In line with the first article, let’s consider a few more things to help us learn. I had mentioned about churches sending directly to the preachers they support. Paul mentioned the churches that helped him directly (II Cor. 11:8). But is this really the best way? What if you have a small country church with 15 members who are all elderly and they want to help spread the gospel. Could they not send the funds from the church to a larger church who could use that money to support preachers that they choose? No. Reason being, it is unauthorized.

Years ago when I was preaching in Canada, a government official called me inquiring about my income as a preacher. I told him that a variety of churches send money to me to preach the gospel. He then proceeded to tell me that he wants those churches to send the money to the local church I labor with, and then have the local church there support me. In that man’s eyes, this would be easier and much more simple, tax-wise. I then proceeded to tell him I couldn’t do that. After a long conversation, and a short sermon, he finally accepted what I told him.

The apostle Paul made it clear in Romans 9:20-21, that we are the clay and God is the potter and we must do what He says. It is not our place to question what we are told to do. Oh, we might ask why a certain thing is to be done such as, “Why do people need to be baptized?” That’s a good question. The answer is given, for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Yet, if someone starts to question that by saying, “Why in the world would God expect someone to be baptized in water for the remission of their sins?”, we have a serious problem.

It’s fine to ask, “What can a local church do with its funds?” It isn’t fine, once one learns the answer to the question, to turn around and question that! Remember, without respecting Biblical authority, the flood gate opens and people will do almost anything under the umbrella that it is “good work.” Even though it is not our place to question God, it is our place to question those who do question God!

Chuck 

In order to help people see the error of their ways, we need to learn from the master teacher – Christ.  It can be quite challenging to any Christian to help people see the truth, if they themselves are being accused of teaching error. This happened to our Lord on many occasions. We shall examine one incident and glean some valuable truths.

There was an incident where Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath, who had an infirmity for eighteen years (Lk. 13:10-17). As what would often happen, Christ was accused of breaking God’s law in healing on the Sabbath. So what did Jesus do to help them see that not only was He in the right, but managed to prove them to be wrong? In short, He used consistency as a teaching method.

After our Lord was accused of healing on the Sabbath, here is what He said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (vr. 15-16). What a great way to try and open the eyes of people, by getting them to see what they were doing is the same.

This is exactly what we need to do to help erring brethren who have decided to loosen the standard, to be less strict. The key is to get on common ground as to what we all agree is wrong. Since a hierarchy system doesn’t exist in the Lord’s church – Christ being the head (Col. 1:18), then anything that is similar to a hierarchy would be wrong. Let’s think this through so we can use this to help others.

If a religious group had a headquarters, let’s say in Rome, then that means local groups connected with them send their funds to the head church. We now see who decides what is to be done with those funds. There is no church autonomy (self-governing), as you see in the scriptures (I Pet. 5:1-3). Decisions to evangelize, edify, and help needy brethren are to be done by the local congregation. You don’t send funds to any group of people, who will then in turn send the funds they gathered to other groups “they” decide need it.

However, there are churches of Christ that will take their funds and send it to another church or to some governing body, in order to let them decide what to do with the funds. This is no different than what many denominations do. We must see that there is no middleman for a church to do its work. Churches send sent directly to preachers (Phil. 4:16). Churches send directly to a church in need (Acts 11:29-30).

Here is the point we all need to see. Just as Jesus used consistency to help people see their hypocrisy, we can do the same. To hear Christians condemn a hierarchy system within the religious realm, yet engage in something similar is inconsistent. Why would it be right for churches to send money to one church for them to decide who they will send out and support to preach? Why would churches send money to a relief organization who will in turn decide who to send money to in order to help the needy?

Whether it be called a missionary society or a sponsoring church, these are church terms that brethren have used to help people see that these are unauthorized arrangements. Are they similar to a hierarchy system? Yes, they are and hopefully we can help erring brethren see this. Nothing can be more obvious (if mind is not closed) than when someone is being inconsistent.

Unfortunately, when these things are brought up, the discussion turns away from scripture and the focus is on the results. In other words, the ends justify the means. Therefore, you hear things like, “Look at the good we are doing.” And, “How can helping others be wrong?” With this we point out I Timothy 5:16, where Paul stated that doing a good work would be wrong. How something is done is just as important as doing it.  Let’s think long and hard on these things.

Chuck

Questions and answers

about church money

Can church funds be used for any good work? No. Paul told Timothy that the church was not to use their money to help someone in need if family was available to help (I Tim. 5:16).

Can the church use its funds to help anyone in need? No. Churches are to help needy saints (I Cor. 16:1). Individuals can help anyone they want, but the local church is limited.

Can the church use its funds to finance senior trips, summer camps, sports leagues, etc.? No. The funds are used for evangelism and edification as described in the first article (Eph. 3:10).

Can churches take up collections whenever they want? No. The Lord gave authority for churches to take up a collection on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:2).

Should churches tell the members to tithe? No. Tithing was done under the old law and is no longer binding (Col. 2:14). Christians give as they purpose in their hearts (I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:7).

Should the amount a member gives be made known by the church? No. In the passages used above, they clearly state that giving is an individual activity. According to II Cor. 8:12, saints give according to what they have, not what they do not have. In other words, it is none of my business what other members give.

Based on the last question, does it even matter if Christians contribute financially? Yes. To not give as one has prospered is to go against the command of God (II Cor. 9:6-7).

Should members know what the funds are being used for? Yes. To give purposefully, one needs to know what the church is doing. If the funds are used inappropriately, then those who give are in error (I Cor. 16:1-2). Christians must be aware of how the funds are used.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Chuck                                                                

The use of church funds

      We all know that religious groups today have used their collections to fund everything from pizza parties, senior trips to building gymnasiums and having day care centers. The question is, are there binding examples that will limit the use of church funds, and help use know what they are to be used for?                                                                                 

Let me just say that if there are no binding examples in scripture, then we must just as well discard the Bible, for the flood-gate would open up. This is no more true than when it comes to the church funds that are collected. And since many do not respect approved examples as a means to establishing authority, you have religious groups doing anything they want with their funds. This is the reason why people make light of this whole discussion.

We can quickly set some boundaries if we have a scripture that will come right out and limit the use of church funds. There is and it is found in I Timothy 5:16. Read this text carefully. You will notice that Christians were given a responsibility to take care of a financial need that the church was not responsible for thus making a distinction between the work of an individual and the work of the church. Failure to see this, we cause one to miss the binding examples surrounding church funds.

Local church take up a collection each Sunday (I Cor. 16:1-2), for the work of the church. What are those works? Evangelism (Eph. 3:10); Edification (Eph. 4:120 and helping needy saints (II Cor. 8:1-4).  Within these three areas we have examples of churches sending to brethren in need. We have examples of preachers being supported directly, to preach (II Cor. 11:8). Notice that we do not have examples of churches sending money to another church to support preachers. Is that significant? Yes. The pattern of sending directly to the one preaching hold the local church accountable to making sure they support faithful men. If church “A” sent funds to church “B”, and the support a false teacher, how does church “A” know it?  We need to see the wisdom of God in providing us with approved examples as a means of establishing Biblical authority.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Chuck