BucketShopBill:
According to the Bible I read Paul supported himself, don't know which Bible you read where Paul was taking cash from people to support the cause.
Sure Bill, and the JWs love to quote that when it comes to pioneer's supporting themselves (though as a special pioneer I did get supported (grin) sort of! ).
But let's take a closer look at early Christians. In addition to the collections in the Jerusalem church early in Acts there were, if you really focus on the activities of the early Christians, you will see a lot of collections and contributing going on across the Christian sub-group.
So, may i get to reach up and get your Bible off the top shelf, dust it off and open to hmm!, let's start at Roman's 15:26-28..
26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain
Who was poor (without support) in the Jerusalem congregation? Do you really think that James (who was pre-eminent in the Jerusalem church) was out carpentrying all day, or was he being fed by someone else?
Now can check for yourself 2 Corinthians 8.
The Macedonian Christians discussed there are praised by Paul, because even though in deep poverty, they were generous.(vs2), in fact Paul writes, they ...
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: ... see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
As you read on in Ch.8 you'll see that Titus got the job of taking the cash to the Corinth congregation.
But you specifically pointed to Paul, making tents to support himself. The question is whether he did that all the time?
So let's look in your Bible again (btw, I'm using the NIV), this time at 2 Corinthians 11:8,9:
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
How would you understand Paul's way of life now?
For an evangelical Christian view of this topic, you could read this Christian courier article:
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/173-support-of-gospel-preachers-the
You may also like to read 2 Corinthians ch. 9 with this topic in mind.
I am not a Christian and I do not really give a rat's arse what they do. Personally, I gave little when I was a JW, mainly because I had little to give. (Note my comment on pioneering). I judge that burst of enthusiasm for Jesus (and, that's who I was trying to emulate) cost me and my then wife, a million bucks in forgone income, something I now deeply regret.
However, as I said, this matter of asking for money is deeply embedded in religion. You can find something similar in Buddhism.
In the early church where did they have their meetings? The usual answer is that they met in private homes (house-churches). But poor families were likely to be living (in cities) in one room in tenement buildings. So they depended on wealthy Christians to provide meeting places. In some of the buildings, believed to have been house-churches, there is evidence that the building was extended at times to allow for larger groups to meet. We have no idea how that was paid for. I suspect it was likely a combination of volunteer labour and contributions. Sound familiar?
Of course, when Christianity became official, real estate was no longer a problem, it is known that Constantine and his family gave land and built very large basilicas for the church commencing an era of government patronage of Christianity. And over in India, King Ashoka - repentent of killing so many people in his wars, played much the same role. In both those cases in the end the money for the sustenance of religion came from people - either as a voluntary contribution or an involuntary one through taxation.
The witnesses today seem much concerned about real estate, but they are not the first Christians to have that concern
