Well for me I look at our work in secular employment as a “broad” notion of a para-church organization—especially when the person owns the business. As members of the Church everything we do is a ministry “beside” the Church. It is either hurting or helping the Kingdom. Though Paul had a tent ministry, when he was in Thessalonica, Philippi, I believe it was, gave to his necessity … Now of course Paul was an Apostle, but apparently here his secular employment was not going too well. I may stand alone here, however supporting worthy seminaries, hospitals, and other charities seems ok too me and even biblical—as nothing commands us not too and it does advance the Kingdom.

As far as accountability I have wrestled with this issue. In many cases this may be possible and in others not. Accounting statements are expensive business if done right. Sometimes a ministry is just to small and it would not be feasible for it to even continue if it had to do such. Take the Highway for instance. It could become a 501-C3 (or whatever they call it in Canada), hire an accountant (an independent auditor with no association to the Highway), publish yearly statements, give us a clear accountability of all the “funds” at the Highway and then we would have a paperwork trail to say “we trust the Highway.” Or, we could just “trust the Highway” and give and in doing so all these funds that would have been spent on this paperwork trail could be used in a different way for the glory of God. In some instances I think accountability may be necessary, however in others I see it as a waste of funds. Things IMO need to be done on a case by case basis and decisions prayerfully made based on all the facts …

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Reformed and Always Reforming,