My People Are Destroyed for a Lack of Knowledge Hosea 4:6

My People Are Destroyed for a Lack of KnowledgeHosea 4:6 A Study of Spending the Church’s Money

Spending the Church’s Money Warnings • Failure to Study the Issues (Ho 4:6, Ro 10:2) • Attitudes while debating (1 Ti. 6:3-4) • Listen before responding (James 1:19)

Spending the Church’s Money If you cannot find the authority in the Scriptures, it’s not a good work no matter how good it looks to us. • Authority 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. It is Scripture that thoroughly equips us for every good work.

Spending the Church’s Money • Authority Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Question: If we can’t find where the Lord says it, can we do it in His name?

Spending the Church’s Money Activities Authorized For the Church • Assemble • Observe Lord’s Supper • Sing • Exhort, Pray, Preach and Teach • Contribution • Support the preaching of the gospel

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Preaching One Church to one Man Phil. 4:10-18; Acts 13:1-6

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Preaching Many Churches to one Man 2 Cor. 11:7-9

Spending the Church’s Money Activities Authorized For the Church • Assemble • Observe Lord’s Supper • Sing • Exhort, Pray, Preach and Teach • Contribution • Support the preaching of the gospel • Benevolence (*Needy Saints)

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Benevolence One Church to Their Own Members Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-37; 6:1-6; 1 Tim 5:16

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Benevolence Many Churches to a Church (Elders) Ro 15:25-28; 2 Co. 8:18-21; 1 Co. 16:1-3

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Benevolence One Church to Churches (Elders) of Judea Acts 11:27-30

Spending the Church’s Money Activities Authorized For the Church • Provide for Widows Indeed (1 Tim. 5:3-16) • Left Alone • Trust in God • Continue in supplication and prayers night/day • Over 60 • Wife of one man • Well reported for Good works • Brought up children • Lodged strangers • Washed saints feet • Relieved the afflicted • Diligent to every good work With such qualifications, does it sound like God cares how the church’s money is spent?

Spending the Church’s Money • Individual Responsibility 1Ti 5:4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (NKJV) 1Ti 5:16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. (NKJV) do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Spending the Church’s Money Who is to oversee the work of the church? 1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

Spending the Church’s Money Who is to oversee the work of the church? • Acts 20: 28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. all the flock, among which you oversee

Spending the Church’s Money • What is wrong with orphan homes? • Should orphans be helped? • Yes! • Jas 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (NKJV)

Spending the Church’s Money • What is wrong with orphan homes? • Who should help? • Who is the audience of James 1 ? • vs. 12, 14, 19, 23, 24, 25 and 26 • Individual Responsibility • Jas 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (NKJV)

Spending the Church’s Money James 1:12-27 NKJV 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But hewho looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Quote from defending article: What an individual Christian can do because he is a Christian the church can do. Can an individual Christian support false doctrine? No. Neither can a congregation. Can an individual Christian support an orphan home? Yes. Can an individual congregation support an orphan home? Yes. Spending the Church’s Money How It Works $ $ $ Who’s work is this? (Building, Food, Supervisor, Activities, etc…) - Elders of the local churches or - Institutional Board overseeing One or many churches to an Institution Board Where is the scripture?

Spending the Church’s Money • Where is the scripture for a middle man organization? • This “middle man” stands between the church and the work • In all of our scriptures, the money went directly to the need (to the work)

Spending the Church’s Money Missionary Societies Retirement Homes Colleges/Schools Publications, TV, Radio, etc.. How was Money Spent? The money always went directly to the work that needed doing. One or many churches to an Institution (Board) Where is the scripture?

Spending the Church’s Money • Defenses • The Board is just the “method” • The command: Visit Orphans, Preach, etc • It is just the “how” which is up to us • Expediency • Note once the board is in place the local elders no longer oversee the work • This is not simply “how”

Spending the Church’s Money • Are These Legitimate Works of the Church? • Some Yes • Mission (support preachers) • TV, Radio, Publication (preaching/teaching) • Widows Indeed • Some No • Orphan homes • Schools • Colleges “A Principle” Children care for widows … do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Spending the Church’s Money Should the Church Help Non-Christians? Acts 2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Context shows “every man” here is those among the Christians.

Spending the Church’s Money Should the Church Help Non-Christians? • Gal 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. • What does context show here?

Spending the Church’s Money Should the Church Help Non-Christians? • Gal. 6:5-8 For each one shall bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. • So “who” is to do good to all, especially those of the household of faith? (Individual or Church)

Spending the Church’s Money Should the Church Help Non-Christians? • 2Co 9:13-14 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.(NKJV) • Sharing => Communion or Fellowship II Cor. 6:14 • “men” is in italics in KJV • Whoever the all is would be offering prayers

Spending the Church’s Money Sponsoring Church • Local churches send money to the elders of another church • Church takes on a work larger than they can handle • Ask other congregations to help • May be preaching or benevolence • What flock are the elders supposed to oversee? • 1 Peter 5:1-2, Acts 20:8

Spending the Church’s Money How was Money Spent? -- Preaching One or many churches to Sponsoring Church Where is the scripture?

Spending the Church’s Money Sponsoring Church - Defense • Spiritual work overseen by elders of a local church • Problem – Elders must leave their role of local oversight

Spending the Church’s Money Sponsoring Church - Defense • Jerusalem was a sponsoring church for the distribution of the funds • Proof 1: • Acts 11:27-30 Barnabas and Saul delivered the funds to the elders. • Acts 12:25 Barnabus and Saul returned from Jerusalem where they had fulfilled their ministry • Just because they returned from Jerusalem, does that mean they didn’t go anywhere else?

Spending the Church’s Money Sponsoring Church - Defense • Jerusalem was a sponsoring church for the distribution of the funds • Proof 2: • Gal. 1:22 Paul was unknown by face to the churches of Judea • Therefore, he must not have delivered the funds to them. • Gal. 1 – is giving the chronology after Paul was baptized but before Acts 11.

Spending the Church’s Money Sponsoring Church - Defense • Jerusalem was a sponsoring church for the distribution of the funds • Proof 2: Gal. 1 -- Paul unknown by face • Conversion • Left Damascus and went to Arabia (v. 17) • Left Arabia and returned to Damascus (v. 17) • After 3 years, Paul goes to Jerusalem see Peter for 15 days (v. 18) • Went into the region of Syria and Cilica (v. 21) • It is then that he was unknown by face (v. 22)

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities • This issue is not whether someone can eat or drink in the building • This issue is not whether the building is sacred • The issue is: Is there authority for the church to plan and fund social activities?

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities • What is the purpose of the social activities? • To draw people in the door • Cappuccino and Christ • Coffee and Doughnuts • Casual Services • Plays, Performances, Musicals, etc… • Gyms, Softball teams, etc…

Spending the Church’s Money • Chances are, your local church is moving away from the traditional format in an attempt to fill emptying pews. • As South Church in Andover, Mass., was debating when to hold an alternative worship service, the question wasn’t which day is holy. Instead it was: When do people have nothing else to do? A market survey gave them an answer: 5 p.m., Saturday. … • One minister in Arkansas instituted his own version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” with two worshipers/contestants winning $1,000 cash prizes. • One minister cruises the streets in poor areas of Bryan, Tex., in a blue bus with a sign advertising, “We will pay you $10 to come to church on our bus.” • http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=3.0.69.0

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities • Have we forgotten? • Ro 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (NKJV)

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities Defended • Love Feast • 2 Pet 2:13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, • Jude 12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities Defended • Love Feast – What are they? • We don’t know • Some say Lord’s Supper (Barns) • Others meal of the rich for the poor members • No indication they are “church activities” • Both passages are describing false teachers and not the “love feast” • 1 Cor. 11:22 – Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities Defended • Aren’t we supposed to have fellowship one with another? • Didn’t they eat together in Acts 2:46 • Where did they gather to eat?

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities Defended • Defined as sharing, communion, participation in, joining together • Business: Luke 5:10 James and John were “business” partners with Simon • It is used in the context of spiritual fellowship many times • Act 2:42 fellowship , Romans 15:26 contribution , I Corinthians 1:9 fellowship , I Corinthians 10:16 communion , II Corinthians 6:14 communion, II Corinthians 8:4 fellowship , II Corinthians 9:13 distribution , II Corinthians 13:14 communion , Galatians 2:9 fellowship , Ephesians 3:9 fellowship , Philippians 1:5 fellowship , Philippians 2:1 fellowship , Philippians 3:10 fellowship , Philemon 1:6 communication , Hebrews 13:16 communicate , 1 John 1:3 (TWICE) fellowship , fellowship , 1 John 1:6 fellowship [2842 , and 1 John 1:7 fellowship . • Strong's reference: 2842

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities Defended • Defined as sharing, communion, participation in, joining together • Business: Luke 5:10 James and John were “business” partners with Simon • It is used in the context of spiritual fellowship many times • Problem: Never is it used in the New Testament for social activities in connection with the church.

Spending the Church’s Money • Funding Social Activities • If the Scripture never uses it this way • Why do we think of fellowship as eating a common meal together? • Why do we think of fellowship as “fun and games; eating and drinking”? • Where do we get from this doughnuts and coffee--or any other social fellowship? The World!

Spending the Church’s Money • Conclusion: • Do the orphans need to be cared for? • Do we have social needs? • Should we educate our children? “Remember the Principle” Children care for widows … do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

My People Are Destroyed for a Lack of Knowledge Hosea 4:6