-
In Support Of Church Cooperation
What we are saying in this lesson is that it is authorized of God in the Scriptures for local congregations to cooperate with each other in the performance of some authorized given task. Furthermore, we are saying that it is permissible for one church to assist a second church in a work over which the second church has oversight. Church "A" can help church "B" do something church "B" has undertaken to do. We assume the work church "B" is undertaking is authorized as the work of the church. Nobody ought to help anybody do something that is not to be done. There is no way church "A" could help church "B" do some work that the church is not authorized to do.
What We Are Not Saying
We are not saying that one church can surrender its autonomy to another church, or one church can take charge of another. To illustrate, we are saying that church "A" can help church "B" conduct a gospel meeting, conduct a television program, print and distribute tracts, assist in building a meetinghouse, pay a preacher, etc. We are not saying that church "A" must do this. We are speaking of something that is permissible, not mandatory. If a church chooses not to support some program of work that others undertake, that church has that right and privilege and ought not be chastised for choosing to do something else. This insistence that one "prove" loyalty by supporting this or that has caused about as many problems in the church as making laws that demand churches refrain from helping each other.
An Illustration
Let us illustrate with a television question and answer program. What is the program anyway? Ii is a means of teaching the gospel. Nobody objects to churches teaching the gospel. Who oversees the program? Church "B" has the oversight under the direction of its elders. Is the use of television an acceptable means of teaching? This is a matter of judgment, but most answer affirmatively. It is only one way, not the only way. But nobody questions this to our knowledge. How is the program financed? It is paid for from the treasury of the church that oversees it, church "B." How does church "B" get money into its treasury? It comes from the contributions of its members, and contributions from assisting churches? That is the entire matter, briefly stated. The only point of contention is whether other churches have a right to contribute funds into the treasury of church "B."
New Testament Cooperation
Did churches in the New Testament contribute to the work of other churches? Read II Corinthians 8:1-5 and the answer is "Yes." Macedonian churches sent help for the "poor saints in Jerusalem." Who took the money over there? Paul and company. We learn elsewhere to whom they gave the money. Acts 11:27-30 shows how the church in Antioch also helped to relieve Jerusalem. Brethren there sent relief funds by Barnabas and Paul who gave them to the elders in Jerusalem (Acts 12:25). What do we have? We have many churches giving funds into the hands of the elders of Jerusalem for the work of relieving the physical needs among those in that city. Some who are against this kind of cooperation will agree that it is all right to do this in benevolent work, but not in evangelistic work. That is plain silly and nonsensical. Who would contend churches can send money for physical bread, but are prohibited from sending money to teach the bread of life? That is an absurdity, and legalism gone to seed.
Cooperation In Benevolence And Evangelism
But let us accommodate such foolishness for a moment and remove even that objection. Acts 15:22-32 shows how the Jerusalem church, under its elders, sent men and letters of teaching to assist the church in Antioch in teaching. Here is one church helping another church in a matter of evangelism. Surely, nobody would be so absurd as to contend one church could send men and materials, but could not send money to secure men and materials. Whether men, money, or materials, one church is helping another church in evangelistic matters. Neither church usurps the autonomy of the other. Both remain independent local churches. Autonomy did not prohibit their fellowship in these matters. But still they cooperated.
Other Objections Answered
Some have contended that it was wrong for a church to assume any work that was larger than it could do by itself. Tell it to Paul, the inspired apostle. He took money to Jerusalem for a work that was bigger than Jerusalem could handle alone. To preach to the whole world is bigger than any one church can do. Shall none try? Some say it is wrong for a smaller and poorer church to help a larger and richer church. Where does the Bible teach that? The Macedonian churches were in deep poverty when they gave. Did Paul run a financial audit on both congregations and all its members before he took funds to Jerusalem? Not everybody in Jerusalem was in poverty, even though some were. Some say it is wrong for one church to spend the money of another church. We have not contended that such be done. Church "B" that oversees the program and pays the bills spends only its own money. When church "A" gives church "B" certain funds, they no longer belong to church "A" but to church "B." Nobody is spending anybody else's money. "You ought to give it up for unity's sake." Friend, the truth of the matter is that those who have made laws ought give them up for the sake of unity. If the church never acted or operated until there was nobody to raise any objection, the church would likely never do anything. Churches would not ever conduct Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services. Some folks never support them and even object to being asked to do so. Shall we reduce our work to only that which the biggest objector approves? But church "B" becomes a brotherhood missionary society. No, church "B" is a scripturally organized governmental unit, a single local church just as the Bible teaches. There is no human governmental system created when churches cooperate in this fashion. Again we stress, this is something churches are permitted to do. It is not mandatory that they cooperate this way. But they have the right.