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| Bringing in the Funds: The Collection |
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| Written by Kyle H. White | |||
| Wednesday, 31 December 1969 23:59 | |||
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Some Thoughts On Collection
Each Saturday the Saint Joseph News Press publishes a Religion and Ethics section. The section promotes different religious doctrines, ideology and fund r...
Some Thoughts On Collection
Each Saturday the Saint Joseph News Press publishes a Religion and Ethics section. The section promotes different religious doctrines, ideology and fund raising activities. If you watch the world and its methods of fund raising it is easy to see why they have large buildings of brick and steel. With the frequent bake sale, car wash, silent auction and other promotions and schemes. It all seems quite innocent as the funds are going to a "good work." Let us come together and reason on this matter and see if it is fitting for the Church our Lord has built to gather funding in the same manner as stated above. WHERE DID THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH'S GET THEIR FUNDS? First Mention of Collection. The Church at Jerusalem Acts 2:44 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Greater proof of their actions are found in Acts4:32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet" This text shows the first collecting or gathering of items and funds to care for the church. It does not prove a communal way of life but rather shows the desire of all to part with money or possessions as needed to provide for the brethren. Nowhere does this text instruct, lead or lend us the idea of bake sales, auctions or schemes of man for collecting. They were to collect or gather from among themselves what was needed. No bake sales. No auctions. No chariot washings were mentioned. Paul's instruction to the Church at Corinth. 1 Cor 16:1-2 "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 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". The Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians to collect or gather in verse 1. Verse 2 provides us with instruction on where the collecting is to come from "let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" the Christian is to lay by as God prospered. This then leaves out all other avenues of gathering. No bake sales. No auctions. No chariot washings were mentioned. Now that we have looked at the instruction given to the church at Corinth and the example of the church at Jerusalem our conclusion is very simple indeed. 1. The Lord's Church is only authorized to collect or gather funds upon the first day of the week 2. The funds are to be from the brethren through the method of laying by in store. All other methods are worldly and without the authority of our Lord, thus it is a perversion of the truth. Car Washes, Bake Sales and Auctions are for worldly organization. The Lord drew a line of demarcation. Which side of the line do you choose? In Service to HIM, Kyle H White 6380 S W Hwy 6 Clarksdale, Missouri 64430-9095
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