Someone inquires, “Can money for food and school giveaways be taken from the contribution?” This question pertains not to the worthiness of expenditures as much as it is about on what the church contribution can be spent.
If a proposed expense is a benevolent expenditure, then the answer is, “Yes.” “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10 NKJV). “[W]hile, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men” (2 Corinthians 9:13). There are two classes of people from the perspective of these two verses—the saved and the lost. Both the saved and the lost are potential candidates for the reception of congregational benevolence—including from the church treasury. Though some brethren tenaciously clutch church dollars, refusing any acknowledgement of a possible congregational response to benevolent needs of non-Christians, the context of Galatians 6:10, for instance, permits congregational benevolence toward non-Christians. In the same series of verses, Galatians 6:6 pertains to paying the preacher for his services (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:4-14; 1 Timothy 5:18). No one contends, preacher or church member, that individual Christians and not the congregation from the treasury are exclusively responsible for compensating the preacher. Since the congregational treasury may pay the preacher in verse 6, likewise the congregational treasury may spend benevolent money in verse 10 on either Christians or non-Christians, only that there is a preference for Christians.
Aside from benevolence, the church must spend funds from its treasury on things that may pertain directly or indirectly to other areas of its divinely appointed work. Already noted was an expense for preachers, but full-time elders are specified in Scripture as possible recipients of a salary, too (1 Timothy 5:17). Other general areas of church responsibility on which a congregation ought to spend money from the treasury as needed include worship (e.g., meeting place with its attendant peripherals, communion supplies, etc.), evangelism (e.g., mass evangelism via radio, TV, Internet and printing, travel, lodging, meals, advertising, etc.), edification (e.g., meeting place, supplies, literature, meals, lodging, etc.) and so on.
The elders of a fully organized congregations and male Christians in the absence of elders are responsible for making the locally appropriate inferences from inspired implications where the Holy Spirit did not provide the details. When church leaders do not countermand God’s commands or direct statements, apostolic approved examples and divine implications, the rest of the members need to abide by the decisions, even if some of them would have done it differently. As long as the New Testament’s commands or direct statements are general and without inclusion of specifics, church leaders may use their best judgment how to accomplish divine instruction locally; other church members are obligated to follow their direction in such things (Hebrews 13:7, 17).
Yes, it is feasible that money from the church treasury could be used to purchase food for any number of reasons. Of course, I have no way of knowing the details respecting the question respecting purchasing “food” and “school giveaways,” but it is not too difficult to imagine circumstances under which such expenses may correspond to a church effort in one of its areas of responsibility. Finally, barring obvious, grievous disregard for Scripture, church members need to support the decisions of their church leaders.
