A Question about the Treasury.

[Lindsey-Loo]

There is a church in my community that is a sponsor for the local middle school football team. By being a sponsor, they give money out of their church treasury, meaning money that has been contributed by members for the church, to support the football team. I don't believe this is correct at all. Is that really what God would want the church to do with its money? What do you think? Are there certain things we should not spend money out of the church treasury on? And why do you think so? All denominations and/or religions welcome to reply.

 

[Jaymes]

That's a little crazy. If they do that, they should either do donations specifically seperate for football stuff or makes damn sure the congregation knows some of their money goes to the football team.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

I think most of the congregation knows that some of the money is going to the football team. My question is, is that OK for them to use money taken up in a church collection for the football team when God made it clear that money from the collection was to be used for the church.

But I agree with you. If they want to make donation to the football team, they need to take up a collection specifically for the team.

This church is a mega-church. Perhaps you are familiar with the term? But anyway, they sponsor almost everything in this community. They really run things around here.

 

[Aqualung]

well, after school activities are a really good way to keep kids from doing drugs, and the like. It's probably more effective to provide activities to kids to prevent drug use than to try to rehabilitate all the druggies when they're older

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

Aqualung, I'm not quite sure what you mean. That seemed a little random to me. Could you explain further?

 

[CaptainXeroid]

Most churches have a board of officers that makes financial decisions and a requirement that a list of expenditures is available to the congregation. You might ask and find out how those decisions are made so you can influence them. Different churches support activities not only for spiritual needs but also for community involvement, so you might want to find out how much they are spending and why.

 

[Aqualung]

Aqualung, I'm not quite sure what you mean. That seemed a little random to me. Could you explain further?

Okay. churches don't like people to become drug addicts, right? I know at least my church doesn't. It's a well-known fact that if kids have constructive activities to participate in, such as football, they will be very less likely do use drugs. So, financing a football program is kind of a preventative measure to help keep kids away from drugs - since churches don't want people to become drug addicts. You would probably have no problem with a church doing such a humanitarian effort as rehabilitating drug addicts. Well, instead of rehabilitation, this church is just keeping them off the drugs in the first place

 

[Aqualung]

Another good reason to finance stuff like that is to increase general community awareness about eh church, and then other people who otherwise woudn't care might start questioning about the church. It's sort of missionary work in disguise

 

[Jaymes]

That only works if you're the athletic type... unless they're financing a lot of other clubs, I don't really think that'd make a big difference.

 

[Aqualung]

they sponsor almost everything in this community

I'd say they were funding other things, too.

 

[Linus]

Are there certain things we should not spend money out of the church treasury on?

That money should be used in two major categories: spreading the Gospel, and taking care of the needs of Christians locally and worldwide.

And why do you think so? All denominations and/or religions welcome to reply.

I see neither Biblical authorization nor apostolic examples for any other use for it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

From my perspective, sponsoring something is a way of advertising, even if it is a church. The church sponsors the football team, people then will hear about the church, and might consider going there.

 

[Linus]

I suppose that could be true, Luke Wolf. But I think that there are far more effective ways to advertise. Besides, it seems to me that the primary use for that money being used by the particular church in question is to sponsor the team. You don't have to spend that kind of money just to get a name out there.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Any church worth its name is part of the community.
It does this by giving to the community as well as taking donations from the community.
The more intergrated it is with the life of the community the easier its work in the community becomes.
One day it will be the turn of members of that football team to help in their turn. And they will have an example in their lives to follow.

As they say "What goes round comes round".

Terry
_________________________________-
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

I agree with you, Linus. I don't think it would be biblical at all for any church to sponsor a football team. How is it doing the work of God? And how is it teaching people about Jesus?

 

[Linus]

Any church worth its name is part of the community.
It does this by giving to the community as well as taking donations from the community.
The more intergrated it is with the life of the community the easier its work in the community becomes.
One day it will be the turn of members of that football team to help in their turn. And they will have an example in their lives to follow.

I agree. Sort of. I think it is the responsibility of the individuals that are members of the church to do these things outside of the church's funds. Especially if it gives gory to God. It shouldn't be a church sanctioned program or event, but on an individual basis.