Two Months with Pay

The Bible records that when St. Paul got his call to "come over into Macedonia and help us," he set out "immediately." Nowadays, preachers are apt to be more wary. Here are some of the points St. Paul would have raised, says the Rural Church Department of Drew Theological Seminary (Methodist), if he had been like a lot of his 20th Century successors:

"First of all I should like to know whether Macedonia is a circuit or a station . . . If Macedonia embraces more than one preaching place, I may as well tell you frankly that I cannot consider the call.

"No mention was made of the salary . . . While it is true that I am not preaching for money, there are certain things that need be taken into account. I may say with pardonable pride that I am a Sanhedrin man--the only one in the ministry today.

"You have told me nothing about Macedonia beyond the implication that the place needs help. What are the social advantages? Is the church well organized?

"I recently had a fine offer to return to Damascus at an increase in salary, and I am told that I made a very favorable impression on the church at Jerusalem . . . I will say that I am a first-class mixer and especially good on argumentative preaching.

"If I accept the call, I must stipulate the privilege of a two months' vacation with pay and the making of an occasional lecture tour . . .

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. Amen."

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