Ons is geneig om op geld staat te maak vir ons daaglikse behoeftes, wat ons nodig het om van te leef, die geldelike uitgawes om ons oorhoofse kostes wat ons self aangegaan het te dek. Dan vra ons nog vir God om hierdie behoeftes wat X bedrag is te voorsien, want dit is die minimum bedrag wat ons benodig want sonder geld kan ons nie leef nie.

“Should a church participate in fund-raising?”……Answer: First, we must define what we mean by "fundraising." The Bible is clear that the giving of "offerings" is commanded and blessed by God. God loves a "cheerful giver"-one who gives abundantly out of a heart of love for God (2 Corinthians 2:8-9). Paul provides instruction and a great deal of discussion about giving in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. He also shows great appreciation to those who gave to him at various times to enable him to continue his ministry (Philippians 4:14-20). You also find records of generous giving in the early church (Acts 4:32-37). Fund-raising, then, is something other than the normal giving of a congregation toward the work of the Lord.……If a church does decide to raise additional funds for a specific need, the following cautions are in order:……├ö├ç├│ Be honest about what the money is for.…├ö├ç├│ Avoid excessive profit.…├ö├ç├│ Don't allow the fundraising to communicate to others that God's people are not being obedient, therefore the church is hitting up unbelievers for money.…├ö├ç├│ Be sure the congregation understands it is in addition to, not in place of, normal giving.…├ö├ç├│ Be considerate of those that have convictions against fundraising ├ö├ç├┤ you cannot prove biblically that it is OK, so it could be a doubtful thing for some.……On the other hand, there are benefits to depending upon giving rather than fundraising: (taken from above passages)……├ö├ç├│ People learn to give because it is a blessing (actual fruit added to their account), not to get something.…├ö├ç├│ Depending upon gifts of God's people allows a ministry to learn to work in the framework of contentedness and obedience.…├ö├ç├│ It is a clear way to give God glory. Fundraisers can bring glory to products or personalities.…├ö├ç├│ Depending upon the giving of God's people can strengthen our faith.……Alternatives to supplement tithing:……├ö├ç├│ Establish special funds with particular goals. Some people will give to special projects above their regular giving. …├ö├ç├│ Encourage faith commitments through a banquet (not selling meals ├ö├ç├┤ but expressing need ├ö├ç├┤ accepting gifts) or other challenges.…├ö├ç├│ Encourage members to take a certain amount of money and invest it over a particular duration – some might put it in a CD, others might buy ingredients for something and then sell their product; the individuals then would all bring their personal gifts as an offering. This avoids the stigma of the church doing a fundraiser, incorporates people, and allows them to use a great deal of creativity.

……A Scripture account that might be used to discourage fundraising would that of Jesus and the money changers in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17). Some may conclude that the reason He called it a "den of thieves" was that Jesus was against profit being made off ministry. However, the passage could more easily be understood that He was condemning the dishonest practice of the greedy, hypocritical, and corrupt religious leaders. We also need to take into account that we no longer have temples that involve animal sacrifices; therefore, it would be difficult to compare that ministry to that of the current church model described in Acts and the Epistles.

……One should not take lightly the degree of anger expressed by Jesus as He chased the profiteers out; however, it doesn't necessarily provide a solid proof text against what we consider fundraising.

“What does the Bible say about selling in church?”……Answer: The first Scriptures that come to mind in regard to selling in the church are Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; and Luke 19:45-46, all of which describe the incidents (there were two) when Jesus "cleansed" the Temple. When He saw the kinds of activities that were being carried on in His Father's house, He became very angry. Clearly, this was not what the Temple was built for.

……Jesus regarded both merchants and customers guilty of desecrating the temple. Items being bought and sold included “doves” and other animals for sacrifice (John 2:14). Also present were those who exchanged one currency for another. This was needed because Roman coins and other forms of currency were deemed unacceptable for temple offerings. Evidently, both merchants and money changers were charging such excessive rates that the temple marketplace took on the atmosphere of a thieves' den (vs. 13).

……Obviously, selling books, having a raffle, doing fundraising, etc., is different from what was going on in the temple. Jesus was not necessarily angry that they were selling in the temple, but rather that selling was becoming the focus instead of God. Jesus was also angry that the money-changers were taking advantage of people, many of whom were poor, who needed their services. Doves and other animals were required for the offering, and tithes in acceptable currency were also a requirement.

……Such is not the case in today's churches. Purchases in a church bookstore, for example, are entirely voluntary. No purchase is necessary to attend worship. If a church does decide to sell something inside the church, it should make sure that the selling does not receive undue attention and does not draw away from worship and the teaching of God's Word. Selling should also never be made "high-pressure."