Church Funding

I believe the verse you mentioned (Acts 2:45) is a good example of the early church supplying needs for that local body by selling their possessions.

First, the church should determine if the cause that they're raising money for is within God's will. A new building is going to further the ministry, therefore it's legitimate. The CD is a good idea, because that way your church can minister through songs as well as raise much needed funds. Try to integrate evangelism/ministry into all your fund raiser activities.

"whilst others feels all the money should come from within the congregation via gifts."

I don't see this in scripture. This could actually be based on fear of what the community will think of the church.


If you do a fund raiser, make sure you're fair with participants. Put out a professional product, treat everyone with respect, don't sell or do anything that would threaten the testimony of the church.

 

Ulsterman,

I see no problem with a church encouraging its people to sell things to support ministries of the church as you correctly pointed out the example of Acts 2:45.

But encourging, and guilt triping are two different things - and many churches seem to take the latter approach.


About making a CD and selling it for proceeds this is my take:

It is one thing if the church receives unsolicited gifts from the ungodly. An unbeliever donates a piece of property or money to a church is one example. There is nothing wrong(from what I see in the Scriptures) with a church accepting this.

It is quite another for a church to go and solicit funds from unbelievers, whether through bake sales, bingo, or even church cds.

While the specific matter in the passage deals with law suits among believers, a second more trancendent theme is also found here.

We as believers, the body of Christ, are not to take our problems, whether they be financial, legal or otherwise and put them in front of unbelievers to let them solve or see.

When we have a problem with another brother, we handle it one and one, if he will not hear it we take it before the church, but never before the world - this is a shame.

How much more a shame, when a God's work cannot be supported by God's own people. What message does it send to unbelievers that churches need to solcit funds from them to operate their ministries?

I know some on this board may disagree with me. But if a church is having financial problems, then it needs to cut what ministries it needs to balance its own budget.

If you can't afford a new building then you can't afford a new building - don't solicit funds from unbelievers to build it.

If you can't afford the building your in, then move to a smaller building.

If you church is so small it can't pay for a full time Pastor, then the Pastor should go and make tents like Paul did until the church can support him full time.

Thats my take.

IFBReformer
http://www.ifbreformation.org/tithing.aspx

 

The pattern of NT fund raising is the cheerful, proportional, regular giving of the people. For an individual to sell something and give the money in biblical. For the church to sell something like a CD is not, so far as I can see.

 

What if you sell the CD to Christians that are not members of your church or have them to buy them as gifts to non-believers?

 

If you do make a CD, please follow all appropriate copyright procedures.