Why doesn't the church of Christ use sales, raffles, assessments, and other incentives to raise funds?
The short answer is that the New Testament does not authorize any method except the freewill offering taken on Sunday. Individuals may use any lawful and godly means of working to obtain money for their needs (1 Thess 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:11-12). However, the Lord has specifically commanded that the church is to receive funds as its members give "as God hath prospered them" (1 Cor. 16:2), as each member has purposed in his heart, cheerfully, without grudging or of necessity (2 Cor. 9:7). The commercialism of sales, the greed of raffles and other forms of gambling, the compulsion of assessments based on income, partake of the spirit of worldliness. In addition, they are not authorized in the New Testament. If someone says, "But the scriptures do not say not to raise money by other means than a freewill offering," he should remember that authority for an action is not established by the silence of the scriptures. If God had said, "Raise money," this would be general authority to do so by any lawful means. But when he said that funds were to be obtained as the members gave as they prospered, purposed in their heart, cheerfully, etc., he thereby specified a particular means which eliminates all others. Giving is an act of faith done by believers. Sales and assessments are business dealings. Raffles and other games of chance are gambling, a work of covetousness. Let's put our trust in the power of God, not in the schemes of men.
S.T.E
"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;"
"For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies." "Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
