p. 251 | How Shall We Get Money?

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, April 15, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 16

How Shall We Get Money?

The question of raising means is one which greatly troubles religious organizations at the present day. There is no trouble on this point so long as people, realizing the claims of the religion of Christ upon them, maintain a devoted and fervent frame of mind in the service of their Master; but in proportion as this spirit departs, and a spirit of worldliness and covetousness takes its place, difficulty arises on the question before us. Hence the resort in these days to fairs, festivals, lotteries, religious gambling, and all the ways and means, worldly and wicked, which are resorted to, to raise means for religious purposes.

Some see the evil of these practices, and deplore it; but their general adoption by almost all denominations, in face of the earnest protests that arise in some quarters, is a sure indication of the great departure which these denominations have suffered from the spirit and principles of primitive Christianity.

As an article in point, we quote the following from the New York Weekly Witness of Jan. 15, 1880, under the head above given:—

“This is an age of progress. Old customs and theories pass away, and new ones take their place. The world is moving on, and we must keep up with it. There are many great Christian enterprises to carry forward, and we want to do our part in the grand work. Churches must be built; the gospel must be carried to the heathen; benevolent enterprises for the destitute must be multiplied, as poverty and suffering increase. What is our part in this work? To do all we can. How shall we accomplish it? That is the question. In general, we go to the Bible for direction in practice as well as in faith. Let us see whether we can find in it any light on this important question. A few passages must suffice, and we hope they may stimulate to further study of the subject.

David vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob (Ps. 132: 4, 5): “I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.” How did he fulfill his vow? A beautiful description is given in full in 1 Chron. 29: 1-25. David said to the people: “I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God; * then the chief of the fathers and princes, . . . and the captains . . . with the rulers . . . offered willingly, and gave for the service of the house of God, of gold 5,000 talents and 10,000 drams; of silver 10,000 talents, . . . and they with whom precious stones were found gave them; . . . then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly; . . . and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.” Christ says (Luke 9: 58): “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” Yet he was fed and clothed by the kindness of disciples, friends, strangers, and even sinners. In Acts 6: 1-6, we have an interesting lesson: “And in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among your seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” Again, there were poor saints in Jerusalem to be cared for. Acts 11: 29, 30: “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea; which also they did.”

1 Cor. 16: 2: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

2 Cor. 8: 1-4: “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”

2 Cor. 9: 1-7: “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. . . . But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Rom. 15: 26: “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” These are some of the Scripture examples.

Let us now examine briefly some of the modern ways of raising money for similar purposes. Imagine David advertising a grand series of bazars, fairs, festivals, socials, and dime parties to get money for the temple. Imagine, if you can, the beloved disciple saying to the others, “We must have an oyster supper to get money to provide our Master with suitable clothes for his work.” Suppose the disciples (Acts 6) had said: “We have had a great revival, now let us raise money for the widows. We will stop preaching the gospel for a little while; we can do that any time. Let us have various entertainments, and give the proceeds to the widows. Get all the young people, sinners and all, stirred up, and let us see what we can devise to bring in money. The cause is noble, and should arouse enthusiasm. Let the shrewd ones devise, and we will carry out their plans; the end justifies the means.”

Paul wrote from Philippi to Corinth; suppose he were writing to-day from Cleveland to Oberlin, and conforming to present customs. He must write somewhat as follows: “The people of Cleveland, as you have seen by the Leader, have been doing a noble work in raising money for the different Christian enterprises; the churches have held grand bazars, fairs, and festivals, and oyster suppers, and socials, and dinner parties, and almost everything which could be thought of, and have got a little money out of everybody. They have furnished entertainment for all who would pay for it. They have enlisted saints and sinners; all have done nobly. The young ladies have written letters to all the young men, and these were sold from their post-offices for ten or fifteen cents apiece. They have had fish ponds, and sage ministers have fished out, at twenty-five cents each, dolls and jumping jacks which cost only a trifle. Grab-bags have furnished great fun, and have brought in large returns. All kinds of fancy articles have been made, and sold at magnificent prices. Now I am coming to Oberlin, and we want a good time there. What I have written will give you some hints as to the line of effort. Some one may suggest additional plans, for some of you have made it a study. Get the people aroused,—ministers, faculty, students, all. Oberlin people have lost some of their notions. They will take hold, if you get them awake. Make it a grand success, and rival Cleveland.”

Why should these things sound incongruous, almost sacrilegious, when put into the mouth of Paul? He was a disciple and preacher; so are we disciples and preachers.

In a recent number of the Advance, in an article under the title “A New Departure,” Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller gave a defense of Paul’s methods. We would like to hear the other side, if there be any.

Now I am a young man preparing to preach the gospel. I want to succeed in it; and all these questions must be met. Shall I follow David and Paul and the other disciples? or have their methods become obsolete? Some wiser one please answer, for several of us want to know.