Lest We Hinder The Gospel

For those who are interested, this is an explanation of Dad's Uni's policy of offering it's courses and seminars free of charge to the public. After much prayer and deliberation we have established a policy of presenting our Dad's Uni courses and seminars free of charge to all fathers who desire to attend. We believe that this is by the leading of the Holy Spirit, and present some scriptural reasons to confirm this decision.

Paul the apostle wrote a good portion of the New Testament, and is therefore highly qualified to offer us insight into church life and structure. His life is also often promoted from the pulpit as one of great integrity and sacrifice for the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will therefore use Paul as our primary example of one of those to whom God gave apostolic wisdom to set the structure within the early church.

Now as one who has previously been full time in a pastoral role within the church I understand that we live in a world where money is required to pay the bills, and that men and woman of God who are called to full time ministry need to provide for their families. Tithes and offerings are usually the main source of supply for the needs of both the church ministries and the staff who are called to oversight them. This is a scriptural and correct administration of the funds brought into the church by Christian believers, and is the most common church pattern at this time in the world.

Now I would like to state that there is a perception in the world, whether right or wrong that 'the church is only after your money'. This perception is widespread among the community outside of 'Christian circles of influence' and has become a stumbling block or a hindrance to many people coming to Christ. Now I also believe that there are evil forces in the world that will do whatever it takes to try to stop people coming to the knowledge of the truth found in Jesus Christ, and these forces are the most likely candidates for the continued promotion of this perception.

Paul the apostle faced a similar situation within some of the cities where he preached the gospel nearly 2000 years ago, so we see that it is not a new strategy or perception we are dealing with. To overcome this perception within those cities Paul decided not to take any financial assistance from the church at all, but continued to serve the Lord and work for his own support.

Supplementary to his own income from making tents, Paul had supporters in other cities whose generous giving enabled him to continue the work unabated and allowed many to come to Christ. On this scriptural basis and by the leading of the Holy Spirit, Dad's Uni courses and seminars are being presented free to all fathers who desire to come, that we may not hinder the gospel in any way, and that many souls may be swept into the kingdom of God.

We do however feel led by the Holy Spirit to open up an opportunity for those who would like to be Ministry Partners to stand together with us financially and prayerfully that the work may progress unhindered. Please see our Ministry Partners page for more information.

Warm Regards
John Nolan
Dad's Uni

(1 Corinthians 9 v 1-19)
¹Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ²If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³My defense to those who examine me is this: ⁴Do we have no right to eat and drink? ⁵Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

⁸Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹For it is written in the law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.' Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹²If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

¹⁵But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

¹⁹For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;