Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus Templeton
...and I gave him nothing.
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Brother Titus,
I am positive that you did the
correct decision. When confronted with issues such as this one I always consider two criteria before I make up my mind whether to give away money or not:
1. Will the donation enhance God's agenda on Earth? Will it be used to
convert sinners to True Faith™. It seems that in your case the money would have been used on mundane insignificant paraphernalia or food. That is secondary.
Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
If criterion 1 is fulfilled, you must still contemplate upon this:
2. Will the donation enhance God's agenda on earth BETTER than the same money when given to OUR pastors? Practically always, the answer is "no, it won't". The effectiveness and centuries-long experience on giving sermons to sinners is of such magnitude in LBC that is is
extremely unlikely that anyone else could be as useful.
Psalms 40:9
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Thus, the cost-benefit analysis is
unambiguous. It was prudent to save the money for our own organization.
Yours in Christ,
Elmer