In The Master's Service

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THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH

Elder C. L. Waldrip (Deceased)

In order to set forth more clearly what we do believe the Scriptures to teach on this subject, it seems timely that first we should state some things that the Scriptures do not teach. The first time that tithing is mentioned in the Scriptures is on the occasion when Abraham met Melchizedek on his return from the slaughter of the kings. (Gen. 14:20) Tithing here was not done by any given law of God; neither is there any evidence that this tithe was used for any material purpose. Melchizedek is a type or figure of Christ; he had none before him in the priesthood or none after him. (Read Heb. 7:1-21). So then this Scripture cannot possibly teach anything concerning the financial support of the gospel church.

The next time in the Bible that the tithe is mentioned, we find it to be a part of the law of God given by Moses to the children of Israel. (Lev. 27) This tithe consisted of one tenth of all the land, of the seed and fruit of it, and all of the herd or flock; one tenth of all their increase was to be an offering unto the Lord.

In the 18th chapter of Numbers, beginning with verse 20, the Lord tells Aaron that He has, given the tithe to the children of Levi for an inheritance in Israel, and except for one tenth of the tithe (which was to be offered as an heave offering unto the Lord by the priests), the tithe was given for the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe, to live on. In other words, the priests were to have nine tenths of the tithe, and the other tenth was to be offered to the Lord. The Lord ordained it this way that the priests might live. In all other places in the Old Testament where the tithe is mentioned, it is for the above named purpose.

Now in the New Testament the tithe is mentioned in only three places in such manner as to cause cause some to think it is given as a rule, or law, to finance the gospel church. I give the three quotations: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not leave the other undone." (Matt. 23:23) Luke 11:42 has the same meaning: "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." Well! Did not Christ say "These ye ought to have done"? Yes, Christ said they ought to have done it. Why? Because they were Jews, national Israelites under the law of Israel. Christ Himself, being a Jew, was under that law. His earthly ministry was in the law dispensation. He came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it to a jot and a tittle. The tithe was a part of the offering to be made under the law, all of which pointed to Christ Who was to come into the world to fulfill all the law, and by once offering Himself, make an end to all offering under the law. That this was done was fully proven when Christ expired on the cross, as the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, this signifying that there never could be another lawful offering under the law, the law having been fulfilled by Christ. The apostle in the Hebrew letter tells us "For the law having a shadow of good things to come..." (10:1).

We have considered all the purpose for which the tithe is commanded, that it was given to Israel as part of the ceremonial law pointing to Christ, the Lamb of God, in whom all these things were fulfilled. Therefore we as Primitive Baptists feel and believe that we in the gospel church have no more Scriptural authority to tithe than we do to offer up burnt offerings and animal sacrifices. Indeed, to do either is to deny that Christ has come in the flesh, and is in effect saying we are yet under the law. Furthermore, we Primitive Baptists believe Christ set up the gospel church, that He is the Great Head, High Priest, and Law Giver of the church; and that in all His teaching of His disciples, He never once taught or even inferred that they should tithe; neither did the apostles, men inspired of God to write the New Testament Scriptures, ever command or even infer in one place in all of their epistles that the church should tithe.

Now let us examine the Scriptures to see what the apostles did teach on the subject. In the 2nd chapter of Acts, immediately after the day of Pentecost, we find this language: "And all that believed (the church) were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." (4:45) That is, everyone in the church placed all they possessed in one common storehouse, and all lived from that storehouse equally. What a glorious age of the church! Just how long this arrangement prevailed is not known, but in the 6th chapter of Acts we find this teaching: The number of disciples (the church) had increased to such a great number that some were not being ministered unto of the daily necessities of life. It seems that up to this time the apostles had supervised the distribution, for it reads thus: "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God (preaching), and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." (v. 2,3) So here we have the office of deacon established in the church by command of the Apostles. "Over this business" referred to their duty to distribute the material things among the church as everyone had need.

Now we have the deacons in the church as the God-appointed ones to properly distribute the material needs of the church. Individually and collectively, now what is the Scriptural rule or command whereby these material things should be provided? You will notice in the 2nd chapter of Acts that this giving was voluntary on the part of the givers; there was no command from the apostles for anyone to give. Herein is given a principle that ;is taught all through the New Testament - that the support of the gospel church was not to be a tax placed upon the members, but the things given were to come freely from the giver, dictated only by the great love of God in the heart of His people for Hires and His glorious gospel. Surely the Scriptures teach that the church must have some material things - a house of worship, the poor and afflicted who have no means of a livelihood, and the ministry - and that the church should from a spirit of love provide these things. Indeed the Scriptures teach that all acceptable service to God is from the spirit of love. Our love for God and His people is manifested in doing the things that He has commanded His children to do. The apostle in speaking to the church at Corinth, telling how that the churches of Macedonia, from the spirit of love, had ministered unto the poor of the church said: "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." (II Cor. 8:12). Here we can see that without first a willing mind, there can really be no gift acceptable to God. This also is in harmony with the teaching of Jesus as He beheld the rich casting their gifts into the treasury. No doubt some gave a great amount in material value, yet Jesus said this poor widow that cast in two mites gave more than all. Why? Because she gave of her living, thus making a sacrifice, while they gave of their abundance, involving no sacrifice. Also Paul speaks of the motive of giving in II Corinthians 9:7: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity [as bound by law]: for God loveth a cheerful giver." He also said in the preceding verse, "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."

The ministry of the gospel is not a literary profession that one may choose, as one might choose to) be a doctor or lawyer, or some otherworldly vocation of life. The Lord has never had a prophet, apostle, or preacher, except as He personally called such ones. Isaiah said that the Lord had formed him from his mother's womb to be His servant. (Isa. 49:5) The Lord said the same of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5. Paul said, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God ... (II Cor. 1:1); and, again, "Called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" (Rom. 1:1); and many other places in Scripture teach that only such as God calls are His ministers. As to the financial support of these ministers that God calls, there is not one place in the Old or New Testament Scriptures where one of the prophets, apostles, or preachers that God has called has bargained with any man or group of men for his services. None ever offered any service on condition of material remuneration. God forbid that we should place His high and holy calling on a material level! All the money in the world cannot produce one gospel sermon; all the education in the world cannot produce one gospel preacher. If one that God has called is educated, that is fine; but he is not God's preacher because he is educated, but because God has called him. Paul said, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty," (I Cor. 1:26,27)..."that no flesh should glory glory in his presence." (v.29). Therefore we, the Primitive Baptists, do not believe a salaried ministry to be scriptural.

We do believe God's minister (servant) should be cared for by the flock that he is called of God to feed. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (I Cor. 9:14) When God calls a man to preach, He places that burden on him and in him by His spirit. Isaiah said it was "as fire shut up in the bones"; and Paul said, "Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (I Cor. 9: 16). As God lays the burden on that man whom He has called, and he goes in humble obedience to that call, he does so as unto God (whose servant he is), and not unto man. Even so, when His little children from the standpoint and motive of God's love and mercy to them, minister their carnal things to His servant, they do this unto God, and not unto man, though the servant is benefited and all receive the spiritual blessing of their Lord in humble; obedience to Him. "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?" (I Cor. 9: 13). The apostle here refers to the priests under the law; that just as God had commanded the priests to give themselves wholly in His service, and not have a gainful occupation, He commanded their support of Israel. Even so today as God's humble preachers serve Him, He commands His spiritual people to supply their carnal needs. As God's church does this, they grow up unto Him in all things, a holy temple in the Lord. In this way they manifest their love to Him and to each other, this love being the rook: and capstone of all true Christianity. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my, disciples, if ye have love one to another."