Hi Craig,
I have to agree with Steven on the language here. Just to give you a little something more to think about... Note that according to the rules of grammar, the "them" in verse 13 MUST refer to the previously stated group of people, which is "the saints" of verse 12.
Quote:
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
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So to clarify verse 13, it could be written as,
Quote:
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13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto the saints, and unto all men;
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The conjoining of "them", meaning "the saints", with "all men" using "and" necessitates the conclusion that "all men" is distinct from "the saints". Otherwise, Paul is being redundant. Who are not saints? The non-believers.
Now, you might argue that "the saints" here refer only to the saints in Jerusalem and that "all men" mean the saints elsewhere. However, that is not born out by the passage because that would make Paul refer to believers in Jerusalem as "saints" and believers elsewhere as mere "men". If Paul had meant "saints in other cities", he would have said so using language such as "and unto all saints everywhere". He did not do so.
Again I agree with Steven. If your congregation chooses to help non-believing needy people only by individuals acting, there is nothing unscriptural about that approach as long as the need is being fulfilled. But to bind this practice on others is to bind where God has not bound.
Now, I will say this: I think it may be
wiser in many cases for individuals to take care of their needy neighbors immediately as opportunity arises. I have the following reasons for this line of thinking: 1) the need may be immediate and waiting to get consensus and help from the congregation may not meet the need in a timely manner, 2) an individual helping a someone they know personally gives the individual a level of influence over the other person, potentially making it easier to get the person to study God's word with him, and 3) always helping the needy out of the church treasury sometimes can cause individuals (not all) to think "I gave to the church, so my obligation to help others is fulfilled." That is just flat wrong thinking.