Support Raising: Begging or Biblical

There is nothing wrong with asking for money and prayer and other support for ministry, including mission fields.  It is not begging, unless the missionary is not doing any actual work.  Otherwise it is asking for support to do the work.   While it is not wrong to ask for money and prayer and support, it is also nice if it comes without asking for it.   However, whether a plea goes to the board of missions, or directly to other supporters, it is still a plea.  

There is the added benefit of trusting in the Lord more directly when faced with  the uncertainty of direct support from members , rather than transferring this trust to a board of directors, or and executive director, etc.    And with this benefit also comes a greater direct sharing of the mission, its joys and sorrows, with actual people, face-to-face. 

• “Behold the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children” (2 Cor. 12:14).  Paul’s attitude: (1) living off financial support (though appropriate) meant that he was a burden to the givers, (2) he sought not their money but their spiritual benefit.  When was the last time you heard a Christian ministry say sincerely, “I do not seek yours, but you”?

• “When I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself” (2 Cor. 11:8).  Though Paul received gifts, it was important to him not to be a financial burden to the Corinthians.

• “For you remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God” (1 Thess. 2:9).  Paul did not view it to be incumbent upon the believers to support him financially.  Instead, he diligently sought ways to avoid being chargeable to them.

• “Neither did we eat any man’s bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you”  (2 Thess 3:8).  Paul viewed eating off the charitable gifts of the church as a poor testimony. 

• “For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my necessity.  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may about to your account” (Phil 4:16,17).  Paul received gifts from the church, but he did not desire the gifts.  When was the last time you heard a Christian ministry say to its potential supports “we do not desire a gift”?!

• “Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel,  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.” (1 Cor. 9:14,15).  Where is this attitude among Christian ministries today?

• “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.  You yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me” (Acts 20:33,34).   

Thanks Rich,

I think your comments echo those of many who were very reluctant to engage in support raising, but came to see it as an opportunity to seek the blessing of God on the donor, not just a way to fund a particular ministry.  The books I referenced in the original post all point in that direction.  It seems to me that they go a long way toward responding to the concerns raised by thomps above.  One point that I would make in regard to the quotations thomps supplies is that Paul was very deliberate about not relying for financial support on new converts.  He didn't want to be associated with the methods of religious charlatans who were so common in his day.  However, he praised those from established churches who gave generously to his work in planting new churches elsewhere.  This was not for his benefit, but for the sake of the ministry and the blessing of the givers.

I know this is suppose to be about money, but I'm going to share a fun little testimony on how God values the support of prayer.  This came through a telemarketer of all people!  Bless his heart.

So, several years ago, I was working at my desk when the phone rang.  I looked at the caller ID, and it said "unknown number".  I debated about answering, thinking "it's probably a telemarketer, but it might be family", so I answered.  It was a telemarketer.  He went through his "spiel"/monologue about raising support for children, and then asked if we would be willing to give on their behalf.  I told him that we supported children in other ways, like through prayer.  His reply astounded me.  He says, "why didn't you tell me you were one of the top donors?!?!  You have a good day Mrs. Sterk." and he hung up.  My mouth fell open, I was so surprised.  This man understood prayer, and shared with me that very encouraging message from the LORD, on how God views our prayers.

anyway, I know we need the practical side of the $ as well, and we have lots of cool testimonies on that too!   I'm sure as a result of our prayers.  Just the other day, a crc council cut the rent in 1/2 for a non crc ministry I'm involved with on their campus, and the decision was made in 3 minutes.  WoW!!  I joked, most times, any decision in a crc setting  takes 3 mos- 3 years to get anything done =)!!   Thank You Jesus!!

You know, I think John Z has mentioned George Mueller before somewhere before, but George prayed in all of his support to care for over ten thousand orphans, and travel over 200,000 miles (in pre aviation days) evangelizing.    He never requested any money, never gave an appeal for funds other than to God.   

from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller 

Through all this, Müller never made requests (other than to God)  for financial support, nor did he go into debt, even though the five homes cost over £100,000 to build. Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children, further strengthening his faith in God. For example, on one well-documented occasion, they gave thanks for breakfast when all the children were sitting at the table, even though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished praying, the baker knocked on the door with sufficient fresh bread to feed everyone ...

So, how are our methods different from the methods of the "religious charlatans"?

Sadly, they often aren't different.  A great deal of what happens in raising funds for Christian organizations is highly problematic.  My observation is that the worst offenders are often televised ministries.  Those of us who have been around a while remember the Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart scandals in which funds were pulled from little old ladies with heartrending stories and used for luxurious living and immoral conduct. 

But there are approaches that do seek the blessing of the donor and the advance of the Kingdom.  I'd invite you to take a look at one or more of the books referenced in the original post.  Henri Nouwen's book is the briefest and most surprising.  All of his other work, as far as I know it, had to do with spirituality and ministry.  His book The Wounded Healer was an amazing gift to me at a difficult transition in my life.  The perspective he offers on doing fund raising in a manner worthy of God is truly remarkable.

I have a lot of respect for George Mueller and others who followed his model, like Hudson Taylor, but I don't think that approach is required of us in Scripture.  Some have felt led to employ it, and I applaud them.

I also think, in agreement with Bev, that it is a fantastic illustration of where our support really comes from.   None of our appeals will have much impact if God does not bless the giving, either by the giving itself, or by the results of the giving in the life of the receiver.   If we forget that, then all of this is nothing more than money passing from one hand to another.