Various works are carried out using the funds collected by the church. Since all the brethren at a local congregation make contributions into the treasury, they are working together in these activities. In Scripture this is called fellowship – joint participation. Paul warned, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11, KJV). Another translation says, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness” (NASB). When we participate together in a work, we have fellowship with one another. When we place funds into a common treasury, we are working together in the works that are supported out of the treasury. Therefore, our giving on the first day of the week is one way in which we have fellowship together.
Seeing that our contribution into the church treasury constitutes fellowship with the brethren, we need to be mindful about the things for which the church uses its money. Again, “Do not participate in (have no fellowship with, KJV) the unfruitful deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). Is the treasury into which we contribute being used to support the “unfruitful deeds of darkness“? Does the church support preachers who do not “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11), fail to declare the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), or teach things “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:10)? Does the church fund entertainment and recreational activities? Does it extend benevolence beyond the limits placed upon it by the word of God? Does it contribute to human institutions or sponsoring churches? These can all be classified as “unfruitful deeds of darkness.” If we contribute into a church treasury that is supporting these things, we are having fellowship with the deeds of darkness. When this happens, we lose our fellowship with God since “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). We need to take seriously what our local congregation is supporting.
Now Concerning the Collection | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
