Sometimes when we speak of the church doing the work that the New Testament authorizes someone will say "well what about the story of the good Samaritan" Lk 10 or some similar statement. Inevitably among those who do not respect bible authority the reply, "well what about James 1:27 or Galatians 6:10". They then apply these thoughts to the work of the church when they are clearly the work of an individual Christian.

Many seem not to be able to comprehend any difference between an individual Christian and what he/she does and the work of the local church. One passage in the New Testament clearly makes a distinction between the two. In l Tim. 5:16 the Holy Spirit through the pen of the inspired apostle reveals, "If any man or woman that believeth have widows let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed".

Brethren sometimes tell me that they can see no difference between the individual Christian and the local church, "after all", they say, "the church is made up of individuals". Let that person tell the Internal Revenue Service that they see no difference. Churches don't pay taxes and individual Christians should not pay either, because there is no difference between the two. Friends, this will not stand. Any right thinking person can see a difference.

Through the years I have discussed with elders of local churches and others concerning bible authority for the church to raise its funds to do its work. Many, even in so-called sound churches fail to see any difference between the individual and local churches in this realm. The only authority from God's word that we find for the local church to have a store (storehouse or treasury) and to raise funds is l Cor. 16:2. In this passage we find bible authority for giving or laying by on the first day of the week. Some want the church to raise money in other ways, but there is no authority for such. Here a misunderstanding between what an individual does and what the church is authorized to do is often seen. Some believe that the church can raise its store any way it wants.

Several years ago I was discussing bible authority concerning the treasury and the local church and how the church raises its store, ie the freewill offering of saints on the first day of the week - l Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8; 2 Cor. 9; 2 Cor. 11:8. I explained that as an individual I could raise money for my living in any lawful way. The example used was: an individual could buy tractors and hay equipment and earn money by cutting and baling hay for others, but the church is not authorized to buy tractors and hay equipment and raise money by custom hay work. One self-willed individual who was supposed to be an elder of a local church quickly told me, "well we could if we wanted to". Clearly, he did not understand, or if he understood, he did not respect bible authority and the difference between what an individual does and what the church is authorized to do.

Some local churches raise their store in ways for which there is no authority from God's word. From buying and trading in oil and gas leases, to garage and bake sales, to interest bearing accounts and everything in between.