Theological Issues to Conider When Supporting!

Does God's word instruct the poor to give generously? Can someone be so poor that God exempts them from giving to Kingdom work to show trust in Him? I have thought about this often enough over the years. It became a personal theological crisis when I began working among poor rural villages in the eastern forests of Ivory Coast, West AFrica. These people are very poor by my standards though generally doing better than some countries near by. How on earth could I challenge these people to financially support the Lord's work in their community?

Then I read about the Macedonian churches. There, I see the giving "attitude" that all Christians should have in both the west and on the missions fields. Giving is not optional, so no, Africans are not too poor to be exempt from giving.

"And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 4 (NIV)

I have seen poor African people give very generously to the needs of others, and ministry needs too. How is this possible?

".......they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will." 2 Corinthians 8:4 (NIV)

So in our missions work we decided early on that it was going to be built ground up, assuming that when churches were planted and Christians were born, they would be taught to be be generous. We did not feel we should be the support of their expression of worship and spirituality. God, as he blessed them according to their means had to be left to do his amazing work. If they new Christians felt they needed a building, they were to build it themselves. If they want a full time servant, they were to hire them themselves. They were to choose how, when and who. It worked!. With self supporting churches lead by unpaid tent making leaders.

I simply do not beleive that God gave the African people the great commission task, without the resources, blessing or Grace to accomplish it.

Back to the original question on giving, can Africans or Indonesians so poor as to be exempt from supporting Kingdom work? Let's approach this question another way. Can we westerners give enough on their behalf to please God in their stead for not tithing or giving generously?

These two questions are basic theological questions that need to be answered first, before we establish patterns of support. True partnership with them should see significant national financial input too. You do as you wish. I simply refuse to relegate my task as a missionary to being a bank roller. I'll plant churches using low cost methodologies and show them how it can be done at their income levels. I beleive that we in the west are under the erroneous assumption we need to give more; that ministries in Africa or Asia can't function without our support. This is simply not true in many situations (But not all).