[This question is a follow-up to “In A Bond Bind”]

You said it that the weekly collection was the only biblical way for a church to raise funds. Then you said that selling bonds was the same as getting a loan (though it really is not). You then said a church needed to use wisdom whether it should borrow money from a bank. Can you please show how your first point relates to the last? If the collection is the only authorized way, where does wisdom enter the ball game?

Sincerely,
007

Dear 007,

A bond is exactly the same as getting a loan.  In finance, a bond is an instrument of indebtedness of the bond issuer to the holders. It is a debt security, under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and, depending on the terms of the bond, is obliged to pay them interest.

There is a difference between a church borrowing money and a church raising money.  When a church borrows money, their income hasn’t changed – they just have an obligation to pay the borrowed money back, typically with interest, at a later date.  It is the same as when someone borrows money to buy a car.  The borrowing requires them to raise money eventually to pay back the loan… the loan doesn’t change their income.

This is where the real issue is.  The church is only given one example of raising money for its work – through a collection of the saints on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2).  The congregation must then be wise about how they steward that money.  Acquiring, or not acquiring, loans to purchase a church building (or other major expenses) is part of that stewardship.

I have been studying with a close friend for the past year.  We started by reading through the gospels, and then we studied Acts and looked at each epistle.  I feel like we have had a very profitable study.  At the end of the day, he asked me, "Where does the church that we read about exist?" He went on to explain that he did not get the impression that the New Testament church as it is claimed to be today is what we read about.  He said, "It's as if the church you attend does things or doesn't do things, and then looks to the Bible to justify them.  Instead, if we looked at the New Testament Christians, and tried to derive their organization, where would we get to what we see today?"  He comes from a very ritualistic background and has a hard time seeing how we haven't adopted the traditions of worship from them.  Where should I point him, and does he have legitimate concerns with where we are as the restored church?

Sincerely,
Study Stuck

Dear Study Stuck,

There are a lot of vague details with your question.  For starters, we don’t know what church he has his traditions from, and we don’t know what the practices of your church are.  If you want more specific help, please e-mail us again and include an e-mail address we can respond to.

We can say this though.  The easiest way to see what the New Testament church looks like is to add up the practices that you see in the New Testament.

1. Their name should be Biblical. Church of Christ (Rom 16:16), the church (Acts 14:27), church of God (1 Cor 1:2), the Way (Acts 24:14) – all of these are Biblical names given to a local congregation. Having the right name on the front of the building doesn’t mean they are the right church, but if they can’t even get their name from the Bible, they probably aren’t worth wasting your time on.

2. Their doctrine should be a copy of the New Testament (Acts 2:42). Any creeds, ‘statements of faith’, articles of belief, manuals, or handbooks are from man and not from God. You want a congregation that uses the Bible to decide their practices.

3. They are autonomous. Every congregation of the New Testament had independence. Only local elders were over them (1 Pet 5:1-2, Acts 14:23). They were bound to follow Christ as their only head (Eph 5:23). No boards or committees, no headquarters in some other state, no popes or potentates – what you are looking for is a local body of believers which is accountable to Christ and His Word.

4. The church’s work should be simple. The church of the first century wasn’t involved in every community and political arena. Their work was focused on three things – caring for needy christians (Acts 4:34), preaching to the lost, and teaching the saved (Acts 15:35). Find a congregation who is committed to being about Christ’s work.

5. They should be open to examination. Any congregation that is serving Christ should be willing to explain why they do what they do. They should be willing to be examined because they are constantly examining themselves (2 Cor 13:5). There is nothing wrong with asking a congregation where their practices can be found in the New Testament. Ask questions and expect Bible answers for them.

These five things are by no means all of the characteristics of Christ’s church, but they are a conversation starter.

Would it be okay for a church to sell bonds to raise needed money?

Sincerely,
007

Dear 007,

The Bible only provides one way for the church to garner funds – a collection made every Sunday from amongst its own members (1 Cor 16:1).  Having said that, the argument for selling bonds is that it is no different than getting a loan from a bank to purchase a building.

The general Bible principle is that a congregation shouldn’t raise funds by any method other than a weekly collection from its members.  A bond is a form of loan, and it is the idea of borrowing money that causes so much debate.  Every congregation must use their own wisdom in deciding if, how, and when to borrow money.

What do you do when you feel that you have been pushed aside and not allowed to let your calling being used?  I was a director of a youth choir at my local church.  We now have a minister of music, and now I have been told by them that my services are no longer needed.  Whenever I asked to direct the choir because the Lord has laid a song in my heart, I am told that they have to pray about the song.  I talked to the pastor, and I was told that I should work with the minister of music, but they are not allowing me to work with them.  I have been directing and singing since the age of seven, and I am presently 49.  I have asked the Lord to help me with this situation because I am not clear about what I should do.  I have been asked to join another ministry, but I do not want to leave my present church.

Sincerely,
The Other Director

Dear The Other Director,

We are not exactly sure what advice to give you.  On the one hand, we could simply tell you that it is important to do whatever you can to be at peace with all men (Rom 12:18).  There are many times when we must deal with disappointment in order to get along with others.

On the other hand, we are concerned that we would be giving you a small piece of advice on human relationships while overlooking the weightier issue - the fact that you have been caught up in a world of choirs, ministers of music, and other things not found in the Bible.

The Bible gives us a simple example for worship.  God tells us that all christians should sing and make melody in our hearts (Eph 5:19).  There are no choirs in the New Testament church.  Choirs have audiences... in the church, we should all participate in praising God with our voices.  Choirs are a denominational concept that deviates from the New Testament pattern.  We here at AYP love singing and praising God in song, just like you do.  It is important that we stick to the Bible pattern and have everyone praise God and pluck their heart strings together.  Worship only makes God happy when we worship Him the way He wants (1 Sam 15:22).

Is the ministry and gift referenced in 2 Corinthians 9 referring to money?  If so, was this money collected by the churches in Achaia to be given to needy non-Christians (9:13)?  I've heard some conflicting views on this, and I'm looking for a good, Biblical answer.

Sincerely,
Gift Giver

Dear Gift Giver,

2 Cor 9 is dealing with a gift of money.  Paul is telling the Corinthians how happy he is with their readiness and zeal to give (2 Cor 9:2).  The whole chapter is dealing with a collection to care for the needs of impoverished christians in Jerusalem.  Paul told the Corinthian church to begin taking up a collection for that need in 1 Cor 16:1-3 and that he would pick up the money and deliver it to Jerusalem when he passed through Macedonia (1 Cor 16:5-6).

In the Second Corinthian letter, Paul is telling them once again to make that gift ready because he is coming soon, and he wanted them to be prepared (2 Cor 9:3-5).  That money was collected by the church in Corinth to care for the needs of christians (2 Cor 9:1).  When Paul talks about their liberality “unto them and unto all” (2 Cor 9:13) – the ‘them’ in that context is the brethren in Judea, and the ‘all’ is all the brethren that the Corinthian church had been kind to and cared for.

The Bible only authorizes a local church to give money to care for needy christians.  The church has more restrictive financial guidelines than individuals do.  As individuals, we can – and should – care for both christians and non-christians (Gal 6:10).