How to handle finances in simple churches?
1. Help all individuals and families in the house church to develop a healthy financial basis of living;
All that God has given us is His. He wants us to be good stewards of His resources, which means also His money. If we cannot be faithful with the “unrighteous” mammon, how can we be trusted with “true” riches in the Kingdom of God? (Luke 16:10-12). Handling money in a trustworthy manner is a prerequisite in life for receiving more spiritual riches. In simple churches you can teach about making a budget, giving and savings. We can learn people to become givers of money instead of being a slave or a lover of money (1 Tim 5,6). By giving we impact people’s life and lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven (Mat 6:19-21, Luke 16:9).
2. Meet specific needs in the house church family;
The early church used two ways of meeting the needs of the people: giving to the people in need themselves (horizontally) or giving to a leader who will distribute the money (vertically). They had all things in common and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and gave to the ones in need (Acts 2:44, 45; Acts 4:32-35). In a simple church setting you can give to each other to fulfil the needs of the people. After the prophecy of Agabus about the famine that will spread throughout the world, the Antioch church voluntarily gave money to Barnabas and Saul so that they could bring it to the needy church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30). Paul also urged the church in Corinth to give out of their abundance, and freely willing, to the needy saints in Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:10-15). In following Paul’s example, you can help each other financially as a network. When a need within a simple church is too much to handle for that single simple church, you can involve other simple churches in your network. Within the CWOWI network the leader sends out an email to the different people in the network and they can voluntarily help out.
3. Meet specific needs of people in the neighbourhood or direct social circle of the house church;
We are called to be salt and light in the world. When we serve the people in our neighbourhood, also with our money, they will notice the love of God and are drawn towards Christ. Don’t forget the poor and needy people in your area. Isaiah warns the Israelites that fasting needs to be combined with helping the needy, the oppressed and the poor (Isa 58). And off course, when we clothe the naked, feed the hungry, take in the strangers and visit the sick, we serve our King Jesus (Mat 25:31-36).
4. Fund the celebrations (mostly food, sometimes rent);
When you come together for celebrations with your network, you need to fund them. Mostly the celebrations need to be gatherings of fellowship, creativity and worshiping God. For having a time of fellowship, food is an important element. You can fund this as a leader, but also asking people to cook and to bring food to the celebration (pot luck).
5. Fund missions and church planting (often a so-called ‘apostolic fund’ is created for this).
Because house churches are cheap in maintenance (no buildings, no pastors, no programs) they can invest money where it really matters: the poor and apostolic advance. You can set up an apostolic fund where people can donate and give money to start new churches, help church planters or feed the poor.
The first three areas are the responsibility of the individual house churches, the fourth area is stewarded by the elders of the network, and the fifth area by the elders and apostles.
