Sir, may I ask your help in resolving and issue of faith which has recently appeared in my home congregation. One or more of our ministry leaders caused to have published in the local newspaper an article that solicited funds from the public to pay for a church ministry. Specifically, our congregation gives oversight to a retirement center as a local ministry. The retirement center is proposing to construct additional rooms/apartments for future growth. Approximately two months ago it was announced at a Sunday service that an entry garden was being designed with a focal point being a brick wall. This wall of brick will be some 4′ high by 8′ in length. The wall will be constructed of brick which can contain a person or family’s name and be dedicated to their “memory” or “honor”. About 3 weeks after this announcement the newspaper article appeared. It identified the brick being available for anyone to purchase. Within the article was a clear statement that the church was selling these brick to help fund this construction. In a private conversation with one of my elders I was informed that (1) there is no scriptural prohibition against soliciting funds outside the church, (2) such solicitations have occurred the benefit the benevolent center (clothing and food) and mission campaigns (shoes for Mexico) (3) for some time “others” have made gifts to the church for various works. I am bothered by this event and the elder’s response for a number of reasons. The chief being, “Where is the scriptural authority to solicit funds from the public to support a church ministry?” Our brotherhood has long sought to understand scripture by command, example and/or necessary inference. I understand scripture to give us clear examples where Christians help Christians, where local Christians supporting the local work, where Christians cooperate with other Christians to meet a need, etc. I find no example or command or inference to any congregation of the New Testament seeking funds from any source outside its ranks to support a church ministry! A call for the public to help fund the church’s work is unscriptural! If not, may we next advertise for public support when our young people need a new van or when we need to add new classroom space to the church building? If advertising for public aid is acceptable then when will we begin seeing advertisements for the church’s garage sale or bazaar or, dare I say it, a church raffle!? If the line has not already been drawn where are we to draw it? Am I being legalistic? Is my education on scripture flawed? Thanks so much for your help. I am really troubled over this. As I told my elder, “I see this as a matter of faith, not of opinion.” ~ Charles E. Rainey
I, too, believe very strongly in the biblical hermeneutic (which incidentally, is the same way instructions are communicated from person to person daily). I, too, am troubled by occasions in which the church solicits funding from non-members of the church, even for good works. Yet, no one refuses non-solicited money gifts, services or material things that are otherwise not wrong themselves (Acts 28:1-10). Incidental interest on bank accounts and proceeds from the sale of property (e.g., church bus, church building) may also benefit the church, though neither strictly conforms to the ordinary prescription for funding the church according to Scripture. However, the church is not proactive in its attempt to fund the church by these incidentals as it is following the Bible’s plan for church finance (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) or would be if it resorted to commercial sales to finance itself.
The lone biblical remedy for financial support for the church and its work is freewill giving by Christians (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
“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, that there be no gatherings when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Obviously, the church has the obligation to solicit its members to comply with the divine directive of purposeful, freewill giving. Beyond that, the Lord’s church lacks biblical authority to solicit or otherwise compel non-members to contribute anything to the work of the church (other than their souls via conversion by the Gospel). To solicit money or goods from non-members or to engage commercial sales for the purpose of funding the church (e.g., car washes, bake sales, bricks, etc.) also sets a bad precedent by mimicking denominationalism, whereby some denominational evangelists and their denominations amass enormous wealth.
However, I am personally reluctant to make this sole principle a test of fellowship (i.e., refuse to recognize as faithful brethren those who differ with me in this regard). It may be that I personally would be uncomfortable enough about the degree to which what you mention is practiced that I would, as you did, talk with the elders and, if necessary for one’s conscience, consider worshipping with another local congregation where I would not experience that conflict of mind. If the decision were to move one’s membership to another congregation, it should be done peacefully and with cordial communication with the eldership of the church in which you are presently a member.
Doubtless, there are few congregations with which any of us could worship wherein every facet of belief and activity would conform completely to our understanding of Scripture. In some instances, our understanding is faulty or incomplete, whereas it may be sometimes that other brethren with whom we worship are wrong on a few things. Probably, we and they have room from improvement regarding some biblical matters. We must exercise some tolerance where we can if we hope to be the recipient of tolerance from others. This is not to say that we should embrace compromise concerning redemption, worship, Christian living, etc. Yet, if we divide over every matter of non-agreement, each one of us will suppose ourselves (erroneously) to be the only faithful church of God.
Usually, a church that has adopted a general disregard for biblical authority will manifest multiple, obvious departures from Scripture. For instance, worship may be modified to be more charismatic, entertaining and politically correct (e.g., introduction of non-biblical roles for women in the public worship, use instrumental music, clapping, swaying). The biblical plan of redemption may be compromised (e.g., practice of open fellowship, baptism for the remission of sins de-emphasized). Ultimately, you will have to decide: (1) whether in your opinion your congregation exhibits a general disregard for biblical authority or you and it disagree on this single principle, (2) whether this single circumstance over which you are concerned (in my opinion, rightfully) is significant enough for you to place your membership at a sister congregation (if one is available).
I hope this helps. My intention is to ‘speak the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15) and speak where the Bible speaks (1 Peter 4:11), but to encourage a balanced, biblical stance as opposed to ‘devouring one another’ or pursuing hasty reactions (1 Timothy 5:22). “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:15).
