QUESTION:
Is it scriptural for a church to plan a meeting
(or work) larger than they can afford and
receive funds into their treasury from other
congregations to support it?
ANSWER:
To correctly answer the above question, we must first determine the bible pattern
for the work of the church in the field of evangelism. The scriptures teach us that
the church in its universal sense is only a spiritual relationship and not an
organization. Col 1:18; Eph 1:22-23; Eph 2:19-22 For the church to function,
therefore, it must do so through local congregations. There is no unit of
organization revealed in the bible larger than the local church. The local
congregation has every characteristic of the church universal. 1 Cor 12:27 Each
congregation has a work to do. Each congregation has a treasury that it controls
and with which it does the work of evangelism. In the bible there is no hint of a
super- or extra- congregational organization to carry out the work God has given
the church to do. How then, did New Testament churches preach the gospel?
PATTERN OF THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH
1. Philippi sent directly to Paul when he was at Rome. "Your care for me hath
flourished again" Phil 4:10; "Ye have well done that ye did communicate with my
affliction" (4:4) "I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were
sent from you" (4: 18).
2. Philippi sends directly to Paul at Thessalonica. "For even in Thessalonica ye
sent once and again unto my necessity" Phil 4:16
3. Philippi sends directly to Paul in Achaia. "Now ye Philippians know also, that
in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church
communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." Phil 4:15
4. Churches sent directly to Paul at Cornith, "I robbed other churches, taking
wages of them to do you service" 2 Cor 11:8. From whence came these wages? "And
when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which
was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied" 2 Cor 11:9
The bible pattern is clear: local churches sent to preachers directly, rather than
through another church. Violation of this principle is what led to the missionary
society and the current sponsoring church arrangement. In such an arrangement a
church usually undertakes a work or meeting, or crusade (such as the Herald of
Truth television broadcast) which they cannot support alone. They then ask churches
all over the state or nation to help them. These contributing churches send money
to the asking or sponsoring church which in turn proceeds with the work. Such an
arrangement is wrong for the following reasons:
1. It violates the autonomy of the local church. Churches sending funds to the
receiving church lose their autonomy. The work becomes the work of the sponsoring
church. (No bible pattern for this.)
2. A treasury larger than the treasury of the local church is created. We have in
effect a central treasury i.e. one made up of funds received from numerous
churches. (No bible pattern for this.)
3. This arrangement is a substitute for the one revealed in the bible which
provides for each congregation making up its own fund, by the contribution of its
own members and sending directly to the work they are supporting.
It surprises and disappoints me when I hear of churches writing and requesting
funds from other churches for a particular work, which they have undertaken, and
these churches in response to the letter send monies to the treasury of the
requesting church. Brethren, this is wrong. Just as wrong as Sunday school or
individual cups. In fact there is just as much scripture for one as there is for
the other. All such practices fly in the face of God's approved pattern. Another
area we need to be careful about is the desire of a church to have a "big meeting"
or a "brotherhood meeting" which they cannot support themselves. So, in order to
have it, they write for help and several churches send money to the treasury of
this requesting church (to do whatever needs to be done) so the meeting can be
held. In the first place, the very concept of a "brotherhood meeting" or a meeting
belonging to several churches strikes at the tap root of congregational
organization and church autonomy upon which the universal church depends. Secondly,
the only way sending churches can have control over the funds they have sent would
be for there to exist some type of conference consisting of delegates empowered by
their respective congregations to speak in behalf of the sending church. Such a
practice would be an example of sectarianism and digression gone to seed. Brethren
let us stay with the bible pattern in all things and avoid the pitfalls sin offers.