A few years ago, a gentleman requested that the church of Christ in Campaign, TN, have a fundraising event to raise money through the use of selling photographs.  I was told that the church could raise up to $1,000 by doing this.  I declined this request using Scriptures to back up what I said.  Why did I decline this request?  I will show you why from the Bible.
First of all, let us note that we are governed today by the Law of Christ, the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:2).  The Old Law has been nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14).  Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  The phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus” means “by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”  Everything that we say and do must be authorized by Jesus Christ then in His Law, the New Testament.  No where in the Bible are we authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ to take in money into the Lord’s Treasury by church yard sales, fundraising through the use of photography, charging to receive Bible instruction, raffles, or anything like this.  The church is only authorized to take in money through the use of free will offerings.
I Corinthians 16:1-2 says, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”  II Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”  In these verses, we find authorization from the Lord Jesus Christ to take in money into the Lord’s Treasury by free will offerings.  This is why that every first day of the week we give our free will offerings to the Lord to carry out the works of His body, the church (Colossians 1:18).
The Apostles were guided into all Truth, because Christ sent the Holy Spirit to them to tell them the Word of God, which they preached and taught (Matthew 28:18-20, John 16:13).  We know from Acts 9 that Paul became a witness of Jesus’ resurrection, which was a requirement to be an Apostle (Acts 1).  In Acts 9, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he became an Apostle, so he was guided into all Truth.  We have all things that pertain unto life and godliness (II Peter 1:3).  Everything that we need to know in order to be pleasing in the sight of God and in order to go to Heaven is found in the Holy Scriptures.  II Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  In II Peter 3:15-16, even Peter, an Apostle of Christ, acknowledges that Paul’s writings are Scripture.  We know then that when Paul pens I Corinthians 16:1-2 and II Corinthians 9:7, that Jesus authorizes by way of the Holy Spirit through Paul for the church to take in money in the Lord’s Treasury through free will offerings.
We cannot add to God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19).  Galatians 1:9-10 says, “As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
-Jason Gann