�If the College is an Adjunct of the Home, Then�

							Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel




 One issue that is here to stay regardless
 of the expense and division it brings is the
 matter of privately funded foundations to
 preach the gospel. The variant of
 institutionalism of the fifties…was church
 supported missionary societies, etc.
 Today, the variant is Christians pooling
 their resources to corporately preach the
 gospel in and through men-made orders.
“15: But if I tarry long,
that thou mayest know
how thou oughtest to
behave thyself in the
house of God, which is
the church of the living
God, the pillar and
ground of the truth” (I
Tim. 3: 15, Rev. 1: 20).
The action performed by
the local church is clearly
organizational as opposed
to individual (I Tim. 5: 16).
The local church has
structure, oversight, and a
treasury (Phili. 1: 1, I Pet.
5: 2, 3, I Cor. 16: 1, 2).
It is irrefutable that
Christians engaged in
collective action in
preaching the gospel in
and through the local
church (cp. Phili. 4: 15,
16, Acts 13: 1-3, 14: 27).
Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel



 What the issue is not:

  An individual teaching his neighbor “outside
 the church” (cp. Acts 8: 4).
  Two working together in concurrently teaching
 another (cp. Acts 18: 24f.).
  Two or more Christians going into business for
 profit (cp. Acts 18: 3).
 Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel


"In the course of conducting our business, members of the
G.O.T. Foundation often pray together and even pray with
other people with whom we have dealings, especially in
praying for God's wisdom and blessings upon our endeavors.
We discuss God's Word together and with others, especially
regarding its proper application to our work. As
circumstances permit, we create and utilize opportunities to
teach people the truth and God's Word and we do everything
possible to encourage them to obey, worship, and serve God
faithfully. Such studies have been conducted for the staff
writers of Truth Magazine from time to time. The Truth
Lectureship makes it possible for other interested individuals
to share with us in such studies. By inviting people to read
Truth Magazine and to visit our web site…, we hope to better
acquaint them with the goods and services of our bookstores
and to encourage them to obey, worship, and serve God
faithfully" (Ron Halbrook, “Let The Church Be The Church,”
Gospel Truths, September issue, 2004).
 Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel


What the issue is:

 Instead of concurrent action, the two preachers
establish a “Save the Lost” foundation into which
individual Christians contribute.


       S.T.L.F.

  P.                VP



        Board of
        directors
  Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel

What the issue is:
 Instead of two Christians simply being in a book
publishing for profit business and having a daily Bible
study at lunch break, they form The Gospel For The Lost
Foundation….

        G.F.T.L.F.

   P.                V.P.


         Board of
         directors
 Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel

A comparison:



        G.F.T.L.F.
                                 Structure
                                             Elders
   P.                V.P.


         Board of
         directors




                            I Timothy 3: 15, cp.
                            Hebrews 7: 14
Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel




     Akin F.
                              Structure
                                          Elders



     Trustees
  Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel

Objections to the
foundations:

 Not authorized.
 Power issues.                    Structure
                                               Elders

 Wisdom of men.
 Party formation.
 Usually involve distorted
fellowship ideas.

                              “Pillar and ground of the
                              truth” (I Tim. 3: 15)
  Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel


Roy Cogdill appeals for churches to help the Akin Foundation: "Most of
the readers of this paper know already that the Akin Foundation is in
trouble. It is not to advertise this fact but to call attention to the
opportunity of all of you have to render a service to the Foundation
which has done so much for the spreading of the Gospel and indirectly
to the cause of truth and righteousness….The 68th district court in
which the law suit against the trustees has been filed has granted an
injunction against the trustees further distributing any of the funds of
the Foundation and has appointed a receiver impounding all the funds
coming in….This effort will cost money as any case in court
does….What do you think and what will you do about it? Those of you
who through the years have been supported by and have participated in
its help, what will you do to help preserve it - both churches and
individuals are urged to respond" (The Gospel Guardian, Vol. 29,
number 7, April 1, 1977).
 Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel


Objections to these objections:

 “You are against individual and concurrent action!”
 “These foundations only exist for legal purposes!”
 “Foundations are only an issue if church
supported!” (“Treasury must be involved….”)
 “Since you are not a board member, you are not
qualified to address such matters!”