I was recently asked this question on Facebook, and as I thought through my answer I quickly realized it was going to be too long for Facebook. So I decided to make it a blog post, and I’ll be interested in your comments.
I don’t think that question can be answered with a yes or no. In my opinion it is acceptable to pay them, but it might not be best. Let me explain my thoughts.
There are certainly biblical passages supporting payment. In 2 Chronicles 34:10 we see that they paid the workers who were renovating the Temple. In 1 Timothy 5:17-18 we see that church leaders deserve wages. Interestingly, in Acts 20:17-35 Paul reminds the leaders of the church in Ephesus how hard he worked to start a church there—but in verse 34 he makes it a point to remind them that he worked hard in a separate job all that time so that he could support himself without their money! He wanted to demonstrate that it wasn’t their money he was after, it was more important to him that he show a good example of helping the weak.
Something else to consider is the teaching in places like 1 Peter 4:10-11, Romans 12:6-8, and 1 Corinthians 12. These passages make it clear that God has given each believer a specific spiritual gift that God expects them to use to help the church and each other. So it is completely appropriate for people to use their gifts in the church as their response to God’s love without expecting to be paid.
Here in the U.S., people who are paid to do something tend to look at it as a job rather than a ministry. That is a very different attitude. Remember that Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that the church leaders aren’t the “ministers.” Their job is to equip ALL the people to be the ministers of the church. So as much as possible, I believe it is appropriate for everyone to use their gifts in the church without pay because that is their responsibility.
I know a carpenter who built an entire gymnasium wood floor for the church with no payment, simply because he wanted to use his gifts and resources in that way. It would have been entirely appropriate for the church to pay him for that. Everyone would agree that it would have been a good expense for the church. But he chose not to accept money, because he felt that would take away his joy at being able to show his love for God and the people voluntarily.
On the other hand, if the church needs so much of a person’s time that he or she cannot earn enough at other jobs, the church must pay that person. Churches that need all of a preacher’s time need to pay that person a living wage. And remember that much of a teacher’s time is in study and prayer rather than public tasks. But as Paul showed the people in Ephesus there are times where a leader should be willing to work a separate job to support himself, rather than be an undue burden.
Another thing churches must consider is whether payment implies value. Does paying a musician imply that his or her time is worth more than the time of people who pack food bags to distribute to the poor but aren’t paid? Instrumentalists can add energy to music, but doesn’t the Bible teach us that caring for widows and orphans is more important? If we pay instrumentalists but not those who visit people in prison, are we saying that the music is more important than fulfilling Christ’s commands?
In Acts 2:42-47 we see the time of greatest excitement and effectiveness in the Church’s history. We see people gathering for teaching, worship, fellowship, and openly sharing all they had with each other. Musicians aren’t required for any of that. I do love great Christian music, and I personally play piano. However I think the Bible makes it clear that worship is about the state of our heart, not about whether instrumentalists are playing. They are very valuable and inspiring, certainly, as God instructed the Israelites to be LED by people blowing horns around the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6. But let us not fall into the trap of thinking worship just means music
In my opinion it is better to describe musicians as “lead worshippers” rather than “worship leaders.” They should be people whose motivation is to demonstrate sincere worship, so that others will be drawn into with them. If their motivation is payment, I don’t think they should be at the front of the church. If I look at them and don’t see faces in worship, then they are taking away from the mood rather than helping it. However, if their hearts are sincere and they are truly worshiping rather than “performing” then it is entirely acceptable (but not necessary) to pay them. They may prefer not to be paid because then they would be getting their reward from people rather than from God.
So my answer must be that it depends on the situation, and each situation should be covered in prayer asking the Holy Spirit for discernment. May our churches be filled with people who are giving their all to use their gifts for God’s purposes, and may our churches be led by elders wise enough to know when payment is the right thing and when it is the wrong thing.
Thoughts Along the Way 