Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-03-12
MINISTERIAL SUPPORT.

grace, try to open the eyes of the Gen
tiles as Paul did on this all important
and sublime subject For the benefit
of those who do not know what the
Scriptures teach on this subject, we
write this article.
Charges for services in preaching is
a preachers liberty, which should not
be abused. Paul made the gospel
brethren, | Cor. 9:1S, but he took
wages Salary of other churches to do
them service. q Cor. 11:S. Paul us
ed this Christian liberty when he
thought fit and that it would not cause
people to say he was just money hun
ter.
Paul in 9 Cor 11:9 says: "And
when | was present with you, and
wanted, I was chargeable to no man:
for that which was lacking (wanting)
to me the brethren which came from
Macedonia supplied (furnished) and in
all things I have kept myself from be-
ing burdensome unto You and so will
keep myself" Paul was missionary,
that is, one sent to spread religion and
one reason he was not burdensome or
chargeable to the church at Corinth
was because the brethren who came
from Macedonia supplied his needs be-
fore he went to Corinth, hence there
was no necessity for his being charge
able to the Corinthian church.
Moreover, Paul says: Now, ye
Philippians, know also that in the be-
ginning (commencement) of the gospel
when departed from Macedonia no
church communicated with me con-
cerning giving and receiving but ye
only. For even in Thessalonica We
sent once and again to my necessity -
Phil 4:15-16.
Epaphroditas was the messenger that
bore the contributions to Paul as did
the brethren from Macedonia, while
this church at first, as Paul said, bore
the burden of his support, but when
other churches were constituted they
also fell into line. With all this scrip
tural evidence before our eyes we can't
see how any Christian could have au-
dacity to say that we should not.
Bear ye one another q burdens and so
lin like manner) fulfil Ito carry into
effect) the law of Christ" Gal. Ga
Now, concerning the collections for
the saints Paul gave order to the
churches of Gallatia and to the church
at Corinth, saying, Upon the first
day of the week let every one of you
mot part of then) lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him, that there
be no gathering when | come. - I Cor.
1912. From the preceding verse we
learn that Paul gave an order which
was imperative to all to lay by on the
first day of the week that there be no
collection when Paul came. Paul. un-
derstood collections for 1 Cor. 1871
and distribution to the necessity of the
saints Christian duty. Rom. 1918.
We can and should honor God with
the means he has given as by contrib
uting to the necessity of his cause
Proverbs 80 teaches us to honor the
Lord with our substance and with the
first fruits of all our increase. Our
substance consists of what we have
Christians should not possess a sub
stance that they can't honor their Gre
ator with. To honor God with our
substance is a religious duty and if a
religious duty it should be regarded
as such, remembering that "GOd low
eth cheerful giver. 2 Cor, on If
God loveth cheerful giver, as his
Word teaches, what about those who
are not cheerful givers, but spurn the
idea of contributing to the cause of the
Master? Some uninformed, uncheerful.
giving, wicked and unregenerated mer
set up howl by saying preachers are
but money hunters and that there il
too much money and that money is the
root of all evil etc. Will here say that
there is not one single passage OF
Scripture in all the Bible that teaches
| that money is the root of all evil, but
there is a passage in Timothy which
says, For the love of money is the
root of all evil The love of money
is the root of all evil, for some wicked
\ men have loved it so well that they
have murdered men for it and have
committed almost every crime in tn,
catalogue to get this medium of ex
change There is no wrong within
money, but there is great wrong in ;
| bad use of it. In regard to the idea o
too much money being contributed tt
the cause of Christ | will say wonde
if those uncheerful givers ever stop t,
think that they are laboring under ;
sad mistake and that men may rol
\ God by not paying tithes to his cause
the tithes which are so necessary t,
help it alongS Such howlers ought t,
stop for one moment and think on tn
fact that the dogs of this nation cos
far more than the gospel. recent,
I read of one man who owned seven dog
and he boasted that they were value,
at $50 each. When | read the accoun
/ of the dogs was made to wonder hoy
any man could honor God with hi
substance when his substance consists
of dogs and even the price of dog
an abomination unto God. Deut. %
1S.
] As some perhaps wish to know
whether or not preacher should re
4 ceive a salary for his services i
preaching the gospel, we deem it nee
essary to first note the first and specis
commission given by Christ to his dis
ciples in A. d. 81. This commissio
was not go into all nations and preac
the gospel, as some suppose, but !
was to the Jews alone, for when Jesu
sent forth his disciples he commando
I them saying, go not into the way {
the Gentiles and into any city of til
Samaritans enter We not, but go rattle
To the lost sheep of the house of Israe
Provide neither gold nor silver nj
n brass in your purse. nor scrip for yor
journey: neither two coats; neith,