What are Some Bible Examples of Local Churches Assisting Other Congregations?

UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN.

WHAT ARE SOME BIBLE EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CHURCHES ASSISTING

OTHER CONGREGATIONS OR OTHER SAINTS?

There are actually several references to such activity recorded in the Book of Acts and epistles written by the apostle Paul. As we study the New Testament, it is important that we distinguish them one from another in our minds. Let us note some of the facts involved in six such instances, then close with some observations.

(1) Acts 11:22-24 – “. . . the church which was in Jerusalem . . . sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch” (11:22). The Jerusalem church did this after learning of conversions that took place in Antioch of Syria. What did Barnabas do once he arrived in Antioch? He exhorted the saints to cleave unto the Lord, and later, with Saul as his co-worker, he “taught much people” (11:26). So, in this instance one church – the Jerusalem congregation, sent a preacher to assist a congregation in another area. He worked in that second location in the realm of edification and evangelism.

(2) Acts 11:27-30 – After learning from the prophet Agabus about a coming famine, “the disciples” in Antioch, “every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea” (11:29). Whatever that relief was, they sent it “to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (11:29). Here is a case of God’s children being moved with compassion and sending assistance to other saints. Do you suppose it would have been just as scriptural for three men to transport the relief instead of just two? And what if the brethren from the area of Judaea had sent someone to pick up the relief instead of Saul and Barnabas delivering it?

(3) Acts 15:22-35 – After discussing matters pertaining to physical circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses, “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren” (15:22). Thus, brethren in Jerusalem sent at least four brothers to Antioch, and at the same time they sent a Holy Spirit-guided letter to the saints in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia (15:23,28). When they arrived in Antioch, “they delivered the epistle” (15:30), after which “Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them” (15:32). In this instance, brethren sent preachers and an inspired message in order to inform, assist, and strengthen brethren in other locals. If it was okay to send the inspired message, would it not be the same today, in principal, to purchase the inspired message in advance and then send it, or to send the funds to the brethren with the understanding that the funds were to be used in purchasing the inspired message there? Sure it would. Again, in this case the preachers were sent. What if there were already preachers in the other place? Could the brethren, with God’s approval, send funds to support the local preachers instead of sending outsiders? Of course. The transfer of money does not change the truth that the church is providing assistance in the form of manpower or finances, to preach the gospel.

(4) 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 – During part of the apostle Paul’s stay in the city of Corinth, “churches” (plural) supplied him with financial support. Churches of Macedonia sent support to him by way of Timothy and Silas (11:9; Acts 18:5). It is thus acceptable for more than one congregation to support the same preacher or same evangelistic work. The Macedonian congregations did not lose their congregational autonomy by turning Paul’s “wages” (11:8) over to the brethren who delivered it to Paul.

(5) Colossians 4:16 – Paul wrote an epistle to the brethren in Colosse, and he also wrote a letter to the saints in Laodicea. He charged them to read those epistles, then make the epistle that they first received from him available to the other congregation. This would be “an exchange” of inspired literature. We wonder: if one congregation had the right to send a single inspired epistle to brethren for those brethren’s spiritual development, would it have the right to send two such letters? What about three, or even twenty-seven? And, what if, instead of sending the inspired message in written form, they sent a preacher to communicate orally the inspired message? Would that not work as well? And, what if the church decided to send the funds to the second church in order that it could purchase the single epistle or collection of twenty-seven books? In principle would that not be the very same practice as sending a partial or complete New Testament? Sure it would.

(6) Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8,9 – These four segments of Scripture all have a common theme – “the Great Contribution” that Paul helped collect among Gentile congregations. This is not the same occasion that is recorded in Acts 11:27-30, which we noted earlier. The instance mentioned in Romans through 2 Corinthians took place at a much later time. Paul went among Gentile brethren and helped secure needed assistance for “the poor among the saints” in Jerusalem (Romans 15:26, ASV). The brethren that had a hand in such help were from Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1), Corinth/Achaia (2 Corinthians 9:1,2), and Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

With these historical practices in mind, let us now make some brief observations:

Like our brothers and sisters of the first century, when a need arises, we need to be

compassionate and generous people.

We must be prepared to support good works without any hint of prejudice or favoritism based on nationality or race.

There is no specific pattern in the Bible of how support/assistance has to be provided and delivered to those being supported.

It is scriptural for one church to support a particular scriptural activity. It is just as right for more than one church to support the same scriptural activity.

When one congregation sends assistance to another, that does not make the sending church the “controlling” church, even if it supplies a high percentage or all of the assistance that the second church receives. The sending church has no right to attempt to take the oversight of the second church involved, regardless of the location, size, or spiritual status of the second church. Congregational autonomy must be respected in every instance.

No one has the right to dictate to other saints or congregations whom they must support, how they must assist them, how much money or manpower they must supply, or for how long their support must continue. All such matters fall into the realm of personal choice and expediency. Wanta-be dictators in such affairs are not needed, wanted, or accepted.

-- Roger D. Campbell