Well, hey, ya know, it takes MONEY

I have heard, or read, over and over the ol' mantra that "it takes money to run a church".  Well, first we're already in the deep doo when we speak of "running" a church, but that's consistent with the corrupt business model we have built as the "church" in this era.  Sad but true.  

       Secondly though, it only "takes money" if we believe we are somehow obligated to buy property, erect a building, fund countless programs, and give a cushy life to the Spiritual Guy (aka, the Pastor). That's the only reason it "takes money" otherwise it takes relatively "no money" and your giving can flow primary outside of your fellowship instead of inside.  Let me roll that one by ya one more time: your giving can flow primary OUTSIDE of your fellowship instead of massaging everyone on the inside. (Overseers, though, should be financially supported but that "honor" ought to look much closer to the ministry of Paul -- our one, full-time overseer model for leaders to imitate -- than our average denominational pastor presiding over more than, say, 50 congregants.)

       Now, on the other hand, those of us in a house fellowship can designate our money for giving in an entirely different way.  For starters, it can be used much more wisely and effectively because there is more accountability and less waste.  This happens because the giver usually knows, or has met, the people or organization his money is going to.  It also is likely a direct transaction thus assuring that the money is actually going to exactly where it is intended to be going.  Most corporation congregations have multiple people counting and handling your money, and then they will designate it to where-ever in the budget. (Don't fool yourself into thinking that because you specifiy on your check where you want your money to go to that that will actually happen.)

        Quoted below is what could, and should, happen if we return to Scripture's model for being the living Church.  Calvin Guy explains where the first century Church (30 - 300AD) spent it's money in his chapter "Pilgrimage Toward the House Church" in the book Discipling the City:

"Their emphasis was almost entirely on people. Spared both the expense and concern of erecting and maintaining a building, they were soon involved in expending all available funds in loving service to the widows and orphans.  Charity was not the incidental, fractional percentage of the budget.  It was the budget."