The Surprising Church
Charles C. Pugh III

The fact that the church of the New Testament supports its work solely, and exclusively, by the free will offerings and gifts of its members is surprising to many today. The New Testament church receives its resources, by the grace of God, through the personal financial giving of its members. Such methods as bake sales, bazaars, fish dinners, raffles, bingo, car washes, yard sales, walk-a- thons, socials, property and business investments, et al., are all foreign to the biblical plan for financing the work of the New Testament church. This surprises many people.

Furthermore, it is also surprising to many that the church of the New Testament is not a business with concern for financial profit and loss. The world may look upon the church as just another business in the community and such an attitude may even creep into the thinking of members of the church. However, when understood scripturally, one will not view the New Testament church as a business in the sense of its reason for existing.

Generally, business exists to make financial profit. Even proper concern for one's personal or family affairs involves financial profit (cf. Prov. 13:22; 31:13,16,18,24; 2 Cor. 12:14; Eph. 4:28). However, the church of the New Testament is different in this respect. It does not seek to save money or make a profit from the gifts it is provided, but it seeks to scripturally, wisely, and freely use these gifts to (1) preach the Gospel to the lost, (2) keep the saved in a saved relationship, and (3) practice Christian benevolence to those in need. It freely receives its resources to do its work, and it freely gives of those resources to do that threefold work.

One of the distinctive marks of the New Testament church is the way in which it gives. The basic characteristics of the financial plan that the church follows to support its work, which is the greatest work on Earth, are seen in 1 Corinthians 16:2. Paul wrote, "On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come." This plan is periodic ("on the first day of every week" - cf. NASV, RSV). This plan is personal ("each one of you"). It is proportionate ("as he may prosper"). It is preventive ("that there be no collections when I come"). It works! It results in "all sufficiency in all things" and "an abundance for every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8; Provo 19:17; Eccl. 11:1; Mal. 3:10; Luke 6:38). It may surprise the world, but it lets the church truly be the church, and it brings thanksgiving to God (2 Cor. 9:10-15).

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How Many Does it Take to
Change a Light Bulb?
HUMOR via Beliefnet newsletter

Charismatics: Only 1 - Hands are already in the air.

Pentecostals: 10 - One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None - Lights will go on and off at predestined times.

Baptists: At least 15 - One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken.

Episcopalians: 3 - One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks, and one to talk about how much better the old one was.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life, and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Methodists: Undetermined - Whether your light is bright, dull, or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.

Nazarenes: 6 - One woman to replace the bulb while five men review church lighting policy.

Lutherans: None - Lutherans don't believe in change.

Amish: What's a light bulb?