The Second Helvetic Confession Chapter 28
Of the Possessions of the Church
The Possessions of the Church
and Their Proper Use. The Church of Christ possesses riches through the
munificence of princes and the liberality of the faithful who have given their
means to the Church. For the Church has need of such resources and from ancient
time has had resources for the maintenance of things necessary for the Church.
Now the true use of the Church's wealth was, and is now, to maintain teaching in
schools and in religious meetings, along with all the worship, rites, and
buildings of the Church; finally, to maintain teachers, scholars, and ministers,
with other necessary things, and especially for the succor and relief of the
poor. Moreover, God‑fearing and wise men, noted for the management of
domestic affairs, should be chosen to administer properly the Church's
possessions.
<The tithe is established very early as God sets the
principle before us in the history of Abram, the first called by God for the
specific purpose of creating a particular people, and reserving them to Himself.
This does not negate earlier interactions by God with those whom God
elected before the creation, but points out this is the one whom the church
anciently and in the New Testament called the father of the faithful.
The principle of the tithe will not be fully explained by God until
Sinai, but the principle preceded Sinai by several hundred years at least.
The tithe is not optional and to neglect the tithe is to
rob God,
for the tithe was never the property of man to choose, but placed in man’s
hand for proper stewardship until returned to the storehouse of God by man.
Sadly in the church we find many if not most churches have designated
funds and that anyone not pleased with the pastor or other officers place their
gifts and tithes into these special funds less they Apay@ the preacher. This is sin! If
you cannot trust a church and its administration with God’s money, then you
are in the wrong church at best, but more likely in sin and daring to judge a
called servant of God. God will not
bless the tithe so returned, or the gifts given.
With joy in your heart bring to God’s storehouse that which God
demands, and add to it the gifts of your heart as led by the Holy Spirit.
Do not attach strings or conditions to the tithe nor gifts.
This does not preclude such special funds being accumulated.
It does require prayer and pureness of heart by the believer when placing
funds or other gifts into such funds. Such
funds are never to be considered a tithe, but gifts or offerings. >
The Misuse of the Church's
Possessions. But if through misfortune or through the audacity, ignorance or
avarice of some persons the Church's wealth is abused, it is to be restored to a
sacred use by godly and wise men. For neither is an abuse, which is the greatest
sacrilege, to be winked at. Therefore, we teach that schools and institutions
which have been corrupted in doctrine, worship and morals must be reformed, and
that the relief of the poor must be arranged dutifully, wisely, and in good
faith.
<In short, be good stewards and where error or misuse
happens, do not hide it fix the problem. We
might note here the specific use of church resources to provide schools for the
children. Every church or as a very
minimum, every group of churches geographically located where possible should
have AChristian@
schools. This might mean crossing
denominational boundaries. Nonetheless
Bullinger had it right and this is the responsibility of the church and not the
government of the nation, state, or county of residence.
The members of differing groups are brothers in Christ, or they are not,
such a distinction should be made and non-essential doctrines set aside with
boards of governors established and the schools in place.
Covenant children are the responsibility of the covenant family!
Because a school has become corrupt doesn’t mean there should be no
school. It means it needs reformed and return to biblical foundations. This is
true with schools for covenant children as well as those of so-called higher
learning and most specifically to our seminaries. >
