Institutionalism

Institutionalism

Changes in the patterns for:Supporting PreachersGiving Benevolence

Using Man-Made Institutions to do the work

Institutionalism

Point of Contention:Is there a distinction

between commands to the individual Christian and commands to the church?

Institutionalism

The Real Issue: How Is the Work Funded?From an Individual’s

Personal FundsOut of the Church

Treasury

Evangelism

Bible Pattern: Churches may send money directly to preachersPhilippians 4:15-162 Corinthians 11:8-9

Edification

Bible Pattern: Churches may send money directly to preachers to preach edifying sermons.

There is no pattern for sending money to maintain someone’s building.

Benevolence

Bible Pattern: Individuals or churches may give to needy saints.Acts 11:27-301 Corinthians 16:1-4

Church Benevolence

Bible Pattern: Always given to ChristiansActs 6:1-7Acts 11:27-301 Corinthians 16:1-4

Individual Benevolence

Bible Pattern: Given To Christians and non-ChristiansJames 1:27Galatians 6:10

Distinction in Benevolence

There is a distinction between church benevolence and individual benevolence1 Timothy 5:3-16Only some widows may be

supported by the churchOther widows must be

supported by the individual

Mutual Responsibility

Any organization has rules for how the money may be spent from its treasury.

We must follow the rules that are given to us in God’s Word.

Odd Argument: Singing

Booklet’s Argument: Individuals are commanded to

sing. So we can’t sing in the assembly.

Answer: We each have the individual

responsibility to sing when we come together in the assembly.

Conclusion

There is a distinction between commands to the individual and commands to the church.

The church treasury can only be used in ways that have been authorized.

There is no example of a man-made institution being used in the early church.

The Lord’s Invitation

Hear – Romans 10:17 Believe – Hebrews 11:6 Repent – Luke 13:3 Confess – Romans 10:10 Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 Remain Faithful – Matt. 24:13