Q: Pastor, can the church hold charity sales after the Sunday worship service? Does the church need to raise money through charity sales or relying upon faith that God will move the members to contribute the fund?

Answer:
Indeed this is the struggle of some brothers and sisters and even church leaders. Some oppose holding charity sales in the church citing the incident of our Lord Jesus cleansing the temple as recorded in the Gospel. There are others who quoted the preaching of other famous preachers saying that they believe that God will supply by moving members to contribute voluntarily and so they do not need to organize any fund-raising activities.

According to Matthew 21:10-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45- 46 and John 2:13-22, Jesus did 3 things:

(a) drove out those who did business in the Temple,

(b) disallow people carrying merchandise through the Temple using that as a shortcut between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and

(c) healed the blind and the lame.

There were two main types of business activities in the temple, namely, the moneychangers and the selling of animals such as sheep, pigeons and etc for sacrificial offerings according to Jewish belief. Both activities were necessary. On one hand the Jews who came to Jerusalem from other places to celebrate the festivals or to perform pilgrimage in the temple needed to convert their currency to the Tyrian Shekel used in the temple for the payment of temple tax (Matt 17: 24-27). On the other hand they did not have to bring the animals they wanted to offer as sacrifices, they bought them when they arrived in Jerusalem (Deut. 14: 24-26). The problem was that the Jewish religious leaders allowed these two activities in the Court of the Gentiles of the Temple.

We need to understand that in Jesus’ time, the Second Temple, extended by Herod the Great, had three courts divided by race and gender: the Gentiles’ court, the inner court for Jewish males and the Women’s court. The Gentiles’ court, also known as the outer court, was the place for those Gentiles who had a good opinion of Judaism and also the handicapped Jews to worship.

He was trying to eliminate racism and negligence of the handicaps. When Jesus cleansed the Temple he was challenging the authority.

This court became a noisy market because of the business activities. How could the Gentiles and the disabled Jews worship there, won’t they feel abandoned by the Jews? Therefore Jesus quoted from Isaiah 56:7 to teach that the Temple was a house of prayer for everyone, and he also quoted from Jeremiah 7:11 about the danger of the Temple becoming a hideout for bandits when he cleansed the Temple. He was trying to eliminate racism and negligence of the handicaps. Of course these businesses were controlled by the families of the high priests who, according to research, were rich, corrupt and greedy. So when Jesus cleansed the Temple he was challenging the authority.

In fact Jesus’ action was a fulfilment of Malachi’s prophecy on the coming of the Messiah:
“‘Watch out! I’m sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the LORD you are looking for will come to his Temple. He is the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Watch out! He is coming!’ says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies. But who will survive the day when he comes? Or who can stand when he appears? For he’s like a refiner’s fire and a launderer’s soap. He will sit refining and purifying silver, purifying the descendants of Levi, refining them like gold and silver. Then they’ll bring a righteous offering to the LORD.” (Malachi 3: 1-3)

If we were to refer to the incident of Jesus cleansing the Temple when considering whether the church can hold charity sales, I think there are at least three points to note:

i. Place and way of doing: Is the church holding the charity sales in place or way that affect the members in their worship and prayer, disturbing them so they are unable to concentrate in their worship?

ii. The problem of moral: In doing charity sales is any group feeling neglected and marginalized? Is it adding to the problem of disparity between the rich and the poor in society? Is the account and finance fair and transparent?

iii. The question of motive: Are strengthening spiritual life, deepening fellowship, and expanding the kingdom of God the aims for holding charity sales?

If all three aspects are properly handled, I think the church can choose to hold charity sales.

To me charity sales is a way for church groups, such as young people or women, who don’t have much cash, to participate in church fundraising. Some sisters may say that they don’t have much cash but they can bake cakes or prepare soya bean drink or they grow some vegetables or fruits and they are willing to offer for charity sales, so that other brothers and sisters can buy it. All the income will be brought “into the storehouse that there may be food in God’s house.” Isn’t that a good idea?

Some people may ask whether the church should raise funds by doing charity sales or relying upon faith that God will move the members to contribute the fund. My opinion is that God moves his children in a number of ways, some will offer cash and others their time and efforts (A retired member once told me that he volunteered to supervise the construction work). Others may offer their products or their possessions to the church for charity sales.

I think since the Bible teaches us to teach every man “in all wisdom”; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Col. 1:28) We should also use our wisdom to plan the various means of contribution so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the sacred work of God’s kingdom.

Raising fund by charity sales is not violating the teachings of the
Bible nor is it a manifestation of lack of confidence.

In the Old Testaments Moses appealed to the Jews to contribute in various ways for the construction of the tabernacle (Ex. 35:4 – 36:7). King David also invited the people to contribute to the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 9:2-9).

In the New Testament Paul sought help on “ministry to the saints … supplying the needs of the saints “, as a social care ministry. (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8&9; Rom 15:14-32). Therefore raising fund by charity sales is not violating the teachings of the Bible nor is it a manifestation of lack of confidence.

Finally I would like to quote 2 Cor. 8:9-12 to encourage all of you:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich. ……. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.”

Answered by Rev Thomas Lau
Lecturer of MTS, Sibu