I have just completed a very challenging two-month journey. The quest of my journey was to answer this question:
Is it appropriate to ask people to support my family and me as I do God’s work as a missionary?
I have heard MANY opinions. The loudest, and frankly, the harshest, opinions came from people with this view: “If I’m doing God’s work, then God will provide the resources to get it done.”
To this point, I agree with them, but our thoughts quickly diverge on their next statement. They say, “It is wrong to ask people to support ministry, because it isn’t found anywhere in the New Testament.”
This makes sense at first blush. I can’t find a single place where someone raises funds for themselves. It just isn’t there! As someone that has been asking people to support his ministry for almost seven years, this fact really rattled my cage!
However, today I received a great word of encouragement from God through a colleague I’ve met through twitter:
Pastor Martha Spigener (@butterflybeacon) wrote:
Our culture here in America is not the culture of the Bible…the culture of the Bible was one in which it was expected, let me say that again, expected, that the people would pay to support their priests and Rabbis. Just look at the sacrificial laws and what was for the priest and what was actually burned. It isn’t written in the New Testament because it was an expected norm. Our society does not exist with those expectations.
In other words, we don’t hear Jesus asking people to support Him because it was unnecessary to do so. People were already expected to support people in ministry (see Luke 8:1-3). People during Christ’s ministry understood that it was their responsibility to support people in ministry. Jesus didn’t have to ask!
Yes, God will provide what is needed for His work. The culture in which we live does not understand its responsibility to care for those in ministry. Therefore, we must ask people to support us as we devote our lives to the ministry God has called us to.
In my case, I encourage and equip church leaders. My services are desperately needed, but church leaders don’t have resources to “pay” for my services. Only through God’s sustaining blessings will I be able to continue to “build up the body of Christ, the Church, one leader at a time”. And the way God provides is through donations from God’s people. And for those donations to happen in this culture I will have to ask!
In Christ,
Lon
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6 comments:
1 Corinthians 9:3-14
It seems fairly clear. "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."
I also notice that in James 4:2 it says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." In Matthew 5:32 Christ says the omniscient Father knows we need those things, and we are still called to ask Him.
I suppose it's similar to the reason we are called to invite people into the kingdom of God according to Romans 10:14-15. How can people respond unless they are informed? Could it be that the Gospel that turns miserly hearts into generous hearts is by nature relational and invitational - like our Triune God? Could it be that inviting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ AND joyful giving for the sake of His kingdom are part and parcel of the Christian calling?
God uses us, earthen vessels though we may be, as instruments of His priceless grace so that He might be glorified. Perhaps God can do everything without our participation. A sovereign God can. In God's grace, we are invited to participate in God's works.
I also found this interesting:
http://fundraisingcoach.com/articles/fundraising-in-the-bible/
This source runs across similar challenges, but lists several examples of people raising funds for God's glory. Typically those funds are used for something like the temple. In your case, Lon, it allows you to build up leaders...people...temples of the Holy Spirit...so that God's redeeming work in this world might multiply. Scripture doesn't say whether the temple or God's people are more valuable to Him, but I know for which of the two Christ offered His very life.
Thanks for building up the Body of Christ, Lon.
Your brother in Christ,
Grant
"The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."
- 1 Timothy 5:17-18
Hey Lonnie -- glad you are back with your Daily Build Up! You ask if others should support your mission. We support our missionaries, don't we? In the New Testament people supported the disciples. Isn't that what you are? A missionary and a disciple making disciples for Christ and upholding other leaders in the church? That is why I have supported you from the beginning and will continue to do so.
Carol Herdien, Your Pontiac Fan
Yes, I am serving as a missionary. My particular work is encouraging church leaders and I accomplish my mission through coaching, workshops, strategic planning, and, hopefully, through this blog.
Your support over the years has been a great encouragement to me!
Thank you!
Lon
Grant, that was awesome!
With your permission, I'd like to post your comment as today's blog.
Do you mind?
Thank you for your great thoughts and encouragement!
Lon
Go for it, my friend!
Excellent! Thank you, Grant!
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