Question

Brother Sharp,

Since you deal with issues of this nature regularly, I was wondering if you might be able to help me out answering a few questions I have had in the back of my mind for a time. I am sorry there are several but, as you can see, they are all related. I noticed an article in your last month’s issue of Meditate on These Things that addressed one brother’s concern with benevolence. I was wondering some questions along those lines:

Since said collection is always for the saints and is called such at 1 Cor. 16:1 and we never see said collection used for anything other than the needs of other saints:

1. Is it biblically accurate to call it “the Lord’s treasury” if it is “for the saints” per 1 Cor. 16 (the point being it is for the saints, not given “to the Lord” as some brethren believe)? (Technically, all the world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord according to Psa. 24:1. I can’t actually “give” anything back to Him – it already belongs to Him.)
2. Where is the scriptural authority to spend said collected funds on anything other than the needs of saints (i.e. widows, elders, support of preachers, etc.)? Can we find authority to spend it on ANYTHING other than the needs of other saints?
3. How do we know for certain that when the Bible speaks of something being done collectively as a group, it doesn’t merely mean that a collective action was performed by individuals acting in unison as they had the ability to do so?
4. Since each instance where the church took up money it was always for a temporary need (i.e. the saints in 1 Cor. 16 and elsewhere were instructed to take these funds up for what seems to be a one-time gift to needy saints in Jerusalem). If a church had no expenses (i.e. the preacher wanted to preach for free, the church did not own any property, etc.) is there biblical authority to take up a collection, even when no immediate or foreseeable need exists?
5. We never read of a congregation taking up funds to spend upon themselves (i.e. Church owned buildings, song books, etc.). Have we strayed from the Biblical pattern from taking up funds for the needs of others to now spend them on ourselves and our own comforts if the first century church never did this?

I am truly not trying to “quibble” as I believe the brother who wrote you put it. I would simply like to know that I stand upon solid ground, backed by book, chapter and verse. I eagerly await your thoughts on these matters.

Answer

Your questions are good ones that deserve thoughtful, well reasoned, scriptural answers. I commend you for them, and I have no reason to impugn your motives.

It is true that everything belongs to the Lord (cf. Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:25-26, 28). But some things are peculiarly “the Lord’s” in that their specific purpose is His glory. “The Lord’s Supper” is in contrast with “your own supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20-21). We eat one to remember what the Lord did for us (1 Corinthians 11:23-29); we eat the other because we are hungry (1 Corinthians 11:34). As God once had a nation that was peculiarly His (Exodus 19:5-6), God has a people who are peculiarly His (1 Peter 2:9-10), those who have come to Christ in obedient faith (1 Peter 2:4-5). They are His church (assembly, 1 Corinthians 15:9). The only organized expression of His church is the congregation, a local group of His people who agree to do kingdom work together and to assemble together regularly (1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 9:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:18; 16:1-2).

I have no problem with calling the treasury of the local church “the Lord’s money,” since it is to be used to do things the congregation is authorized to do, kingdom business. As the kingdom is spiritual (John 18:36; Romans 14:17; Ephesians 1:3), the work of the church is spiritual: edification (Ephesians 4:12-16), evangelism (Philippians 4:15-16), and benevolence to needy saints, an expression of fellowship in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).

First Corinthians 16:1-2 is the only passage that reveals how the church is to collect its money, but other passages make known how the congregation may use that money. It may be used for anything that is the legitimate work of the church, since the use of its funds is one way the congregation functions (Philippians 4:15-16). Indeed, this verse also demonstrates that the church may use its funds to support preachers.

The New Testament draws a distinct contrast between the collective work of the local church and the activities of its individual members (1 Timothy 5:16).

Since the church is authorized to use its funds for evangelism and edification as well as for benevolence (2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15-16), until everyone in the world is perfect in Christ (Ephesians 4:12-16), there will always be a need toward which we should give.

The church comes together to edify one another (1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 10:24-25). Since edification is a legitimate use of church funds, anything necessary or helpful to facilitate the church coming together is a lawful use of the church’s treasury.

I hope these answers are helpful.
Brotherly,
Keith Sharp