BEN F. VICK, JR.
Paul wrote, "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Cor. 16:1–2).
Over the years, some have affirmed that the above passage is misapplied to our regular collection each Lord's Day. We are told it is a much-abused proof text because it only refers to a special contribution, not other works the church might deem necessary.
Churches have used the above verses to support paying preachers and missionaries, buying literature, ordering flowers for funerals, building and maintaining church buildings, etc. It is also true that the verses applied to a special contribution. Have we been wrong these many years?
The apostle Paul, with others, was taking a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. When he arrived in Corinth, he did not want to be delayed by the gathering of the funds. By apostolic authority, he commanded them to give on the first day of the week (literally, the first day of every week) so "that there be no gatherings" when he arrived. Paul had also ordered the churches of Galatia to do the same.
This collection was for the poor saints in Jerusalem but was not limited to them. Second Corinthians chapters eight and nine deal with this same contribution. In that context, Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to keep the promise they had made a year before. Paul wrote, "For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them [saints], and unto all men [non-saints]" (2 Cor. 9:12–13). In dealing with that particular contribution, Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
It has been argued that there is an exclusive pattern in benevolence for how the church distributes funds. We have been told that churches can pool their funds to do a work of benevolence, as in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, but they cannot do the same in a work of evangelism. In a passage dealing with benevolence, these brethren to our right can find the preacher's support and other things. On the other hand, brethren to the left of us argue that the above passage can only be used for a special need in benevolence. And, therefore, does not authorize a Lord's Day collection. Yet, those preachers to the left of us do not object to the church's paying them from the Lord's Day collection even though they argue it was only for a special need. I suggest those who affirm that the passage cannot be used for the regular collection on Sundays reimburse the church for the misappropriation of funds! They do not believe it when it comes to their support!
Brethren argue that the Lord's Day contribution mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 was for a special need in Jerusalem, not for other needs. But what proves too much proves nothing. If Paul's words were to be limited to benevolence, specifically for the poor saints in Jerusalem, then the Lord's Day contribution cannot be used for any other benevolent need. It was limited only to that special need in Jerusalem at that time. So, it cannot be used for any benevolent need now. If not, why not?
There was a Scriptural need and requirement to help the church in Jerusalem. Paul wrote, "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things" (Rom. 15:25–27).
Paul shows how a Scriptural need was met by each giving as he had prospered on the first day of the week. Because the funds gathered each Lord's Day had to be kept somewhere till Paul arrived, this required a place for the money, a treasury. When Paul arrived, the money could be taken out of the treasury and given to Paul so he and others could carry it to Jerusalem. Jesus and his apostles kept a bag for their needs as well as the needs of the poor (John 12:6; 13:29). Evidently, the apostles in the early days of the church had a way of keeping funds until they could be distributed (Acts 4: 34-35).
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 shows us how the early church took up funds for a need. They did it by free will offerings on the first day of every week. The fact that there are ongoing needs of the church requires that funds be available to meet those needs. Those funds are made available from the Lord's Day contributions. Any scriptural need can be met the same way today.
Gospel preachers are to be supported by the church. Paul commanded, "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things" (Gal.6:6). Paul argues for the support of preachers in 1 Corinthians 9. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). The church is obligated to pay the preacher for his work. So, how does the church do this? Should every Christian hand the preacher money following services? So, how can the church meet this responsibility?
Any authorized work or need of the church can be met the same way the churches of Galatia and Corinth met the church's needs in Jerusalem. Someone says: What about the early days of the church in Jerusalem? Luke says, "And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" (Acts 2:44–46). They could have done this daily. How did they distribute the funds to those in need? I suppose each saint could have given to those in need. This was a particular situation. Luke records that many sold lands and houses, brought the prices of the things sold, laid them down at the apostles' feet, and distributed them (Acts 4:34-35).
What was the church's duty in the first century is the church's duty today. Let each give as he has prospered on the first day of every week, and let the funds be used as authorized by the Lord.