The devil incessantly seeks to destroy Christianity. By devouring (I Pet. 5: 8, I John 2: 15-17). Appearing as good (2 Cor. 11: 13-15). He is subtle (2 Cor. 11: 3).

One way the devil negates is by causing us to lose sight of the individuality of Christianity.

Christians collectively work through the local church: I Tim. 3: 15 (see context).

The scriptures also recognize and distinguish individual action (I Tim. 5: 16). There are things, even, that the individual is to do that the church is not to do (Ibid.)

Sometimes individual action is stressed over collective action (I Tim. 5: 16, Jas. 1: 26, 27).

“16: If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” (I Tim. 5: 16).

“Is it unscriptural, wrong, against what is taught (I Tim. 5: 16) fora local church (treasury) to assist a believing widow who has childrenand/or grandchildren in the place of the children and/or grandchildrenfirst assisting their mother/grandmother?”

“That's an easy question ... NO! It is not illegal for churches to dosuch.

This question is really a question of legality. When this Scripturetext is twisted to become a law-code this question makes sense. Whenthis Scripture text is taken the way it was intended (a personalcorrespondence to Timothy to address a specific issue in Ephesus) thelegality question makes absolutely no sense.

I don't understand the need to pervert the biblical text to make lawswhere none are found!” (Charles Dorsey.)

“26: If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1).

Some prefer to be lost in numbers. Hence, they seek out “large churches.”

Individuality cannot be discounted. If done, Christianity forfeits its essential nature.

The obsession to place the emphasis on the collectivity is over burdening the local church.

General

benevolenceFamily

matters

Privately Funded Orders to Preach the Gospel

What the issue is:

Instead of concurrent action, the two preachers establish a “Save the Lost” foundation into which individual Christians contribute.

S.T.L.F.

Board of directors

P. VP

Christians collectively work through the local church: I Tim. 3: 15 (see context).

We each must individually come to God.

1. John 6: 44, 45.

“44: No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45: It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6).

We must individually be morally pure.

1. I Thes. 4: 3-7.

“3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5: Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter…(I Thes. 4).”

Each one must give an account of himself to God.

1. Rom. 14: 11, 12.

“12: So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13: Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way” (Rom. 14).

Each husband to love his own wife.

1. Eph. 5: 33, 28, 29.

“28: So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29: For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church….33: Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Eph. 5).

We are to be personally persuaded.

1. Rom. 14: 4, 5.

“4: Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 5: One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Rom. 14).

Must individually control our own tongue.

1. Jas. 1: 26.

“25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26: If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain” (Jas. 1).

Each to carefully build.

1. I Cor. 3: 10-15.

“10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” (I Cor. 3).

Each to speak the truth.

1. Eph. 4: 25.

“25: Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another: (Eph. 4).

Each to provide edification.

1. Rom. 15: 2.

“1: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2: Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification” (Rom. 15).

Each practice pure religion.

1. Jas. 1: 18-27.

“26: If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (Jas. 1).

Individual endurance.

1. Jas. 1: 12-15.

“12: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (Jas. 1).

Individually prove own work.

1. Gal. 6: 3, 4.

“3: For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another” (Gal. 6).

Conclusion:

Yes, there is a difference between “individual” and “collective” action. “The concept of “collective action” is often perverted (general benevolence, etc.). However, the concept of “individual action” is equally distorted (the collectivity is all seen, etc.)