Cleansing the Temple & Church Fund Raisers

QUESTION: Does Christ's cleansing the Temple apply to modern methods of supporting the Gospel by fairs, banquets and entertainments?

ANSWER: So far as these are resorted to to shift the support of Christian worship upon outsiders, so that the church members may hoard their money and become rich, they are a stench in the nostrils of God. The spirit of sacrifice must be in all acceptable worship.

— Steele's Answers p. 143.

Church Fairs and Auctions

QUESTION: Is it right to support the church of Christ by fairs, entertainments and auction sales?

ANSWER: No. It is derogatory to the Gospel by making the impression on the world that it is not of itself alone worth supporting. The lack of money requisite to the maintenance of Christian worship arises from three causes: (1) Little or no love of Christ. (2) Pride prompting the building of edifices too costly for the people to pay for and to maintain. (3) Selfishness requiring the entire services of a preacher and unwilling to be part of a circuit as in olden times in America and as in England now. (4) Often questionable devices are used in fairs to get money. The Scotch preacher intimates this in his pulpit notice: "We very much need more 'siller' (silver) and have tried hard to get it honestly and have failed; so we have decided to hold a fair."

— Steele's Answers p. 140.