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Questions about: Money and Missions
Lyssa: (02/12/07) Hi Jack, I'm putting together a support raising packet for my church and I have a question about asking non-christians for support. In one of the resources I was using, it said that the Bible seems to imply that believers ought to support believers. They used the passage 3 John 5-8 where it says that they accepted nothing from the Gentiles. I've lived off of support for the past three years and non-Christians supported me. They might not agree with why I'm doing what I'm doing but they still support me in it. And through it they've come to see God in a different light. Anyway, I was wondering what you thought about it and if it is ok to ask non-Christians for support. Thanks! Lyssa

Jack: Lyssa, I guess it all depends on who the non-Christians are. The passage in 3 John certainly gives the idea that Christian missionaries should basically depend on fellow believers. I feel that outright asking for help from unbelievers, particularly those who do not know one, is not supported by this verse. However, John Stott has this to say on this passage: "The phrase taking nothing need not be pressed into meaning that these Christian missionaries would refuse to accept gifts voluntarily offered to them by the unconverted. There is no prohibition here of taking money from non-Christians who may be well disposed to the Christian cause."

I know non-Christians who are glad to support Christians workers because they are "doing good." I would encourage this because it is done in good faith, and as you noted, "they've come to see God in a different light."

However, I would basically expect God's work to be supported by God's people, not only economically, but especially through prayer. It's for this reason that it's important to have people backing our work. "Where their treasure is, there their heart is also." And we trust that their heart will express itself through prayer. I feel uncomfortable when people who don't even know me ask for money for a cause I know nothing about, and I'm sure others feel the same.

Keep trusting the Lord, Lyssa. He delights in the faith of His children and is well able to supply their need.

Jack

"God's work, done in God's way, meets God's supply." (Hudson Taylor)

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