Jim Poindexter is a member of an ABA church. He knows that the local church is the means by which the gospel should be preached and God's kingdom work advanced on the earth. But Mr. Poindexter also sees that there are places and situations where church missionaries cannot go for a number of reasons. Therefore, he gives a little money here and there to Christian aid organizations such as World Vision and Samaritan's Purse. Mr. Poindexter also sponsors a kid (you know, the ones shown on TV who need help) and he and his family package a few Operation Christmas Child gifts each year which are sent in other areas of the world with the gospel included in the gift.
Is Mr. Poindexter off base? Should he limit his giving/support to his local church only?
I totally believe in giving tithes/offerings to the local church. I also believe that anything given to non-church, para-church ministeries, etc... is an acceptable gift in God's eyes (obviously depending on the nature of the organization and their funciton). Some of these like Samaritan's Purse, who sponsor Operation Christmas Child, do a tremendous work in the world. There are countless stories of how God has done incredible, miraculous things through this ministry.
ReplyDeleteSo all in all, I don't think your friend is off base, as long as he continues to give to his local congregation.
While I don't support them (since all my tithes go to my church, most my offerings, and the other offerings go to friends or people), I say we should leave them alone. They aren't against us, so I'll just keep letting them alone.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with giving to charities, so long as one isn't calling it a "tithe" or "offering." Tithes and offerings go to the church, but the Bible does not prohibit giving to other organizations.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
That being said, it would be smart to make sure that the charity in question is legit.
Never noticed the word "cold" in that verse... interesting.
ReplyDeleteGood points Brother Leland. In addition, it would also be good to make sure that charity isn't preaching a false gospel.
Notice, friends, I did not say that Mr. Poindexter tithed, but that he gave to his local church :)
ReplyDeleteSo is World Vision/Samaritan's Purse a charity or a ministry?
Is it a love or an act of love? Is it a sacrifice or a service? Stop with the semantics. It's making my head hurt.
ReplyDeleteNo semantics here brother. Is it possible to have a valid, God-pleasing ministry outside of the ABA?
ReplyDeleteThose of you that know me, know that I have a lifelong history with the ABA. But since I have been blogging, it has shocked me to read comments that totally dismiss the contributions of the Gideons, Billy Graham, Samaritan's Purse, etc.
I cannot and would not try to defend their every action, nor would I defend "the box" that some live in (sarcasm interjected here :))
Yes, I'm Mr. Poindexter. I'm glad the Gideons exist, I respect Billy Graham for the pure gospel message that he has always preached, and I leave the judgement of unique ministies to the Lord.
even if these are nondenominational and preach a Lordship salvation gospel? Just supposing Billy Graham did preach a pure gospel (I have heard with him with my own ears preach repentance, faith, and obedience for salvation), what good does it do when he has every Tom, Dick, and Harry down at the front to receive those who walk the aisle? It would do well for some to quit trying to get out of "the box."
ReplyDeleteOk, Ok I must say something. Supporting your Local Church according to the teachings of the bible is the must be practiced, and after that giving an offering to another organization to whom you choose is your business. Does God approve? I believe He would not frawn at all if they are preaching or teaching the truths of his Kingdoms work.
ReplyDeleteI love to listen to the preaching of DR. Graham. I have NEVER heard him preach works or anything else but faith and repentance for salvation. Younglandmarker he was joking about the box brother.
Before I get scolded I must also say he added in there the awesome grace of God.
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong for an ABA church to give to benevolence fund in their local town?. This money would pool with non-ABA churches to help destitute people. Would this make this church a non-scriptural church?
ReplyDeleteBro. Jonathan, I respect your views about Dr. Graham, crusade "Tom, Dick, and Harry's" at the front, etc. I just feel bad that the Tom, Dick and Harry's at the front will be counseling people, while the ABA people will be on the sidelines just casting judgment b/c it's not an ABA sponsored activity.
ReplyDeletePulpit, My opinion is that it would be best for members of a local church to first collect a voluntary offering (not part of a worship service or voted on in business meeting) unless there was just overall church consensus that this was a great need that the church could help with.
It wouldn't make a church a non-scriptural church. If it did, we are already unscriptural due to those Methodist/Independent songs we sing in our Heavenly Highways :)
Speaking of giving to a community fund, why can't our churches just help in the community on their own instead of cooperating with non-Scriptural churches? There is absolutely nothing wrong with helping the destitute in our communities.
ReplyDeleteBro. Neal,
I'm not against Dr. Graham simply because he's not ABA or even because he is Southern Baptist. I heard what I heard (we heard repentance, faith, and obedience even though we had thought him to preach a pure gospel until then) and I believe him to be preaching a false gospel (even Lordship salvation is a false gospel) and leading others to be counseled into a false gospel (this part is not debatable) and just cannot bid that "Godspeed." I am all for fellowshipping any Baptist who is sound on salvation and the church (good luck outside of the ABA, BMA, independent (many of these are sound on the church but are preacher-ruled or Calvinist) and some Southern Baptists). I believe we need to take churches and ministries (Baptist) on a case-by-case basis. Not even all ABA churches and ministries are sound.
Btw, even though all of our songs were not written by Baptists gives us no license to go join in with them.
The reason I don't support Brother Graham is because (if I understand it correctly), his "ministry" is not sponsored by a church. He is doing this "ministry" para-church instead of via-church. I could be wrong, but that's what I've heard or read in the past.
ReplyDeleteAs to the other ministries, I believe we should look at it not as a "right or wrong" situation. Let's look at it as a good, better, best situation. If I send money to a Billy Graham thing (and he is preaching truth), then I may have done good. I may even have done better than sending it to another ministry. Yet, it surely is best for me to help people individually as I witness to them, reaching them with the true gospel for SURE. I could also do best to give it to an ABA church.
Pretty well said Rev. Snyder....not sure if it was best said :)
ReplyDeleteBro. Jonathan, not sure what you heard or in what context, but Billy Graham is known by all (I thought) to preach the truth and he has always repudiated works for salvation. I have never given one cent to his crusades, but he has had opportunities worldwide that most preachers will never have. Therefore, I respect his ministry and pray that souls are saved when he preaches (used to preach) on television. Again, I can't defend every facet of his ministry, but he utilized the "crusade format" which, to me is a different ministry. Sure, the counseling & follow-up at crusades can be questioned, but Graham's ministry in the 50-70's primarily brought the gospel into public view to the point that Madison Square Garden sold out for months, in Los Angeles, street people and movie stars sat together by the thousands and heard about Jesus....many whom say they were saved by the blood of Jesus at those crusades...
Plus, my Mom likes him and watches crusade reruns :)
My point in the post is that there ARE other ministries, which are unique, which are always open to question w/ regards to method, yet that some people continually dismiss.