Some question whether we even have Bible authority for a church treasury. While the term “church treasury” is not used in the New Testament, the concept certainly is. In Acts 4:32-35, aid was provided for those in need using funds that had been pooled together. This collection of donations was, for all intents and purposes, a treasury. We clearly see that the church in Jerusalem had a treasury into which individual Christians deposited money. The apostles then used this treasury to distribute to those in need.
The concept of a church treasury is also found in Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians. Paul was coming to take money they had raised to Jerusalem to benefit needy saints (1 Corinthians 16:3). In order that the “gift” would be ready and that “no collections be made when I [Paul] come” (1 Corinthians 16:2), the church was to take up a collection “on the first day of every week.” These funds that were collected every week were saved so they would be ready when Paul arrived. Where were they saved? In the church treasury. Again, the term “church treasury” is not found in the New Testament; but as we have noticed, the concept certainly is. Congregations have Bible authority to have a treasury into which they can collect funds for safe keeping until the time when these funds are to be used.
But do we have authority to use the church treasury for just anything or are there certain things to which we must be limited? That is certainly an important question. We have authority for a treasury, but do we have the right to use that money for anything we choose? No! Ultimately, the money in the church treasury belongs to the Lord. After all, the church itself belongs to Christ. He “purchased [it] with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). He is the “head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:22). He possesses “all authority” (Matthew 28:18) – we possess none. Therefore, we must use the funds from the treasury of His church in the ways He has authorized.
To determine what we have authority to use the church treasury for, we first need to look at the works in which the church is to be engaged.
Evangelism
The church is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). As such, it is to be engaged in the preaching of the gospel. Those who preach the gospel sacrifice their time and resources to be able to do so. Because of this, “The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). Funds from a congregation’s treasury may be used to support men who preach the gospel among them in that location. Paul told the Corinthians that it was right to receive payment from them for his labor among them, even though he did not take advantage of this right (1 Corinthians 9:11-12). A preacher working in one location may receive support from churches in other locations (2 Corinthians 11:8-9; Philippians 4:15-16). A church may also send men out to preach as the Antioch church did (Acts 13:1-3).
In the work of evangelism, different methods may be used. When the Lord gave the command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15), the message is specified – the gospel. That is what we must preach. But the manner in which we “go” to preach is not specified. The method we use to spread the gospel is left to our own judgment, provided our decision does not violate another command or directive of Scripture. A thing must first be lawful before it can be claimed as expedient or helpful (1 Corinthians 10:23). In carrying out its mission to evangelize, a church may use funds from its treasury to pay a located preacher, support preachers in other places, hold a gospel meeting, print and send out a bulletin, publish tracts, host a radio or television program, and so on.
Edification
After listing different offices in the church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers), Paul said they were put in place “for the equipping of the saints” and “to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). This is what edification is – equipping and building up the saints. Edification takes place as a result of the word of God being examined and taught (Acts 20:32). All the offices Paul listed in Ephesians 4:11 deal with the revelation (apostles and prophets) and proclamation (evangelists, pastors, teachers) of the word. Because of this, they were able to help equip and build up the saints. Churches need to be doing this work of edification.
How is the work of edification carried out? One way is by the saints “assembling together” (Hebrews 10:25). This is one way we encourage one another. The fact that a church is to assemble necessitates a place to assemble. Brethren cannot come together without a location in which to do so. Some question the authority for a congregation owning a building in which to meet, but the church needs a place to assemble to do the work of edification. Some argue that we should meet in the homes of Christians. This could be done to fulfill the responsibility to assemble. But many times this is not practical. Often a congregation is too large to meet in someone’s home. We also have examples of Christians in the first century meeting in places other than someone’s home (Acts 5:12; 20:7-8). Since the type of location to assemble is not specified in the New Testament, this should be left to the judgment of each autonomous congregation. But a church building certainly is authorized in the instruction to assemble. “Assembling together” for the purpose of “encouraging one another” qualifies as edification. Therefore, church funds may be used for a church building.
In addition to this, other things may be helpful for edification. This would include things that help in the teaching of the word of God, such as class books, songbooks, tracts, tapes and CDs for recording sermons, etc. These things may be paid for out of the treasury to carry out the church’s work of edification.
Benevolence
Along with edification, benevolence is also a work of the church. Benevolence has to do with helping those who are in need. This may be done to aid those who are among the congregation (Acts 4:34-35) and those who are in other locations (Acts 11:29-30).
Every time we read of the church in the New Testament doing the work of benevolence, the beneficiaries were Christians – “among them” (Acts 4:34), referring to “the congregation of those who believed” (Acts 4:32); “brethren” (Acts 11:29); “saints” (Romans 15:26, 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 Corinthians 8:4). Nowhere do we read of the church providing aid to those who were non-Christians.
This is not to say that we, as individual Christians, cannot help those in the world who are in need. Paul told the Galatians, “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Galatians 6:10). Is this talking about help from individuals or the church? The context clearly shows that Paul is talking about individual action – “the one” (Galatians 6:6), “a man” (Galatians 6:7), “the one” (Galatians 6:8). Individuals can help those who are not Christians.
The same is true in James 1:27. James gave the instruction “to visit orphans and widows in their distress.” This is referring to the help in providing for their needs. Again, the context shows this is done by individuals – “yourselves” (James 1:22), “anyone,” “a man” (James 1:23), “himself,” “he” (James 1:24), “one” (James 1:25), “anyone,” “himself,” “this man’s” (James 1:26), “oneself” (James 1:27).
Individuals may provide benevolence to all men. But the New Testament only authorizes the church to help “saints.” Therefore, under the category of benevolence, the church treasury may only be used to provide for Christians (and even this is limited – 1 Timothy 5:16). There is simply no authority to use the Lord’s money to aid non-Christians.
The treasury is not to be used for just anything. As we have seen, the church is to be engaged in the works of evangelism, edification, and limited benevolence. Therefore, we are authorized to use funds from the church treasury for these works. But churches have invented all sorts of other works that require funding. They fund different forms of entertainment and recreation when the Lord never directed His church to provide these things. The more activities like these a church sponsors, the more money it needs to fund them. Perhaps that is why churches invent some of the ways to generate funds, aside from the weekly collection, that we noticed earlier. When we start departing from the New Testament pattern, we will inevitably continue down the path of apostasy.
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