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How The Church Receives Its
Funds
The work of the church is unique. The New Testament authorizes the church to
work in three areas: 1) Evangelism — teaching and preaching the Gospel
(Mark 16:15-16), 2) Edification — teaching and instructing its members
(1 Thess. 5:11; Col. 3:16) and 3) Benevolence — helping those in need
of the necessities of life (James 1:27; Gal. 6:10).
To do the work God has commanded the church to do requires money (the funds
necessary to carry out the work). God has given instruction “where”
and “how” the church gets its money to do its work. It is by the
free-will offering of its members. The Scriptures authorize a collection to
be taken up each first day of the week. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we read, “Now
concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches
of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him....” A famine had made
many destitute of the necessary things of life. Churches of Christ everywhere
were instructed to help the needy. This passage tells them how to do it.
In the New Testament, you never read of the church of Christ having chariot
washes, bake sales, rummage sales, 10K walks, etc., etc. to raise money for
its work. There is no Scripture that authorizes the church to solicit (request,
seek, beg) money, food, clothes (material goods) from non-members (the general
public).
Therefore, you should never see the church of Christ soliciting material things
from those who are not members of the church in order to help the church do
the work God has commanded the church to do.
By Garland M. Robinson
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