6. The true church must have no paid ministry. (Acts 20:33-34, John 10:11-13)
Not only do other "points" cite 1 Cor. to try to support them (16. "baptism for the dead"), so they did have access to the epistle, but for some reason they managed to skip over chapter 9.
But Acts 20:33 is about "not coveting", which is NOT the same as "not being paid" (otherwise no Mormon would be able to have any kind of paying job), and John 10:11 is about the shepherd laying down his life for the sheep, which has NOTHING to do with being "paid".
I've read through "17 Points of the One True Church" tract many times, and it's simply ridiculous, but it's a GREAT example of how Mormons abuse and disrespect the Bible in order to try to wrongfully try to support their false church.
As the story goes, it originates from two or three friends, who have absolutely NO affiliation with the LDS church, but wanting to know which church to join, and so they study the Bible to determine the "correct doctrine" for the "true church", to look for a church that meets that criteria.
Well, first of all, NOBODY is going to read the Bible in isolation, and come up with the doctrines of Mormonism. NOBODY is going to read through the Bible, and read PASSAGE after PASSAGE after PASSAGE that teaches strict monotheism, and then conclude that the "true church" is the one which teaches "plural gods".
Nobody who has any knowledge of the English language is going to rip verses out of context and falsely conclude that Acts 20 and John 10 refer to "not paying church clergy".
And most importantly, NOBODY who is actually interested in the true teachings of the Bible is going to IGNORE all the passages which actually ADDRESS the topic at hand:
1Cor. 9:2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1Cor. 9:3 This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
1Cor. 9:8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not speak certainly for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Paul used MANY examples to support his claims, including Biblical examples. And because of these Biblical examples of those being paid "material things" for providing "spiritual things", we see other Biblical mandates for paid ministry:
Deut. 25:4 “
You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
1Tim. 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
And since Paul is here quoting Jesus, we also have:
Luke 10:5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
But we're too believe that unbiased, "non-Mormons", IGNORED all these relevant passages, didn't notice them at all, but instead felt that Acts 20 and John 10 were more relevant?
What a crock.