“The heart of the issue”

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Originally published 02/12/17

Our last couple of bulletins looked at issues where Biblical authority needs to be understood. When we know how to understand the scriptures, we can find Biblical answers to questions concerning instrumental music in worship, forsaking the assembly, the Lord’s Supper, etc.

However, many of the unscriptural practices carried out by “churches” today involve the use of church funds. The local church is to take up a collection to do the work Christ designed it to do (I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:7; Eph. 4:12). Using these funds for nonscriptural purposes is an affront to Christ as He is the head of the church (Col. 1:18; I Tim. 5:16). A church cannot just do anything they consider a “good work” if it is unauthorized.

The misuse of church funds is a widespread problem, but it is not truly the main issue at hand – the root cause is Biblical authority once again. Without a standard in establishing authority, brethren will never be able to see eye to eye. Remember, no scripture is of any private interpretation (II Pet. 1:20). Either there are stipulations put upon the use of church funds or there are not. If there are, how do we determine them? That is what we need to find out. If there are not any stipulations, then the discussion is over.

We know for certain that churches used their funds for evangelizing (spreading the gospel). The apostle Paul received wages from different churches (Phil. 4:15; II Cor. 11:8). Churches also sent directly to other churches that needed food (II Cor. 8:4,19; II Cor. 9:3-4). Churches also were able to use funds to help edify the local church (Eph. 4:11-12; I Tim. 5:17-18).  

Let us now focus on some questions about church funds. We know that brethren gathered in a home (Rom. 16:3-5), in an upper room (Acts 20:8) and other facilities that would accommodate the brethren coming together in a certain place (I Cor. 11:17-18). Because these various meeting spaces were used for edification, could the church let the local Boy Scout troop use the facility when the church was not gathered? Could they run a daycare center out of that upper room if it belonged to the church? To answer these questions, we must understand the limitations placed upon the use of church funds.

Does the Bible contain any examples of restrictions being placed upon the collection of the saints? Yes! In I Timothy 5:16, Paul clearly said the church was prohibited from using its funds for certain purposes even if they were a “good work”. In that text, it shows that individuals can and should do things with their own funds, not the church’s (Acts 5:1-11).

Therefore, if a church owns or rents a building, they should do so for the purposes of evangelism and edification. This means their uses for the building should be limited to those purposes as well, not to support the Boy Scouts or to run a daycare. What about having a kitchen? There is nothing wrong with having a kitchen if it was found to be helpful (expedient) for making the unleavened bread and storing the fruit of the vine. Often though, it is more expedient to simply buy the unleavened bread or have members make it and bring it. 

In our last couple of bulletins, we have been pointing out the ways to establish authority: direct command, approved example and necessary inference. Biblical examples lead us toward this manner of reasoning. This is why churches send money directly to the preacher they want to support rather than an intermediate organization. This is why churches only send funds to other churches to support members during times of great need, not to other organizations. Everything that the church does is governed by Biblical authority (Col. 3:17). Let us simply allow God’s word to define “good works” so we can put our energy into accomplishing them.

                                                                                               Chuck

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