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March 1, 2005, Vol.4, No.5. Congregational Cooperation for Benevolence Keith Sharp I have more than once been accused of being "Anti-cooperation." Yet in the last six years the congregation of which I am a member has sent benevolent aid to brethren in Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Obviously the charge is false. We do, however, insist on following the New Testament pattern for congregational cooperation. There Is a Pattern The apostle Paul commanded Timothy: Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13). The term "pattern" means "model, example ... rather in the sense standard" (Arndt & Gingrich, p. 856); "the pattern placed before one to be held fast and copied, model." (Thayer, p. 645) All the New Testament authorizes on any subject is the pattern on that subject, and we must follow it and not violate it (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9). Pattern for Cooperation for Benevolence The Lord has a pattern of congregational cooperation for benevolence. Six New Testament passages authorize congregational cooperation for benevolence (Acts 11:27-30; 24:17; Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8,9; Galatians 2:10). Parallel to this, there are seven passages that authorize music in New Testament worship (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12; James 5:13), They constitute a pattern which specifies the kind of music, singing, and we must follow it (sing in worship) and not violate it (use instrumental music in worship). Even so, the pattern for congregational cooperation for benevolence specifies the kind of cooperation, concurrent, and we must follow this (each contributing congregation send directly to the church in need) and not violate it (create a collectivity of churches or a church supported benevolent society). Two Contributions The New Testament passages authorizing congregational cooperation for benevolence relate to two historical occurrences separated by over a decade. The church in Antioch sent benevolent aid to the churches in Judea ca. A.D. 44-45 (Acts 11:27-30), and the apostle Paul took a collection from Gentile churches for the benevolent assistance of Christians in Jerusalem ca. A.D. 57-58 (Galatians 2:10; Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9; Acts 24:17). Don’t confuse the two collections. Antioch to Judean Churches The brethren in Antioch assisted their brethren in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). Since the elders of each church had the oversight of the work of that church (1 Peter 5:1-4), there is not even a hint that this money was sent to one church in Judea, such as Jerusalem, for distribution to the other churches. Rather, congregational autonomy was maintained, and no collectivity of churches was created. Gentile Churches to Jerusalem Brethren James, Cephas, and John asked Paul to remember the poor, and he eagerly followed their request (Galatians 2:10). He took a voluntary contribution from Gentile churches for the needy Christians in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-28; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians chapter 8 - 9) and delivered this assistance at the end of his third journey (Acts 24:17). The purpose of the collection was to maintain the equality of the churches (2 Corinthians 8:13-15), i.e., to insure that each church would have sufficient funds to do its own work. Each church raised its own funds and chose its own messengers (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). No church or human organization acted as a collecting and dispersing agency or assumed the oversight of the benevolent work of all the contributing churches. Each congregation maintained its autonomy, and no collectivity of churches was created. Conclusion The pattern of congregational cooperation for benevolence further establishes the principle of local church autonomy. Each church is to raise its own funds and send directly to the church in need. The equality of all the churches relative to oversight of its own work must be kept. No church may act as an agent for another or assume oversight of a benevolent work of several churches. We must maintain local church autonomy.
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