Abundant Life: The Sponsoring Church: A Written Debate

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An Introduction

<p>A recent issue of <em>Abundant Life</em> featured an article commenting on a <em>Bulletin Briefs</em> article on parachurch organizations. Our article, by Mark Roberts, showed a direct correlation between such organizations and the sponsoring church arrangement as practiced by many of our more liberal brethren, including Jim Waldron, the writer of the <em>Bulletin Briefs</em> article. Brother Waldron then contacted Mark, challenging his assertions, and outlining debate propositions. However, when it came time to defend his position in debate, brother Waldron refused, instead asking Mark to debate Ben Vick. After numerous attempts to get brother Waldron to defend his own words, Mark finally relented and agreed to debate brother Vick. The debate, for which you see the propositions on this page, encompasses the entirety of this issue of <em>Abundant Life</em>. Please note: due to space limitations that both men agreed to 1000 word limits in their articles.</p>

First Affirmative

The Scriptures authorize one church to send funds to another church for the purpose of evangelism or edification.

The apostles and elders, with the whole church at Jerusalem, sent letters and men to churches in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, explaining God’s will concerning the Gentiles being circumcised and keeping the law of Moses ( Acts 15:22-31; 16:4-5). Here is a case of one church’s having aided several churches in the areas of evangelism and edification. If one church can send a letter to help another church in these areas, then one church can send Bibles or tracts to another church to do the same. If one church can send Bibles or tracts for the purpose of evangelism and edification, then the same church could send the money to buy Bibles and tracts for the purpose of preaching the gospel to both saint and sinner.

First Negative

It is a delight to study these very important matters with brother Vick and our readers. I am thankful brother Vick is concerned about pleasing God, as I am also.

Does the Bible authorize one congregation to send money to another church for evangelism? Discussions about the sponsoring church led to this debate, so my thoughts and applications center there. Does the Bible authorize the sponsoring church arrangement? Brother Vick says “yes” and it is my task to examine his arguments.

Second Affirmative

The Scriptures authorize one church to send funds to another church for the purpose of evangelism or edification. This proposition was affirmed in my first article. Brother Mark Roberts in his first response has attempted to prove it wrong by mere assertion, prejudice and misrepresentation.

It was shown from the New Testament that one church may aid another church in both evangelism and edification (Acts 15:22-31; 16:4-5). If a church can send an inspired letter to another church, it can send a Bible to the same. If a church can send a Bible to another church, it can send the money for a Bible or many Bibles. Why does the practice of one church’s aiding another church in evangelism or edification become wrong as soon as money enters into the picture? Roberts cannot argue that it is wrong for one church to send a Bible to another church. If he does, then he is arguing with the apostles and elders who did that very thing ( Acts 15; Col.4:16). If this is a false parallel, then let my opponent show how it is not parallel. This he did not and cannot do.

Second Negative

No Bible authority for the sponsoring church arrangement exists. Vick’s wild appeals to anything and everything establish nothing. This can be seen by examining the questions I asked Vick that he didn’t answer.

The Preacher's Pen

In our day of political correctness some may be a bit squeamish about a frank exchange of differences on an issue, as in this month’s AL. Some might even argue that Christians shouldn’t debate. Why did brother Vick and I debate the sponsoring church issue?