Church Supported Businesses
In 1955, I graduated from Georgia Christian Institute (formerly Dasher Bible School) in Valdosta, Georgia. Shortly after that, I was talking with a supporter of the school about church supported orphans’ homes and used the parallel of churches supporting G.C.I.. He said “the school will never receive a dime from churches.” The truth is that they were “accepting contributions from churches, if sent,” at that very time. A few years later, they began openly soliciting church contributions.
Last week, I received a magazine from the school announcing homecoming events for 2003. Two of the events are: “Alumni Brunch...East Room, Dasher Church of Christ,” and
“20-Year Reunion Dinner… Catered dinner at Central Avenue Church of Christ connector.” Many churches in the Valdosta are closely connected with the school, both by providing places for school events and by making contributions to the school.
Another bulletin I received recently, from a church that would favor church contributions to orphans’ homes, has an article opposing church contributions to the “Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc.” of Nashville, Tn. The article, written by Gary L. Grizzell gives six reasons to oppose this. Two of the reasons, I find very interesting. One is, “No humanly originated society (organization, body) has the scriptural right to solicit money (in the name of doing the Lord’s work or otherwise) from the divinely originated treasuries of the churches of Christ (Col. 3:17).” This is exactly what those who have opposed churches contributing to orphan homes and schools have argued through the said through the years. The New Testament teaches that churches cared for their own needy (Acts 2:44-46; 4:34-37; 6:1-6), and when they were unable to do so, other congregations sent help (Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor. 8:13-15).
Second, he said, “The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. has an unscriptural organizational structure (Mat. 28:18; Col. 1:18; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Col. 2:10; Acts 11:27-30). There is no New Testament authority for its support from either church treasuries or from individuals’ pockets because there is no authority for its existence (Col. 3:17; 2 John 9-11; Mat. 7:22,23; Rom. 3:8).” The interesting thing about this is that these same brethren have argued that human organizations (such as orphans’ homes) are simply methods for accomplishing the work. Well, it seems that some are seeing that at least some human organizations should not be supported from the church treasury.
The editor of the bulletin, Jim E. Waldron, said that Jesus did not say, “I came to do world disaster relief,” but “commissioned us to ‘preach the gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15-16). He believes it is right for churches to relieve unbelievers and support some benevolent organizations, but not “Churches of Christ Disaster, Inc.” It is like defending church kitchens and opposing church gymnasiums! They stand or fall together.
Last week, I received a magazine from the school announcing homecoming events for 2003. Two of the events are: “Alumni Brunch...East Room, Dasher Church of Christ,” and
“20-Year Reunion Dinner… Catered dinner at Central Avenue Church of Christ connector.” Many churches in the Valdosta are closely connected with the school, both by providing places for school events and by making contributions to the school.
Another bulletin I received recently, from a church that would favor church contributions to orphans’ homes, has an article opposing church contributions to the “Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc.” of Nashville, Tn. The article, written by Gary L. Grizzell gives six reasons to oppose this. Two of the reasons, I find very interesting. One is, “No humanly originated society (organization, body) has the scriptural right to solicit money (in the name of doing the Lord’s work or otherwise) from the divinely originated treasuries of the churches of Christ (Col. 3:17).” This is exactly what those who have opposed churches contributing to orphan homes and schools have argued through the said through the years. The New Testament teaches that churches cared for their own needy (Acts 2:44-46; 4:34-37; 6:1-6), and when they were unable to do so, other congregations sent help (Acts 11:27-30; 2 Cor. 8:13-15).
Second, he said, “The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. has an unscriptural organizational structure (Mat. 28:18; Col. 1:18; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Col. 2:10; Acts 11:27-30). There is no New Testament authority for its support from either church treasuries or from individuals’ pockets because there is no authority for its existence (Col. 3:17; 2 John 9-11; Mat. 7:22,23; Rom. 3:8).” The interesting thing about this is that these same brethren have argued that human organizations (such as orphans’ homes) are simply methods for accomplishing the work. Well, it seems that some are seeing that at least some human organizations should not be supported from the church treasury.
The editor of the bulletin, Jim E. Waldron, said that Jesus did not say, “I came to do world disaster relief,” but “commissioned us to ‘preach the gospel to every creature’ (Mark 16:15-16). He believes it is right for churches to relieve unbelievers and support some benevolent organizations, but not “Churches of Christ Disaster, Inc.” It is like defending church kitchens and opposing church gymnasiums! They stand or fall together.