Fund Raising
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Fidelity
Fund Raising
by Mike Benson
Question: "I receive a weekly copy of a local
church bulletin. One recent issue announced, 'The
youth group would like to extend a big thank you
to all those who have been so supportive of the
youth group's fund raisers for their mission trip
this summer to Mexico. To _______ and _______
_______ for allowing the youth to use their yard
for the rummage sale, to all those who donated
their time, rummage items, and money to the sale,
also to all those who have purchased calendars or
simply donated money — THANK YOU!!' Are these
activities Scriptural?"
Answer: You have communicated a concern pertaining
to the Lord's church. I appreciate the manner in
which you stated your question. Since the New
Testament of Jesus is our sole guide in matters of
faith and practice, we must go there for the
answers you seek. Please consider the following
points (1 Thess. 5:21):
1. The work of the church costs money. It is
appropriate that the brethren who worship with the
congregation you mentioned focus some of their
energies on finances. A local church cannot
effectively carry out its mission without some
form of currency. I appreciate one Bible student's
thoughts on this matter. He writes,
"Let me share an experience with you. On June 2,
1940, a little girl was born to us. She cost us
money from the moment she was born. As she grew
from [infancy] to girlhood, she cost even more —
her dresses and shoes were more expensive, and we
had to have the doctor through all those childhood
diseases. She was even more expensive during her
school and teen years. She needed long dresses to
go to parties. When she went to college, we
discovered, along with other parents, that all the
college expenses [were] not listed in the
catalogue. Then after graduation she fell in love
and married. She was married in a church wedding
and that too cost a lot of money. Then, five
months after her marriage she suddenly sickened
and within a week she was dead. She hasn't cost us
a penny since the day we walked away from her
grave. As long as the church is alive she will
cost money, and the more alive a church is, the
more money she will cost. Only a dead church, like
a dead child, is no longer expensive". Cf. 2 Cor.
8-9; Phil. 4:15-17; Gal. 2:9-10; Acts 11:27-30;
Rom. 12:8; 15:25-27; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 5:16.
2. These brethren are also to be commended for
their emphasis on missions (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark
16:15-16). People who have been truly impressed
with the grace of God in their own lives are
compelled to share their spiritual fortune with
those around them (2 Kgs. 7:9; Jer. 20:9; Rom.
1:14-16; 1 Tim. 1:12ff). The fact that this
congregation plans to teach the Word in Mexico is
indicative of their priority for lost souls (Matt.
18:11; Luke 15).
3. It is encouraging to see that young people are
actively involved in efforts to publish the
Gospel. When the youth of the church are involved
in evangelistic outreach, they learn that Faith is
much more than some narrow intellectual pursuit;
they also begin to see it as that singular force
which not only affects people today, but for
eternity.
4. Whenever the Lord tells us something should be
done (e.g. generic command) without informing us
as to how to do so (e.g. specific command), we are
at liberty to decide which method is most
expedient (cf. 1 Cor. 10:23). For instance, had
Noah simply been told to build an ark out of
"wood", the aged patriarch might have chosen any
number of different types of lumber for his boat
project (cf. Gen. 6:14). Had the children of
Israel simply been told to "transport" the Ark of
the Covenant, they might have moved the sacred
chest in a wide variety of ways (cf. Ex. 25:12-14;
2 Sam. 6:3; 1 Chron. 15:16). Had Jesus simply told
us to use "food" during the communion, we could
offer a wide "menu" of edible items today (cf.
Matt. 26:26ff). Likewise, had Jesus simply told us
to "give", we could employ any number of capital-
raising ventures for obtaining money for His work.
Bake sales, suppers, bazaars, car washes, garage
and calendar sales are all effective means of
raising funds. However, Christ has, in fact,
specified but one method for financing the work of
the church. Note—
"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as
I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so
you must do also: on the first day of the week let
each one of you lay something aside, storing up as
he may prosper, that there be no collections when
I come" (1 Cor. 16:1-2; cf. 2 Cor. 9:7).
WHEN we should give, WHO should give, HOW we
should give and HOW MUCH we should give is clearly
set forth in the Scriptures. We are therefore
under Divine obligation to obey the Savior's will
in this particular realm (Col. 3:17; Matt. 17:5;
John 12:48). Monies to carry out missions were not
solicited from unbelievers in the first-century
church (3 John 7); nor should they be now. The New
Testament condemns "making merchandise of the word
of God" (2 Cor. 2:17—ASV footnote). "The church of
the Lord is to stand in contrast to such efforts.
We must not charge the lost for the opportunity of
hearing the Gospel. ...It is a privilege and
responsibility of those who have obeyed the Gospel
to support evangelistic work" through freewill
giving (Mike Vestal, "A Greeting and a
Commendation," Studies in 1, 2, 3 John, Sixth
Annual Denton Lectures, Dub McClish—editor, 283)
"There is nothing which so quickly wins men to a
sympathetic hearing as the realization of complete
unselfishness on the part of those who bear the
message to them: and it is absolutely requisite
that in all missionary efforts the missionaries be
wholly independent financially and materially of
those to whom they preach" (Guy N. Woods, "New
Testament Law of Missions," A Commentary on the
New Testament Epistles of Peter, John, and Jude,
362).
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