— Calling is not about how many jobs you have, but who you serve through them.
📖 Summary
Scripture does not forbid pastors from working outside the church.
What matters is not whether they work, but why and for whom they work.
If a pastor’s second job serves the gospel and maintains integrity,
it can be a biblical and even strategic expression of calling.
1️⃣ Biblical Foundation
📘 Acts 18:3 (ESV) — Paul worked as a tentmaker while preaching.
📘 1 Corinthians 9:14 (ESV) — Those who preach the gospel may live by it.
📘 1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV) — Paul worked to avoid being a burden.
📘 1 Timothy 5:17–18 (ESV) — Elders who labor in preaching deserve honor and support.
2️⃣ Theological Insight
📜 John MacArthur — The Master’s Plan for the Church
“A pastor may work to protect the gospel’s purity,
but never to replace the gospel with livelihood.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — Ministry and the Holiness of God
“Ministry is not a career; it is a divine calling.”
📜 John Piper — Brothers, We Are Not Professionals
“Even when pastors work for income, their aim remains the same:
to glorify God and shepherd His people.”
📜 Martin Luther — The Babylonian Captivity of the Church
“Every vocation—pastor or laborer—is holy when done before God.”
📜 Tim Keller — Every Good Endeavor
“Work, even outside the church, can become a platform for gospel witness.”
3️⃣ Misconceptions vs Biblical Truth
| Misconception | Cause | Biblical Truth |
|---|---|---|
| “Pastors shouldn’t have secular jobs.” | Clericalism | Paul worked as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). |
| “Ministry is a profession.” | Modern pragmatism | Ministry is a divine calling. |
| “Working outside church shows lack of faith.” | Financial misunderstanding | It can preserve gospel freedom (1 Thes 2:9). |
| “Bi-vocational pastors are less committed.” | Efficiency mindset | Faithfulness, not employment, defines calling. |
4️⃣ Application | Principles for Bi-vocational Ministry
1️⃣ Keep the gospel the first priority.
2️⃣ Ensure the motive is spiritual, not financial.
3️⃣ Maintain transparency and accountability with the church.
4️⃣ Use the workplace as a mission field.
5️⃣ Conclusion | The Measure Is Faithfulness, Not Employment
God calls some to full-time ministry and others to self-supported mission.
Both serve the same Master.
The question is never “What job do you have?” but “Who are you serving?”
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23
“The bi-vocational pastor is not divided but deployed for God’s glory.” — Revito
Faith. Truth. Renewal. — Revito
📧 revito247@gmail.com
🌐 www.revito.co.kr
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