How A Church May Use Its Money (2)

The church is to be evangelistic. Consider what Paul wrote the young gospel preacher, Timothy: "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3:15). In I Thess. 1:8, Paul wrote, "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing." The church has evangelistic responsibilities. How may a church use its money in evangelism?

Preachers have the right to be supported. "Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?...Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (I Cor. 9:6-14).

In the NT, churches sent money directly to the preacher. "Now ye Philippians know also...no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity...I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you..." (Phil. 4:15-18). "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 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: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself" (II Cor. 11:8,9).

In addition to direct support of gospel preachers, the gospel can be taught through the printed page: newspapers, books, tracts, bulletins, and journals. Radio and TV time may be purchased for the purpose of preaching the gospel in those mediums. Church buildings expedite the work of evangelism. As pointed out last time, equipment is often purchased by churches to aid in such efforts.

Now we turn our attention to unscriptural ways of using the treasury of the church. For one church to send money to another church to preach the gospel is not authorized in the NT. In the NT, churches sent directly to the preacher. Elders oversee all affairs of the church (I Pet. 5:1-3). Elders are not given authority to receive money from another church unless they have more needy saints than they can care for.

Churches are not authorized to send money (support) to missionary societies. A missionary society is a separate organization and stands independently of churches, yet is dependent on them for support. In the 1800's The American Christian Missionary Society was formed. That and mechanical instruments of music in worship provided the wedge which caused division among God's people. The result was the churches of Christ and the First Christian Church.

Churches are not authorized to provide social and recreational facilities to promote the gospel. Paul said the "...weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds..." (II Cor. 10:4). Further, Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). If people do not want the gospel, ice cream and cake are not going to make them spiritually minded. "For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein" (Heb. 13:9). Paul told the Corinthians to eat at home (I Cor. 11:22,34) rather than corrupting the worship of the church.

Monetary contributions to hospitals, colleges, and female evangelists or personal workers are not pleasing to God and the church that engages in such is guilty of adding to the word of God (Rev. 22:18,19) and going beyond the doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11).