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The Sponsoring ChurchIntroduction:
1. This “setup” has provoked much discussion and controversy.
Is it right?
2. Define terms.
Sponsor: “1. n. One who binds himself to answer for another’s
default; a. surety. 2. Hence, one who assumes, or one to
whom is delegated, responsibility for some other person or
thing.”
“v.t. – To be or stand sponsor for; to accept responsibility
for”. – Webster.
Church: a local congregation composed of saints. Philippians
1 Corinthians 1:2
3. What is a “sponsoring Church)?
A. It is a congregation which assumes the oversight and
control of some activity in the general field of
evangelism, edification, or benevolence.
B. Being general, the work involved is not the exclusive
responsibility of one congregation, but, proportionate to
their ability, is the work of all the churches.
C. The congregation assuming the oversight and control cannot
sustain the work undertaken alone.
D. Many congregations delegate their funds and
responsibilities to the overseeing and controlling
congregation for their fulfillment and application or
expenditure.
E. The elders of the Sponsoring Church thus becomes the official board of a church cooperation vested with the authority of overseeing, controlling and persecuting the work involved.
Discussion: The Sponsoring Church setup is wrong because:
I. It is a type of cooperation which is without “Scriptural
Authority”.
A. Scriptural Cooperation. (Concurrent action)
1. In benevolence. Acts 11:27-30; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4;
2 Corinthians 8 and 9.
2. In Evangelism. Philippians 4:14-16; 2 Corinthians
11:8-9
B. No command, example, or necessary inference in Bible
for one church to become an agency through which other
churches may function.
C. No church or churches ever sent to another church to
enable it to do work to which all churches were equally
related.
D. Merely assuming a work does not make it peculiar to the
sponsoring church.
II. It is a violation of autonomy.
A. Autonomy – “Quality or state of being autonomous.”
Webster
B. Autonomous – “independent on government; self-
governing; also, with outside control. Existing
independently.” Webster
C. The fact that God gave each congregation its own
complete and sufficient organization shows God wanted
each congregation to be autonomous. Philippians 1:1;
Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4
D. Either sponsoring church or contributing churches is
agent for other. Agency implies subordination. Not
God’s will.
E. Autonomy is safeguard against apostasy.
F. Voluntary contributions doesn’t change situation.
Consider the missionary society.
III. It is a violation of Congregational independence.
A. Congregational independence and autonomy taught in New
Testament. Acts 14:23; 20:17-18; 1 Peter 5:1-4
B. Not true in Sponsoring Church setup.
1. Contributing churches are dependent on Sponsoring
Church to do the work – other can’t act!
2. Sponsoring church is dependent on contributing
churches to furnish money – otherwise can’t act!
C. Example: Highland church in Abilene, Texas [the Herald
of Truth program]
IV. It does not recognize the restrictions God placed on
Elders.
A. Oversight and work of elders are limited to “flock
among them” them. 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28
B. Sponsoring Church elders do not recognize these
restrictions.
1. They oversee work and funds over which God didn’t
place them.
2. They should not assume, but do what God has
assigned.
3. Their work is not geographical, but is
“organizational”.
V. It is a violation of the Scriptural Design (Purpose) in
Cooperation.
A. When one church sends to another it must be for the
right purpose.
1. Receiving church must be in need.
2. Equality is to be established. 2 Corinthians 8:13-14
B. Of course, churches may cooperate in supporting
preachers by sending to preachers. Philippians 4:14-16;
2 Corinthians 11:8
C. Today, most sponsoring churches are not only not in
need, but make contributions to others. Consider
Broadway church, Highland church, etc.
VI. It in effect causes the Elders to become a Society –
Missionary or otherwise.
A. God put elders over one flock, hence over one treasury
funds contributed by the one flock. 1 Peter 5:2.
B. In Sponsoring Church arrangement, they set up a
separate treasury into which contributions from other
churches go and out of which work is financed.
C. The Sponsoring Church even contributes from its
treasury into the “treasury of the work being done.”
D. Since God did not place the elders over this “second
treasury” they aren’t serving as elders over it – but
as a board or society.
E. The elders of the Sponsoring Church sustain the same
relationship to all contributing churches as they do to
the Sponsoring – as far as the “Sponsored work” is
concerned! Therefore, essentially they are a “Board”
or “Society” over the funds of churches.
F. Sponsoring Church is a centralized agency through which
churches function.
G. No authority for such. 2 John 9
VII. It represents an erroneous standard of ascertaining
responsibility.
A. Responsibility is determined by ability and
opportunity.
B. Responsibility of congregation is not determined by
ability of the brotherhood.
C. 1 Corinthians 4:2 – Individuals are stewards to
properly use what they have – not can beg!
D. E. R. Harper in 1938: “A congregation has no right to
build anything larger than it is able to support. It
has no right whatever to bind any other congregation to
any program of work of its selection. Each
congregation must retain its autonomy. Any effort that
destroys the independence of the local congregation
runs straight toward sectarianism, if not Romanism.
E. A church is responsible for the use of its resources
only (not what it can beg from others), as it has
opportunity!
VIII. It represents a centralization of power.
A. Such is invariably true. Money is power – when one
eldership receives money from over 1000 churches, it is
going to be elevated above others and exercise power
over others.
B. Consider pressure exerted today!
IX. It sets the wrong example for other churches to follow.
A. Churches should be examples. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8
B. She continually begs although not in need (want).
C. She seeks to control and use the funds of other
churches.
D. She reflects on the ability of each congregation to do
its work.
E. Suppose each congregation followed her example?
F. We have some “Sponsoring churches” begging money from
other churches, while at same time sending funds to
other churches!
G. Foolish, Inexpedient as well as Unscriptural.
X. Efforts to defend it leads to a perversion of the
Scriptures.
A. Those practicing it go to Bible to try to prove their
practice.
B. Consider Acts 11:27-30. They give the meaning of
“Jerusalem” to “Judea”.
C. If so, “brethren which dwelt in Judea” would mean
“brethren which dwelt in Jerusalem” only.
D. Consider Acts 11:27-30.
1. Relief was sent to the brethren which dwelt in
Judea.
2. There were churches in Judea. 1 Thessalonians 2:14
3. Elders were appointed in every church. Acts 14:23
4. Work of Elders is limited to flock over which they
have been appointed. 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28
5. Therefore: Relief was sent to the elders of the
churches of Judea! If not, why not?
E. Another passage perverted!
1. Philippians 4:14-16 Some say Philippians “received”
and “gave” to Paul. Hence other churches sent to
Philippi and it in turn sponsored Paul! They tie 2
Corinthians 11:8 to it.
F. Consider Philippians 4:14-19.
1. Philippians 1:5 shows they had fellowship with Paul
from the first day.
2. No church communicated (had fellowship with) Paul
concerning giving and receiving except Philippi!
3. Paul commended Philippian church only – not others.
4. If 2 Corinthians 11:8 is same why did Paul say
“churches” but in Philippians 4 “no church”.
G. They also pervert Mark 16:15. They say “church”.
XI. It reflects upon God’s Wisdom!
A. God’s wisdom is in God’s Book. When it follow it,
we’re right and safe.
B. Churches may cooperate in benevolence by sending
directly to the need. Acts 11:27-30; 1 Corinthians
16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9.
C. Churches may cooperate in evangelism by sending
directly to preacher or send preacher. Philippians
4:14-19; 2 Corinthians 11:8;Acts 15:27-33. See also
Acts 11:22f; 13:1-.
D. God’s plan is more effective than man’s.
1. Within 35 years every creature under heaven heard
gospel. Colossians 1:23; Romans 10:16
E. To devise human arrangements is certainly to reflect
upon God’s wisdom!
XII. It causes Division and Leads to Apostasy.
A. effort to centralize authority and organize the church
universal brought an apostasy which culminated in Roman
Catholicism.
B. Same attitude formed Missionary Society in 1849 and
divided God’s people.
C. Same attitude today will cause division and lead into
apostasy!
D. When floodgate is opened, flood comes in.
E. Let’s profit by History as well as God’s word.
XIII. Additional Thoughts.
A. If “sponsoring church” is right, which church should be
a “sponsoring church”? How would we decide the matter
since New Testament is silent in it?
B. If a church may turn part of its funds over to a
“sponsoring church”, why not all?
C. A church is not merely an organization to raise funds,
but has the responsibility of carrying out the work!
D. Sponsoring church arrangement cannot be done by faith.
Roman 10:17
1. It is not a good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-
2. It does not pertain to life and godliness. 2 Peter
1:3
3. It is not in the doctrine of Christ, hence
transgression. 2 John 9
4. It is not according to the pattern because its not
taught in the perfect law. Hebrews 8:5; James 1:25
E. Read statements from brethren in past.
Conclusion: Let us all be content to walk in the Way of the Lord by
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