The scripture has a lot to say about giving. Much of it is in the old testament, but is unfortunately ignored or not understood for what it is. It is not outdated if you understand and believe the meaning of 2 Timothy 3:16.
It is scriptural to ask for support to preach the gospel. We as a people are generally very eager to give. We give much more than is required and perhaps a lot more than we should. Then one should consider the meager results that come from most foreign missions.
Scripture says that we should give based on our increase. When a farmer plants a garden he receives an increase on his investment in that garden if it grows well. When a man goes to work he exchanges time for pay. That is not an increase. That is hopefully fair exchange.
It has been my opinion for many years that if we preached the gospel here at home and returned this to being a Christian nation then others would come to us and ask. As is we go to foreign nations and in their eyes push our beliefs on them. When they come to us it is something they want.
The gospel is really mostly already available to the world. The world does not really need more missionaries. Once the gospel is preached and accepted in an area then it should grow and flourish on it’s own after a point. Missionaries have been preaching through out the world for centuries. If after they leave an area and the gospel immediately dies there then it wasn’t because we didn’t water, but God did not give the increase. He is the potter and we can’t force people to become and remain Christians on their own. Seems we haven’t learned how to shake the dust from our feet and move on.
Let’s encourage those who want to preach to do it right here and they don’t have to leave their own congregation. Their local congregation may need and appreciate more help than any congregation in Ghana for example. They just don’t realize it. What we need are more people who dig into the scripture and seek the truth in the Hebrew and Greek with out letting church doctrine stop them.
Tim