In the COC, Charity Begins (and Ends) at Home
This is the time of year when people think about giving to their favorite charities, so I thought I'd comment on the COC's doctrines regarding the church and money. Every Sunday morning they pass around the collection plate, usually around the same time that they have the communion. The man presiding over the service will make a remark about how the money is used to continue the work of the church and often will read Paul's instructions regarding the collection in I Corinthians 16:1-3.
So week after week, people put their hard-earned money into the collection plate. Where does that money go? What is the work of the church, according to the COC? In a nutshell, the work of the church is to perpetuate itself, to make new converts and save as many souls as possible. So how is the money used to that end?
First, most of it goes to pay the preacher, despite Paul's comment in II Thessalonians 3:6-9 that he refused to accept a salary from the church and continued to work in his secular job for pay, in order to set a good example. Second, a lot of it goes toward maintaining the church building or meeting place: they pay the mortgage or rent, the utility bills, and any other maintenance costs. Of course, the first Christians, whom the COC claims to imitate, didn't have to spend their money on these things, because they usually met in members' homes. Finally, money is spent on materials for the Bible classes--books, workbooks, DVDs, PowerPoints, and visual aids for the children's classes.
If there is any money left over after these expenses are paid, a congregation might decide to send support to a preacher in a poorer area whose congregation can't support him or to one who is on a missionary trip overseas. Only rarely does the COC give money to a person who simply needs it, and when they do, it's only to fellow COC members. The COC will not give money to anyone outside the church. They cite the fact that Paul's instructions in I Corinthians were regarding a collection of money to be given to needy saints in Jerusalem and that he didn't "authorize" a collection for anyone else outside the church.
However, in II Corinthians 9:11-13, Paul writes, "You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others... [emphasis mine]." In this passage, the word "them" is clearly referring to the saints (i.e., fellow Christians), but to whom does the phrase "all others" refer? Obviously, it's referring to people who were not saints--to people in the community who were simply needy. In fact, we know from history that the first Christians were well known for their generosity to everyone, no matter their religion. So why does the COC think it can now make such a distinction? Jesus said to give to everyone who asks, and the COC disobeys this command at every turn.
Years ago I attended a rather large congregation that posted its quarterly financial statements on the bulletin board for anyone to read. One quarter, in the "Benevolence" column of the statement there was a big fat zero. One of the older sisters collared a deacon and asked him why the church hadn't given any money in benevolence when it had tens of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. He said, "We didn't know of anyone who needed help." She replied, "How can you say that when you know full well that there are elderly people in this congregation who have trouble paying their bills? Why didn't we help them?" He said, "Well, they didn't ask for help." She said, "So do we only help people when they ask? They shouldn't have to ask!" He turned around and walked away without saying another word, and the money continues to sit in the bank, and people who desperately need help are not ever going to get it from the COC.
So week after week, people put their hard-earned money into the collection plate. Where does that money go? What is the work of the church, according to the COC? In a nutshell, the work of the church is to perpetuate itself, to make new converts and save as many souls as possible. So how is the money used to that end?
First, most of it goes to pay the preacher, despite Paul's comment in II Thessalonians 3:6-9 that he refused to accept a salary from the church and continued to work in his secular job for pay, in order to set a good example. Second, a lot of it goes toward maintaining the church building or meeting place: they pay the mortgage or rent, the utility bills, and any other maintenance costs. Of course, the first Christians, whom the COC claims to imitate, didn't have to spend their money on these things, because they usually met in members' homes. Finally, money is spent on materials for the Bible classes--books, workbooks, DVDs, PowerPoints, and visual aids for the children's classes.
If there is any money left over after these expenses are paid, a congregation might decide to send support to a preacher in a poorer area whose congregation can't support him or to one who is on a missionary trip overseas. Only rarely does the COC give money to a person who simply needs it, and when they do, it's only to fellow COC members. The COC will not give money to anyone outside the church. They cite the fact that Paul's instructions in I Corinthians were regarding a collection of money to be given to needy saints in Jerusalem and that he didn't "authorize" a collection for anyone else outside the church.
However, in II Corinthians 9:11-13, Paul writes, "You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others... [emphasis mine]." In this passage, the word "them" is clearly referring to the saints (i.e., fellow Christians), but to whom does the phrase "all others" refer? Obviously, it's referring to people who were not saints--to people in the community who were simply needy. In fact, we know from history that the first Christians were well known for their generosity to everyone, no matter their religion. So why does the COC think it can now make such a distinction? Jesus said to give to everyone who asks, and the COC disobeys this command at every turn.
Years ago I attended a rather large congregation that posted its quarterly financial statements on the bulletin board for anyone to read. One quarter, in the "Benevolence" column of the statement there was a big fat zero. One of the older sisters collared a deacon and asked him why the church hadn't given any money in benevolence when it had tens of thousands of dollars just sitting in the bank. He said, "We didn't know of anyone who needed help." She replied, "How can you say that when you know full well that there are elderly people in this congregation who have trouble paying their bills? Why didn't we help them?" He said, "Well, they didn't ask for help." She said, "So do we only help people when they ask? They shouldn't have to ask!" He turned around and walked away without saying another word, and the money continues to sit in the bank, and people who desperately need help are not ever going to get it from the COC.
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