Author : Keith Sharp
When Brother Ed Lewis and I were in Nigeria in January, 2008, among other places, we visited Aba, the capital of Abia State, in the heart of Igbo Land. The brethren were rancorously divided over what they call “Donation.” One well respected and godly brother, a long time friend of mine, maintained it is wrong for an individual to donate to the church at any time other than the first day of the week collection and that contributions to the church must be in cash rather than kind. He alleged that the Lord has required cash contributions in every age. One congregation had withdrawn from a brother who had donated building material to the church on a weekday.
After Brother Lewis and I studied with preaching brethren, the brother and I had a semiformal discussion of the issue before the preachers of Abia State. I have been told by Brethren Chibuzor James and Chizuru Lowell Odoemelam that the issue quieted down for some time but has now been revived. In hope this will prove helpful to promote scriptural unity in Abia State and elsewhere, I will present the reasons I believe a Christian has the liberty to donate to the church at times other than the first day of the week and that donations may be in kind as well as cash.
The Old Testament law for Israelites to contribute to the Lord was the tithe. Israel was to give a tithe (one tenth) of all the produce of the land (Leviticus 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 14:22). The tithe was to be given to the Levites (Numbers 18:21-24), and the Levites were to give the priests a tithe of the tithe (Numbers 18:25-28). Additionally, every third year a tithe was to be shared with Levites, strangers, fatherless and widows at home (Deuteronomy 14:27-29). This could be in cash or kind, e.g., grain, livestock, etc. (Leviticus 14:22-29). Furthermore, Israelites were allowed to make free will offerings besides the tithe (Leviticus 22:18-20).
The New Testament law for contributions to the church is a free will offering from its own members on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:5-7). This contribution may take the form of cash (Acts 4:34-37). But it need not be cash. A number of Christians donated the use of their homes to the local church (Acts 12:5,12; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon verses 1-2). In whatever way and at whatever time any saint assisted Phoebe in doing her work, he was making a contribution to the church in Cenchrea, whose servant she was (Romans 16:1-2). When Christians donate their time and ability to address a church publication, to clean the meeting house, to cut the grass, etc., they are making voluntary donations of their time and ability to the church in addition to their first day of the week contribution. Thus, voluntary donations may be made to the church any day of the week and in cash or kind.
If there is a problem with brethren giving to be seen by men (Matthew 6:1-4), deal with that problem. But do not cause unnecessary division between brethren by making a law the Lord did not make.
In January, 2008, I repeatedly asked my beloved brother and friend before the preachers of Abia State, “If I ship a box of song books to the church where you preach, and they arrive on a day other than Sunday, will the church where you preach accept them and thank me or refuse them and condemn me?” I’m still waiting for the answer.
