As a full time van dwelling evangelist, this topic is near and dear to me and my wife. The world has become an ever more complicated place, and that you will know if you have traveled much at all. Traveling without preparing is a hard, hard task, some say almost impossible. This complication has crept into the Christian practices that some of us strive to carry out, like in our traveling evangelism. When it comes to us traveling evangelists and how we are to support ourselves it can be complicated. Many are very confused on this topic and since the Word of God is our source of truth and guidance, lets look at it to answer the question biblically:
Should ministers/evangelists be prepared or take nothing at all?
On the topic of preparation for traveling workers of the Lord, there are 3 main views to take.
1) A traveling worker should be fully supported by a local body.
2) A traveling worker should just rely on God/faith for all his needs.
3) A traveling worker should be self funded and work/prepare himself for daily needs.
Let me say right upfront, I do not believe any of the 3 options are sinful or unbiblical as they are really all a matter or perspective or situation. ( # 1 & 2 does create an issue of a man NOT working or being a burden which could be sinful. Please read on for that to be covered.)
For the first point #1....a biblical worker can indeed be supported with basic needs by a local body as Paul made that clear in scripture, though he himself worked. huh? Note: I did an article on what is a hireling and that may help to frame the whole money/pay issue for us: http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2019/12/hirelings-exposed.html
Option #2 is often the angle many take saying "go take nothing but run on faith like Jesus said." They say and use some key NT scriptures so let's look at them.
Luke 10
After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
***The CONTEXT of Luke 10 is Jesus, in the Apostolic times (holy spirit miracles / power and signs & wonders) is sending men AHEAD of His own travels to come. He instructs them to enter houses and they will be fed or to leave places that reject them. He tells them to heal the sick... proof these men had SPECIAL powers given to them by Christ to carry out this mission. Clearly that is not happening today in that way so it is safe to say they had special provision too which also is not happening in the same manner today, nor should we expect it.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Matt 10
And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Mark 6:7In both Matt 10 and Mark 6 the CONTEXT is Jesus sending them out with no provisions, but in CONTEXT he is already making way for them to eat / stay in people houses, those that will have them. And again special POWER is given them to raise the dead and over evil spirits. (We do not have that power today in that same way do we? ) How can we compare an evangelist today with the special / specific commission & power from Jesus that He gave to those men directly and he did it face to face?
We cannot compare it as it is foolish to try.
The verses below need to be quoted as well but seldom are they used by the take NO provision folks:
Luke 22
And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
***So first Jesus sent them with no provisions and they lacked nothing. But now He sends them out with provision and even says get a weapon/sword? For what ever reason ( reckoned among transgressors? ) we see these things had to happen per Jesus own Words. So we see both men going with nothing and men going with things/provision with them as well!
In CONTEXT we see these men had specific duties to carry out for the Lord in Israel in the first century. I myself do not see how that, in anyway, resembles what we evangelists are to do today.
At this point I do have a question....
If you claim we should go and take no provisions, shouldn't you also look to have the powers given by Jesus (face to face) to those men to raise the dead, heal the sick and cast out demons as they two go hand in hand amen?
We cannot cherry pick verses here and there folks!
Take it all or nothing.
Also,
Do we take our example from those traveling preachers in Israel to the Jews (who had no Holy Spirit) then but special powers from on high? Or should we take our example from Paul who went to the gentiles (with the Holy Spirit) within him? I seems clear to me, we are spirit filled gentiles today preaching to gentiles (mostly) so spirit filled Paul is the example we should follow today. Jesus hand picked him for that role ( see Acts 9 ) and he went to help build the NT body of Christ and that is where we are still at today, waiting Christs return! We have the Holy Spirit to help us on the way, a great comfort indeed but we are NOT in Israel on special assignment from Christ Himself are we? No....
I am not sure how anyone who studies this with depth will come to a different conclusion?
With that said, how did Paul function and what did he say that could guide us to how an evangelist should travel and live/preach today? Lets look at some facts about Apostle Paul:
1) Paul allowed for men working in ministry to be supported
( 1 Cor 9 ) with food and basic needs.
2) Paul worked to be an example to us all and to not be a burden
( 1 Thess 2:9 )
3) Paul taught if a man does not work he should not eat 2 Thess 3.
4) Paul taught that a man who does not provide for his family is worst then an infidel/ unbeliever. 1 Tim 5
5) Paul told us to preach the word and doctrines 2 Tim 4:2.
6) Paul told us to do the work of a evangelist 2 Tim 4:5.
So considering those facts, it would seem foolish to me to just rely on faith and NOT work. But to self fund your ministry or plan / provide for yourself and family on the gospel road is great wisdom. If you see in CONTEXT what was then vs what is now, you should see this clearly. CONTEXT is key as always.
I myself find #3 ( to be self funded ) to be the most biblical option today and here is why. I need to work to eat, I need to not be a burden as there are so few true believers to give support. Lastly, we are still called to go as without a preacher, how will they hear?
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:14
Those reasons are enough for me and my stance on self supported ministry. I am not saying it is sinful to take an offering from a well meaning person to fund your travels for Christ. I often have people trying to do just that but I always tell them all my needs are by far met, so go do good elsewhere with it. I truly believe just as Jesus provided for those men, if you are called by God, He will provide a way for YOU to fund it all without begging and money seeking that I so common today.
We even have a NO donation button and that helps me rest well at night!
In closing, all three options are possible for the traveling preacher but you must be very cautious to NOT allow your ways to contradict the Holy Word. A man just running on faith, without a direct commission from Jesus, is a man who is NOT working! A man just taking people's money to do evangelism can fall into a hireling or a burden to others. But a man working and planning for his own daily needs in ministry is one who is BLAMELESS and is that not how we are to walk for Christ today?
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Phil 2:15
Here is our van dwelling link where we post daily, it may bless you:
God be praised
*************************************************
Here is the biblical gospel:
Here is a 10 point biblical test:
Spirit and Truth Teaching Blog http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/
Go here for audio teachings
Go here for video's: