First of all, the whole spirit and teaching and example of Scripture is against it. For argument’s sake, I would be willing to admit for a moment that it was not an evil. Still, the Bible condemns it. Say that it is no evil, but the last one of us will admit that it has the appearance of evil. Now, what says the Scripture? "Abstain from all appearance of evil." This one verse wipes out 'church' entertainment from beginning to end.

Again, I have never talked with ministers or laymen on this subject but the vast majority condemned the thing in total, while those most active in the 'church' festival business admitted to me that they felt it was not the best way to raise money for the gospel. One thing is certain, the church of the Son of God has nothing to do with any but the best ways. We cannot afford to touch or have anything to do with financial methods and entertainments that have any doubt resting upon them or can be questioned by spiritually minded people, much less, by the world itself. God have mercy on us as a church when we do things that even the world, which is without Christ, condemns!

Again, the religious press is against it. Most, if not every, denomination has spoken through its journals upon the subject. With but few exceptions, all these papers have condemned the practice while none editorially have approved or commended it.

Still, again, I notice that large, religious bodies have pronounced against it. Conferences, synods, assemblies, associations and conventions have all recognized and branded it as an evil. Only a few years since, in the city of Chicago, there assembled a convention of several hundred ministers of different religious denominations. Among other things they did, was to express themselves emphatically and unmistakably on the subject of 'church' entertainments. I cannot forget what they called it. May all remember it, for it was just, true, and thoroughly descriptive. They branded it "The Cooking Stove Apostasy of the Nineteenth Century!"

There was a time I thought of the church robed in spotless white and moving through the nations with uplifted, transfigured countenance, love in her eyes, the perfume of holiness about her person, and scattering blessing constantly from her hand. But there is a sad change. There have been thoughtless hands that have stripped her of her spiritual glory in the eyes of many in the world. They have otherwise altered her, so that she either stands posing before the world in the tinsel attire and half-learned attitudes of a second-rate theater; or she moves through the land with the rumpled, frowsy, heated, greasy appearance of the kitchen. In such an image we see her distributing from her garments the smell of poorly-fried oysters and mildewed chicken salad wherever she goes. The true method of giving — what is it? There is but one way recognized and accepted of God.

I first notice it in the Mosaic times, "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering." What were the offerings? Substances of value, gold, silver, brass and precious stones. No one was allowed to dodge behind some corporeal service and call that an offering. "Every one," says the Scripture, "offered an offering of gold unto the Lord."

In the kingly times of Israel I see the method again. Turn to Second Kings, twelfth chapter and ninth verse "But Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar; and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord." Please notice that it is always money! Why? Not because God loves money, but because he sees we do. He knows, as some of us know, that there are many people in the church who are willing to do anything for the Lord — but give him their money.

I verily believe they would walk the streets in behalf of the church until their tongues protruded. They would fry oysters all through the silent watches of the night until they dropped in their tracks, exhausted next morning. They would do anything, everything rather than give their money to God! And, by the way, this class constitutes the most active element among 'church' entertainment workers.

But God will not be satisfied with this. The dearest idol, deepest love, must be sacrificed for him. He knows of that money-love in the human heart. He is determined to break it up and awaken that loving, liberal, generous nature that will respond to every call that he makes. And so he says: " Bring an offering of gold; bring me the most precious of metals; give me the recognized standard of value; lay money, your money, not another man’s money, not the world’s money, but your money upon my altar!"

In the time of Christ, I see God’s method still. It is mentioned in the text, "Jesus sat over against the treasury." and saw it in successful operation. Rich and poor were casting in their gold and silver. No 'church' fair or entertainment in sight, or even thought of. Everybody was giving voluntarily to the Lord.

In the times of the apostles, the method was still working. Many things had been changed. Circumcision had given way to baptism, and the Passover had been substituted by the Lord’s Supper; but the method of giving to God was still the same. In the first chapter of Acts, I read that as many as had money "brought it and laid it at the disciples’ feet." Some sold their most valuable estates, houses and land in order to bring money. No embroidering of useless purses and crocheting a few senseless articles of dress and giving a few groceries. No waiting on the table behind the chair of some world-lover and God-hater, and calling that an offering to the Lord. No presenting of some old, faded pincushions or unsalable article of merchandise to the disciples to be raffled or voted for. Thank God such things never occurred to them!

They did so love Jesus Christ and his cause that they gave the best they had, although it does not say they gave all they had. As the Bible says, they sold their lands and houses and laid the money at the disciples’ feet. Might we not expect to see the true method again, and recognized as a rule for all to go by? Undoubtedly, Paul crystallizes the practice in one of his epistles and formulates it in words never to be forgotten. Here it is in the sixteenth chapter of First Corinthians and second verse: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him."

Suppose God has not prospered you; then he does not expect anything from you. What if God has prospered one, and the man will not give? To that I say, we are not empowered to force or cajole a man into giving — better leave him with God. Yet I would not have us forget that there is always a resource left the church. It is indeed a resource and power. It covers the illiberal man’s case, and all cases. I have rarely known it to fail.

A faithful layman tested it several years ago in a large city. There was a pressing, burdensome debt of some $16,000. It had rested as an incubus upon the congregation for years. One afternoon, this gentleman requested nine or ten other male members of his church to meet him in a certain office. Here they spent a number of hours in humble, earnest prayer to God. As the prayer ascended, of course God descended, and there steadily grew within them a profound sense of their obligation to God. He was their Maker, Preserver, Benefactor; He had given ten thousand mercies, His Son had died for them, He had forgiven them, and this moment had heaven and endless life and blessedness awaiting them.

Now, what was it that they could do for him? What act or gift or sacrifice could ever repay, in the least degree, even a part of His love? "Lord, what wilt thou have us to do?" Who wonders at what followed? On their melted, graceful hearts, God poured the spirit of His love, the tender, beauty. They arose from their knees and in ten minutes wiped out the debt of $16,000.

The same heavenly recourse is open to us, and the same gracious results await us. Let any congregation, great or small, come together in prayer before God. I care not what the financial burdens may be. Let them ask importunately for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Let them recall who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, what He is going to do for them, both in this life and the life to come. Let them linger thus, asking for the grace and life and power of a consecrated heart; and while they are upon their knees, the power will come. That which just now seemed impossible, will suddenly, strangely, sweetly and graciously become possible, the demand will be met, the burden lifted, the last dollar paid, and that, too, with a conscious blessedness and rejoicing within the souls of the givers. It comes only a little short of the thrill and joy and rapture of the redeemed in heaven.

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