"Lite" topic... but one that has caused several "exchanges" in the past, I'm sure.

We hit a "Jesus turns over the Money Changers tables" text (Matthew 21:12ff) today in Bible Study and the discussion made it around to fund raising activities and the church. Opinions, at least, seemed to abound.

So, I'm curious about what activities are "allowed" and which aren't? Examples, church-sponsored rummage sale on church property? Pancake/Sausage Supper in church basement? Church-sponsored Car Wash in a business lot?

Is the issue WHERE the activity is held? Or is it that there is a CHARGE (what if things were "Free.... Donations Accepted")??? Or should all of our funds come from our individual tithes and offerings... with no "strings attached"?

Let me know what you do..... and, of course, scripture references are preferred.

Thanks!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Answers

Robin....

I simply will not serve at a church that has "fund raisers."

That says to me immediately....that they can't afford me!!

Anytime I walk in front of a Wal-mart and see a church selling "peanut brittle"....I immediately think...."Ahh....your members are not financially supporting the church!."

I think it is a sad witness when the church has to rely on non- Christians to support its ministry (which is why I don't like "taking up offerings"....but that's another subject).

As per "youth fund raisers".......when involved in youth ministry (or being the preacher who is also the youth minister).....the only fund raisers we allowed.....were 1) events held in the church paid for by church members....i.e., the youth would fix a "fajita dinner"....and the members of the church would come and pay for the meal. 2) Car washes where members pledged so much per car. The car wash was then advertised as "free" to the public and the youth would use it as an opportunity to pass out literature about the church. Invariably.....donations are given and accepted.....but not asked for. I remember one event where the kids washed 100 cars.......and only 1 of those, the last one, accepted the "free" car wash. That event, yeilded a lot of money after the pledges of the members was received.

The toughest issue today is getting kids to work. They think its owed to them!!

-- Anonymous, July 01, 2000

The Bible only mentions tithes and offerings, nothing about washing donkey carts or the such. I always hesitate for us to do public fund raisers, because we already have an image among some of "just wanting money".

As for the "no strings attached", the only strings mentioned in the New Testament are for the "needy" -- Acts 2:45, 4:34-35 mention people bringing the proceeds from things they sold to be administered by the apostles (later the first "deacons") for the benefit of the poor and the widows. There is frequent mention in some letters of Paul about a collection he was taking for the poor in Jerusalem.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Robin -- the passage re: the money changers deals with the corrupt way they operated. Many people traveled many miles from many different countries to worshhip at the temple. Offerings to the temple had to be in temple funds. Many people didn't carry that type of funds with them. The moneychangers would offer to change their money for the proper type ... for a fee! That is what Jesus was upset about.

re: the selling of animals. Same idea applies here. Some would travel many miles, and purchase an animal for offering at the temple ... and get "ripped off" in the process, being charged more than was proper. Also, some would bring an animal to offer, only to be told it wasn't "perfect" enough to offer. Of course, they could "trade in" their imperfect animal for a "perfect" one, adding a small fee as well. Then you would see their imperfect animal being offered to another person as perfect.

Jesus was upset at the people being ripped off ... by a den of thieves.

Now, re: selling and fundraising. It is hard to offer scriptural references since I don't believe there are any. Should a congregation participate in fundraising? I believe that is up to the individual congregation. I have served churches where it was totally forbidden ... and others where car washes and the like were okay for the youth group to raise funds for missions trips, CIY, etc.

Each congregation must decide for themselves what is proper. If they are NOT going to allow fundraisers for the youth ... then will they ensure there are enough funds for CIY, camp, etc.

Just my opinion.

Darrell H Combs

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Robin,

I would agree with Darryl regarding fundraisers in that the individual congregation must decide for themselves what they would do. In the congregation where I serve, the primary ministries (for lack of a better term) are supported via the tythes, gifts and offerings of the body as a whole.

We do allow limited fundraising within some of these ministries. For example: the various women's ministries do have some fundraisers to finance different projects that they wish to take on. The men's ministries and the youth ministries the same. For example: if the youth want to go to an amusement park or a camping trip, or even to travel on mission trips, they may utilize fundraisers for monies needed.

We do have an over-riding principal that we apply to the fundraisers. That being: a workman is worthy is hire. Therefore, the fundraisers are to be work oriented. We encourage a good work ethic. The ones that work benefit from the funds raised.

I would disagree with my brother Danny as far as money from unbelievers. The following is said partly tongue and cheek... A preacher was asked if he would accept a tythe from monies gained from gambling... because those monies would be tainted,,, the preacher responded by saying, "The only thing wrong with tainted money is that there taint enough of it." Anyway, I have no problem with God gaining the benefit of funds from a believer or an unbeliever. After all, how many times throughout the O.T. did God utilize riches from the unbelieving nations.. Yes, many times they were not to, but there were many times that there were collected.

Anyway,,,, that is our policy on fundraising, in short. Whatever your congregation decides upon the matter is what you will do. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to the Father through Him."

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

I should probably stay out of this, since I think personally it is largely a cultural issue and I work in a different culture than the rest of you do. However, sometimes an outsider can throw a different light on things and help us see things from a different perspective.

Question: what makes a "cash" economy better or more scriptural than any other kind of economy, e.g. a barter economy? Even in a cash economy, why is it better to donate cash than to donate the labour that produces the cash?

All Christians need to be giving to the Lord's work. And in a country as affluent as the U.S. currently is, where it seems that even most teenagers have "money to burn", a good part of that giving -- probably most of it -- ought to be in the form of cash (or cheques -- Joke!). I would agree that people should not use "fund raisers" as a means of avoiding giving money, or a way of getting "the Egyptians" to pay for things God's people should be paying for ourselves. (One thing to think about, however -- where did the Israelites get all of the rich items they in turn donated for the building and furnishing of the tabernacle?)

However, if our money represents the time we have spent working at some job, and we are already giving a reasonable portion from that, but want to give extra for some special project, why is is better to give the extra in the form of cash rather than time?

Why not (if time represents money anyway) give of one's time, and perhaps other, non-cash, resources, to "earn" a little more through some other kind of work, with all of the additional money raised in this way going to the church?

Or -- another idea -- many people in the U.S. have "garage sales", etc., and of course normally pocket the money themselves. What would be the difference between someone having her/his own garage sale and donating the proceeds to the church, and a congregation full of people all donating their "white elephants" to the church, and some people donating their time, so the church can have a "super garage sale" and keep all of the proceeds? Either one would seem, to me, an advance on keeping all the money personally except, perhaps, for a tithe.

-- Anonymous, July 03, 2000

Thanks for all of the responses!

Benjamin,

I am sure enough comfortable with individuals having a rummage sale and donating the monies to the church.... but I am uncomfortable with the idea of "a "super garage sale" " at the church. I'm guessing that is because of what Mark mentioned in the first response above.... that being that it could add to our image of "just wanting money". On the other hand, I am wondering if I just have a non- scriptural aversion to having such things "at the church building"?!?!

Danny,

I would have to agree that if a church was out doing fund-raisers in order to meet its 'normal' financial needs... that would be scary. But, fund-raisers associated with a specific mission could actually indicate a healthy desire to participate (and can be a great learning/teaching experience). By the way, I haven't noticed kids wanting everything for free..... I've found that they actually want something productive and meaningful to do!!

Overall.... Many times fund-raising efforts are highly visible to non- churched people (they need to be in order to get the most funds)... I guess I would just be more comfortable if more of our 'highly visible' efforts were put into service and evangelism.

Thanks again!

-- Anonymous, July 08, 2000

Hello, I don't know if this post is appropriate or not. If not I appologise sincerely, just advise and I will refrain from posting similar things in the future.

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-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001