Why does the church of Christ not have carnivals, sales, fund-raising dinners, and such to raise money for the church?

    In all matters we must strive to do things in exactly the way that God has told us to, either by direct command, implication, or by inspired example.  When there is a matter on which God has not ruled then man may act on the matter as best in harmony with what God has ruled upon.  The case of fund-raising falls under the first category.  God has told us, and we have inspired examples, of how the church must be supported.
    The church at Corinth was told in II Corinthians 9:7 concerning the support of the church, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”  The support was to be given to the church by her members.  This teaching was not merely for Corinth, but for all churches alike, for I Corinthians 16:1,2 reads, “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.”
    Just as the poor widow gave her two mites (Mark 12:41-44) so must each Christian to his/her part to support the work of the church.  II Corinthians 8:13-15 reads, “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.”
    It is evident from scripture how God wants the Saints to support the work of the church.  Some may argue, “Well, he didn’t say not to have fund-raising dinners.”  To this argument let us remember the Bible principle that when God says to do something one way that eliminates all other ways.  We use this same logic today.  I do not have to tell my three year old to not run into the street if I have told her to stay in the yard.  In the Bible Noah was told to construct the ark out of Gopher wood, thus eliminating all other types of wood.  Christians are told to make melody in their hearts, thus eliminating outside instruments.  So Christians are told to give, thus eliminating all other types of fund-raising.