THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN BENEVOLENCE by Eddy Ee Introduction We often refer to the work of the church in three-fold areas, namely, 1) Evangelism, 2) Edification and 3) Benevolence. This is true but we also have to keep in mind that the mission of the church is not three-fold but one, which is saving souls. Whatever the church does, we need to remember that our ultimate goal is the salvation of souls. As we seek to restore the doctrine, work and organization, name, worship of the New Testament church, we must restore as well the spirit of mercy and compassion. There are more reasons for deep concern today. There are some congregations which seem to think that they no longer have a responsibility to the needy as this is a primary work of MCYS (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) and other social organizations like The Salvation Army. They are more willing to shuffle all responsibilities over to the other social organizations besides the church. Although, we know that the church is not simply a social origination and certainly true we are not advocating a “social gospel.” Yet, I believe the church has a grand mission of mercy, compassion and love. There is no way to build a great church for the Lord without a demonstration of His mercy, compassion and love. God As Our Example God is always concerned with man’s needs. Throughout the Bible, God is pictured so often as the Helper and “father of the fatherless” in Psalm 68:5. David declared in Psalm 35:10, “All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?” This emphasizes on the benevolent and merciful character of God and it should move each one of us to be like Him. It is interesting to know that the Law of Moses contained the statutes and ordinances for the benefit of the poor and the needy in Deuteronomy 5:10 and 24:12-13. We can also read about the concern of God for the poor in the book of Psalm 42:1-2, Proverbs 14:20-21, 28:27 and in Isaiah 10:1-2 and Malachi 3:5. From these passages taken of the great divisions of the Old Testament, we can see that God’s interest in and His love for the poor runs like a golden thread throughout all man’s history. This should motivate each of us to imitate God’s character in helping the poor and the unfortunate. Our concern for others builds a likeness of God into our spirits (2 Cor. 9:9). Jesus As Our Example In the New Testament, we cannot deny that many of the good deeds Jesus did were prompted by His compassion. In the gospel accounts (Matt. 14:14), we read often about our Lord’s compassion that moved Him to heal the sick. In another occasion (Mk. 1:40-41), we read again how He healed the leper. In addition, we were told in Matthew 15:32, that Jesus had compassion on the multitude because they had nothing to eat and so He fed them. How important it is for the members of the Lord’s church to develop himself or herself to be more loving and compassionate disciple of Christ. Let Us Be More Benevolent In the area of benevolence, the Scriptures often do not give detailed instructions as to how those who are in need shall be cared for. I believe that this matter of how to help others is left in the realm of expediency. The needs of people have been so varied and different that it would have been impossible to spell out the exact details for providing for their needs. We have few examples in the Scriptures that will give us some guidelines as to how to proceed. As an example, take the case in the book of Acts 6. In the Jerusalem church, the widows of the Grecian Jews were being neglected in the daily administration of food. The matter was told to the apostles and they worked out the problem well. They explained that they could not give up the more urgent work of teaching and guiding the church in order to dispense food. They suggested some wise and spiritually matured men to handle this problem so that these widows’ needs may be taken care of. This seems to be an application of the Golden rule as stated in Matthew 7:12. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” In James 1:27, we read the care of orphans and widows: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” We are instructed to do the job but we are not told how to do it. In all these matters, where Scriptures do not spell out the exact method to be used, we must use our own judgment. Some Pitfalls Of Benevolence There are some pitfalls that I need to highlight in my manuscript that benevolence can become cold and impersonal. There is a danger that we might be too organized in our benevolent programs that the doing of benevolent work becomes somewhat cold and impersonal. If there is a family who needs help, the church automatically took the money from the church treasury to take care of the needy. We feel good to know that our weekly contributions help to make it all possible. But is there not a danger that we may lose sight of our own personal and individual responsibility to the less unfortunate? Do some of our organized programs tend to remove us from any personal involvement and cause us to excuse ourselves, because after all we are not in the benevolent committee? No wonder we read that the priest and Levite felt no compassion for the man who had fallen among thieves, they were not in the “committee.” But the Samaritan had compassion (Lk. 10:30-37). Unfortunately, there is another group of people who advocates that the benevolent work of the church are limited to Christians only and not to be extended to outsiders. Sinners cannot receive help of a benevolent nature from the treasury of the church. Having read a statement from one of the debates regarding this issue which states, “The Scriptures teach that it is a sin to take money from the church treasury to buy food for hungry, destitute children and those who do so, will go to hell.” It is indeed a ridiculous proposition. Why? Try to insert the words, “who have not obeyed the gospel” right after the word “children.” Would these people agree with this proposition? Furthermore, we can look at Galatians 6:10 and James 1:27 to determine whether their positions are scriptural. In the book of Galatians chapter 6, they have overlooked the following. Paul was addressing the churches of Galatia in this epistle (Gal. 1:2). (a) That Paul was instructing the churches on how to deal with those who have been led astray by the Judaizing teachers in chapter 1. In chapter 6:10, Paul still commanded all these churches and he stated, “As we have therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are household of faith.” To whom was he writing to? Churches. What did he tell them to do? Do good to all men. To whom was he writing about? All men. To whom did Paul say for churches to do good to? All men. Who is to do good unto all men? Churches. Now, if the churches of Galatia did good to all men, exactly as Paul commanded them, did they sin in so doing? In order to be consistent our “saints only” brethren would to have to say they had sinned. (b) James 1:27, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Does this passage applies only to individual Christians and not to the church? Can the church practice pure religion without sinning? If this passage applies to an individual, then the whole church does not have the authority to practice “pure religion.” It would also imply that the church does not have authority to keep her “unspotted” from the world. As we observe our Lord’s life on earth, He did practice benevolence to both saints and non-saints. In Acts 10:38 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” In addition, we read in Matthew 15:21-28, that Jesus helped a woman who was not a Jew. He even did good to those who were not of the “household of faith”. The church at Corinth follows the example of Jesus and practice benevolence to all (2 Cor. 9:12, 13). Just because the church has a responsibility to practice benevolence, it does not mean we as individuals should stop practicing benevolence. We ought to be people who give to the church and then turn round proclaimed that we have fulfilled our obligations to the poor and others. We need to practice benevolence individually as stated in Matthew 25:31-46. Benevolent Work And Saving Souls Let us look at benevolent work and the effect it has in saving souls. As I have mentioned earlier, it is the mission of the church. Look at the passage of Acts 2:44-45 and see what Luke wrote about the early church, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” In verses 46 and 47, we read about the early Christians “having favour with all the people.” What a tremendous impact it had on these people because of their benevolent work. In Acts 4:32-35, And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. Therefore, we should not be surprised to read in Acts 5:13-14, ‘And the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them, And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.’ Another example of benevolent work as recorded in 2 Corinthians 8 and chapter 9 and is a lengthy discussion of a contribution made by the Gentile churches for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem church. Because of the great benevolent work that so many Christians are involved in, the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:13, “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.” Conclusion Let us be the people who practice benevolence to all people individually and collectively as a church regardless of their race, religion, rich or poor in life. We do make mistakes regarding benevolent work. Especially to those who are worthy of our help. But determine that whatever mistakes we make, we must be on the side of mercy; that is, when we make mistakes, let it be because we have been too generous, and not because we have not been generous enough. Hebrews 13:2 says: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Works Cited: Layton, Mac. How To Build a Great Church, AR: Resource Publications, 1987. Robinson, Garland. The Uniqueness of the Church. Nettleton, MS: Old Paths Publishing, 1999. Whitten, Eddie. The Evangelistic Church. Bedford, TX: Christian Supply Centre, 1984. Winter, Willard W. The Family of God. Joplin, MO: College Press.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 03:43:02 +0000
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