circles).

The Bible does give account in the example of Caine that it should not be anything less than your best. Both tithe and offering are Biblical Judeo-Christian requirements.

Let's separate doctrine from fact folks and keep it clean.

The first church members sold their excess in order that all would have all things in common. This is not the mindset of our church society so now we have a business structure within the church administrative functionality that must be dealt with.

[vocalist182002]

Hmm, interesting.  Well, I'm a paid musician!

[Audiocr381ve]

Hmm, interesting.  Well, I'm a paid musician!

Show off! So am I! 

[dude-on-drums]

Hmm, interesting.  Well, I'm a paid musician!

So what...wait, I'm sorry.  What's your point?   

[JFunky]

...any "broke" musicians???     

[dude-on-drums]

...any "broke" musicians???     

 

[E.R.]

...any "broke" musicians???     

MMMMEEEEEEE!!! 

[Keys410]

...any "broke" musicians???     

I don't get paid by the church, but a brother aint starving either..lol

We are still discussing tithes....again?
I tithe it's just something I do. If another man feels he doesn't have to tithe, that's on him I'm not going to knock him. I do know that personally for me when I don't pay my tithes, that's when money starts getting messed up. Maybe I am part Jewish...LOL. I wont knock another dude for not paying his though. If you don't believe you should...Why do it?

[sjonathan02]

WOW, drummer's cuttin' it up over something OTHER than "who's a better drummer" ( )?

I'm impressed.

[E.R.]

WOW, drummer's cuttin' it up over something OTHER than "who's a better drummer" ( )?

I'm impressed.

We are training. Getting prepared to enter the Lounge. 

[dude-on-drums]

MMMMEEEEEEE!!! 

Well then stop buying top of the line Sonor Drums and get you a nice DDrum Dominion Ash Pocket!      

WOW, drummer's cuttin' it up over something OTHER than "who's a better drummer" ( )?

I'm impressed.

Go make a return on that horrible tux and please close the door behind you...thankyou sir.   

[E.R.]

Well then stop buying top of the line Sonor Drums and get you a nice DDrum Dominion Ash Pocket!         

  No Kidding huh? I dont know, I think I hear a PDP kit with a Zebra throne calling my name.

Go make a return on that horrible tux and please close the door behind you...thankyou sir.   

  MASSIVE!