Should Christians support a man teaching on the Internet?

Question:

We have a brother who is out of work because of a permanent injury and he is asking for monthly contributions to support a website he has created to spread the gospel.  He feels that because he is committing his time fully to spreading the gospel he can make a living at it. However, he is not talking about preaching to a congregation, he is wanting to continue posting on his website and answering questions kind of like what you do. But he wants monthly support for doing so. He is not asking to be supported by the treasury, just donations from the members for his work in spreading the gospel. I cannot find any example of Christians paying Christians to preach the gospel to the world. We pay preachers to preach to us. We spread the gospel for free. Is this correct, or am I overlooking something?

Answer:

Preachers are not the only ones who can be paid for the work that they do.

"Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches" (Galatians 6:6).

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages"" (I Timothy 5:17-18).

If Christians are getting benefits from this man's teachings or wish to support his efforts, then there is nothing wrong with doing so. When offering to teach someone the gospel, it should be freely offered to the recipient. "What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel" (I Corinthians 9:18). Paul was able to do this because others were willing to support his efforts in teaching in new areas; thus, Paul wasn't paid by the Corinthians while he sought to establish a new work in Corinth.

Whether someone is worthy of being supported should be based on the accuracy of his teachings and the example he lives in his life.

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