Foreign Funds?
Some Christians feel that money for ministry should not come from other countries. They ask: Did the Apostles receive any foreign funds? Sadly, without understanding biblical principles, these kinds of arguments persist.
Sovereign God The earth, all its resources, the world of many nations, and people belong to the Lord. (Psalms 24:1) He is Lord of all coins, currencies, assets, wealth, and financial portfolios. He chooses any material or person to use anywhere else.
Birth of Lord Jesus Mary and Joseph were not rich. They offered two turtle doves or two pigeons as a sacrifice instead of a lamb. (Luke 2:24) The wise men from the East (a foreign country) came to worship the Newborn King and offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11) That helped Joseph and Mary to carry the Infant Jesus to Egypt to escape the massacre by Herod.
Solomon’s temple David saved for temple construction with the payment he got from vassal nations. Solomon got tributes, gifts, and taxes that were used for the construction.
Antioch church The Antioch church commissioned Barnabas and Paul to go as missionaries. That means they sponsored mission initiatives in several cities in the Roman Empire. (Acts 13:1-2) If preachers are not sent, how will they hear the gospel? (Romans 10:14-15)
Paul’s model He robbed (took donations) from other churches to offer the gospel free of cost to the Corinthians. (II Corinthians 11:8)
Mission Mandate King Frederick IV of Denmark sent German Lutherans Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plütschau as missionaries to India, and they arrived in the Danish coastal town called Tranquebar (Tarangambadi) on 9 July, 1706. William Carey founded the Baptist Missionary Society to come as a missionary to India in the year 1793. Without these pioneers, there would not have been Bibles in many Indian languages.
Global The Bible is global for all humanity; the Church is global for all nations and cultures; the Gospel is global for all humans; hence, there will always be support from one to another among the global Christian community.