Can the church Provide Benevolent Help to Non-Christians?

Ok, this is a long one.  Guess it actually qualifies as a musing....

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            Many disagreements in the church  have arisen over the handling of the money which is collected in order to fulfill the work of the church.  In all areas it is imperative that the church ensure that she acts with the authority of God (Colossians 3:17) and avoids any actions which are not authorized, or are condemned by God.  This particular discussion, therefore, centers around whether the church has authorization to provide financial assistance to non-Christians who are in physical need.  This discussion can be answered with three different approaches of examination, which all come to the same conclusion.  The question is answered by: 1) examining all the evidence; 2) proper application of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; and 3) considering the irrationality of alternative conclusions.

Examining All of the Evidence Answers the Question at Hand

            At times Christians have attempted to explain the silence of the scriptures inappropriately.  The most often used example of the silence of the scriptures seems to be that of instrumental music.  Some mistakenly teach that Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 teach that one cannot use instruments of music to worship God with.  Actually, these passages teach that one can worship God by singing words.  If there was a verse in the New Testament which discussed worshiping God in Christian worship by using a trumpet, this verse would not contradict Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, but would instead add to the knowledge of what constitutes appropriate worship of God.   The absence of such authorization is the reason instrumental music in Christian worship is not authorized, and therefore unrighteous.  In studying this question, we must take care that we examine all of the evidence within the New Testament.

            It is possible for two passages to teach about different aspects of a discussion, add two completely different parts which are not mentioned by each other, and the two passages to be in harmony instead of contradictory.  This can be seen in the area of long term care of Christians.  In Acts 6:1-7 we find that the church helped widows on a long term basis.  In 1 Timothy 5:3-16 we find that this long term financial providing for widows was limited to those who were righteous, over 60, and displayed other stated qualities.  These two passages show that Christian widows can be provided for by the church, but they do not provide any authorization for any males to be provided for by the church on a long term basis.  In 1 Timothy 5:17-18 we learn that elders (inherently male) can be provided for financially by the church.  In 1 Corinthians 9:4-18 we learn that preachers can be provided for financially on a long term basis by the church.  The passages authorizing long term care for Christian widows (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 5:3-16) do not contradict the passages which authorize long term care of specific Christian men (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:4-18).  Instead, the two passages simply add to what is known about long term financial support of Christians.

            We then turn this important aspect of proper interpretation to the discussion of the church providing physical benevolence to non-Christians.  In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Acts 4:34-35, and other passages we have examples of Christians providing for the physical needs of other Christians.  As we have seen above, proper interpretation of these passages in themselves do not exclude the church from helping non-Christians if such is authorized elsewhere.  A verse which authorized the church to help non-Christians would add to what we find in these passages, not contradict them.

            In Galatians 6:10 we read, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  Some have argued that this verse must be discussing individuals helping non-Christians and stated that otherwise it would contradict 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 and other examples.  This violates the principles of proper interpretation which show us that different passages which teach about different aspects of a discussion are in harmony, not contradictory.  Therefore, one cannot properly conclude that Galatians 6:10 applies only to individuals based upon other passages.  This could only be determined based upon the context of this individual verse since no passage explicitly condemns a church for providing financial assistance to a non-Christian.  The book of Galatians is written “unto the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:1).  Therefore, each verse within the book is written to congregations.  There is nothing within the immediate context of Galatians 6:10 which emphasizes that the verse only applies to individuals.  The overall context is a letter to congregations.  Therefore, Galatians 6:10 shows that congregations are authorized and even commanded to take opportunities to help everyone who is in need, specifically including non-Christians.

Proper Application of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Answers the Question at Hand

            In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, God through Paul commanded the church at Corinth to collect funds on a weekly basis to provide an overall collection which would be sent to Jerusalem to help Christians who were in financial need.  It appears from the Biblical context that this need arose due to a drought (Acts 11:28-30).  Some have suggested that this passage authorizes collecting funds only for Christians who are in need.  If this is true, however, the funds collected could only be used for Christians in need due to an emergency situation.  Two possibilities therefore appear: 1) 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 provides authorization to collect funds for helping Christians in emergency need only OR 2) 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 provides authorization for a congregation to collect funds to perform the work of the church.

            In multiple passages we learn that a preacher can be supported by a church or several churches (1 Corinthians 9:4-18, 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Philippians 4:15-16).  However, no passage explicitly directs how these funds are to be obtained by the church in order to pay the preacher for the work he does.  Again, two possibilities appear.  Either the method by which the church obtains the funds to pay the preacher is completely optional, i.e. a matter of expediency, or the method of obtaining funds is prescribed in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, namely freewill offerings of Christians.  Viewing how a preacher’s wages are obtained as a matter of expediency would ignore that we have no examples of the church obtaining funds in any way other than by freewill offering of Christians.  Therefore, proper interpretation would force one to accept that the church obtains the funds to pay the preacher by freewill offering, and that such is authorized in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.  We have narrowed down, therefore, the proper application of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, and determined that 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 provides authorization to collect funds to perform the work of the church.

            In John 6, Jesus provided a company of over 5,000 people with a meal of bread and fish.  After providing the meal, Jesus went to the mountain to pray, and later across the sea (John 6:1-21).  The very next day this same multitude found Jesus on the other side of the sea, and again desired a meal.  As they found Jesus, they again requested a meal such as they had been provided on the previous day.  Jesus instead taught them to seek the spiritual meat he could provide (John 6:25-27).  Within this context, Jesus teaches us that the reason He had provided a physical meal to those who were not disciples was to open the door for Him to teach them the truth.  The matter of teaching truth, that is seeking and saving that which is lost, is the work of the church (Mark 16:15).  The work of physical benevolence conducted by the church is utilized to enable evangelism to be conducted.  Therefore, properly conducted physical benevolence of non-Christians by the church is authorized by 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 as it is a work of the church.

Rational Thinking Answers the Question at Hand

            As God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), it is appropriate to consider what is rational to help us determine if we have come to the proper conclusions in our interpretation of the Bible.  Additionally, if our conclusion in one area is inconsistent with our conclusion in another area, one or both of our conclusions are in error!  Therefore, consider the inconsistencies of stating that the church cannot provide benevolence aid to non-Christians.

            James 1:27 defines pure religion, stating, “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.”  If the church cannot provide financial assistance to non-Christians, orphans who have not yet reached the age of accountability cannot be provided for by the church.  This would mean that pure religion could only be practiced by Christians, not the church as a whole.  However, this conclusion is inconsistent with the application of other passages.  As stated above, financial support of the preacher by a congregation is authorized in multiple places (1 Corinthians 9:4-18, 2 Corinthians 11:7-9, Philippians 4:15-16).  Many preachers have children who have not yet reached the age of accountability.  When the church pays the preacher a wage which is sufficient to provide for himself and his family, they have provided physical help to these non-Christians (the preacher’s children).  The two conclusions are inconsistent as two children who are both sinless are given different treatment.  One is helped by the church because his father is the preacher, while the other sinless child is told he cannot be helped by the church because he has no parents.  Therefore, the teaching that non-Christians cannot be financially provided for by the church is inconsistent with the responsibility of the church to provide for the preacher.

            One final inconsistency can be seen when a church refuses to help non-Christians from the funds collected for the work of the church.  In Acts 4:34-35, Christians who wanted to help other Christians in need gave the funds to be used to the church, and distribution was made to Christians in need by the church instead of by individual Christians.  While the reasons for this method are not explicitly stated, there are multiple reasons this was a wise approach.  1) It enabled the church to know who had been helped, and how much they had been helped.  This eliminated the temptation for some to begin living off of Christians instead of providing for their family themselves.  2) It gave the glory for helping those in need to the church as a whole, instead of giving this to individuals.  The alternative makes it possible for one or two to receive glory and be given an unrighteous place in the minds of Christians due to their ability and generosity.  3) It emphasized the unity of the body instead of producing individuals who controlled the church by ‘controlling the purse-strings.’ 4) It took the judgment of who should receive assistance and how much they should receive away from individuals and gave these decisions of judgment to a group of leaders (the apostles, and later elders).  For these 4 reasons it was more wise for the assistance of Christians to be handled by the church instead of by individual Christians.  One must decide if benevolent help of non-Christians is going to be done in a wise or unwise manner.  The conclusion that benevolence to non-Christians can only be done by individuals is inconsistent with the wisdom that led the church to oversee distributions of funds to Christians in Acts 4.

Conclusion

            This study is one of importance as it centers around the authority of the scriptures.  The individual Christian and the church as a whole have an obligation to ensure that all we do is authorized by God.  The study above has centered around showing that benevolent assistance to non-Christians by the church is authorized in Galatians 6:10.  Furthermore, the proper application of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 authorizes benevolent help by the church to non-Christians.  Finally, to conclude that the church cannot provide benevolent help to non-Christians is inconsistent with other interpretations of scripture.  Let us therefore move forward, using benevolence as Jesus taught – as a means for the church to open the door to teach the message of eternal life.  

A Pattern for Evangelism

Tonight I preached about evangelism from Matthew 23:23.  Within this verse Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for tithing mint, anise, and cumin without teaching the need for judgment, mercy, and faith.  Jesus is therefore showing the need to teach the principles, which will in themselves show people the necessity of the finer points of application.  I believe the three points Jesus highlights are the three points we should teach when conducting evangelism today.

Judgment  - That there is coming a judgment day in which righteous judgment will occur (John 5:25-30), and none can escape.  That this day of judgment will be faced immediately after death (Hebrews 9:27), and that all face eternal punishment because of their sin (Romans 3:10-12, 23).

Mercy - That God in His love does not desire people to be lost (2 Peter 3:9), and therefore He sent His Son to be the Savior of mankind (John 3:16).  That God has made it possible for us to be saved despite the fact that we were His enemies (Romans 5:6-10).  Finally, that we did not deserve salvation, but God in His mercy made it possible for us to be cleansed and saved because He is merciful (Titus 3:3-7). That mercy can only be found inside of Christ.

Faith - That there is only one Lord and one avenue of faith by which to access mercy through Him (Ephesians 4:4-6). That the Gospel contains the message of faith which those who are justified live by (Romans 1:16-17).   That we must be obedient because of our belief in Christ.  That salvation is only possible because of God's mercy and grace which require us to walk in good works (Ephesians 2:7-10).  That one comes to God in faith by belief (Mark 16:16), repentance (Acts 2:38), confession (Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (Galatians 3:26-27).  That we then continually must prove ourselves to be in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Perhaps in evangelism we have often in the past made the message of evangelism too complicated by trying to correct hundreds of false teachings and show every application as we go instead of simply presenting judgment, mercy, and faith.  Perhaps at other times we have made evangelism too difficult because we assume people already understand judgment and mercy and try to discuss salvation without laying the foundation of truth about judgment and mercy.  In the end, though, the message of evangelism contains just three points - judgment, mercy, and faith.

Humbling Thought of the Day

As I work on keeping up with my daily Bible reading in 2011, today's reading included Acts 17.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands as though he needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. -Acts 17:24-25

What a humbling thought!  God does not need me, cannot be contained by anything I can see or touch, and has made all things.  On the other hand, I need Him, cannot be sustained without Him, and cannot make anything without His blessing.  Thanks be to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us! 

Does God Listen To Our Inquiries?

I've heard many argue for and against whether God hears the prayers of sinners. I don't think the question can be answered with such a simple yes or no! The example of Cornelius (Acts 10) shows that God is aware of the prayers of those who are devout, yet lost. So to say that a sinner's prayer isn't acknowledged by God isn't really accurate. Yet, James 5:16 teaches that it is the prayer "of a righteous" person which accomplishes much. Today in my Bible reading I came across a verse that helps me understand more about this question:

Ezekiel 20:31 - For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.

Israel is rebuked by God in this passage for their idolatry and desire to be like all the nations around them (Ezek 20:32).  God's message to them is that while they live in such wickedness and rebellion against Him, how can they expect Him to consider their requests?  The same could be said of each of us at some point in our life.  Before yielding our life to God in baptism, we are His enemy (Rom 5:10).  Even after becoming a Christian, if we forsake Him, ignore the truth, and go back into sin (Heb 6:4-6) we have again become His enemy.  When we rebel against God, live as His enemy, and then ask Him to fulfill our desires.....what expectation can we really have that He will grant those requests?

So the Biblical answer, I believe, is, God is always aware of what people pray, but will only receive the inquiries of the righteous.  The passage in Ezekiel helps us to see God's perspective in this great question.

Daily Bible Reading Plans

There are so many different daily Bible reading plans!  I've tried several different ones in years past, but want to share my current reading plan.  I'm ashamed to say that I've started this one within the past couple weeks.  Mistake #1 was not reading consistently every day from God's word in the past year.  Mistake #2 would be waiting until January 1 to start!  For the rest of the year (at least) I intend to utilize M'Cheyne's plan.  M'Cheyne was a preacher for the church of Scottland in the 19th century.  He developed a 1 year daily Bible reading plan in which a person reads the New Testament and Psalms twice each in the year and the Old Testament once.  Additionally, each day a person reads 2 different passages from the Old Testament, 1 from the New Testament, and 1 from a Gospel or Psalm.  I like the variety of this plan as variety helps me keep reading when I get to some of the more difficult passages of the Bible.  One of the reasons I've picked this plan is also because of the many tools that are available to help me keep up with my reading.  Check these out:

• The M'Cheyne plan can be accessed through TouchBible's iPhone app by following this link from your phone. This makes it possible to read the daily reading from any translation you like (except the Cotton Patch Version).
• You can add the daily reading to your Google calendar, iPhone, or other iCal device/application by adding the following URL: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/ical/one.year.tract.ics?start-time-utc=-0100&duration=30.  From Google Calendar at the bottom left under Other Calendars click "Add by URL" and paste this link in!  It's nice to have the calendar reminder everyday to read.
• You can add the daily reading in ESV translation to your Google Reader or other RSS Feed Reader by adding the following link: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/share/rss2.0/one.year.tract/ as a feed.
• You can listen to the daily reading in ESV translation as a Podcast in iTunes.  Stacey and I have really liked this option, and usually let the iPhone read aloud as we read along with the text in front of us.  When traveling, this is a nice tool to have as we were able to listen to today's reading in the car through the AUX in as we drove along.  Add the RSS feed address into iTunes as a Podcast URL, OR search in iTunes for "ESV: One-Year Tract Bible."  Once you've downloaded one 'episode' you will have the option from within iTunes on your iPhone to "Get more episodes" and download another day's reading.

 There are a lot of other good daily Bible reading plans, of course!  This one works for me, and I really like these tools, but of course most of them are from the ESV website and therefore only available in the English Standard translation.  I find this to be a combination of a quality reading plan with a quality translation!  I'm interested in knowing about Bible reading tools others know of too, so if you have some to share, post some comments.

Photo credit: Photo taken and allowed for use by Jim Larranaga

Introduction

Why "Monthly" musing? Monthly suggests that my posts will come once a month. I had a friend in college, I won't call him by name, who once told me that he didn't want people to have too high of expectations of him. He said that if people have low expectations of you, it is easy to exceed those expectations and to surprise people. If they have high expectations, on the other hand, you work extremely hard just to meet their expectations. Along that thought, if I call my blog daily drivelings (another idea I had) I would be expected to find something to drivel on about each day, or else be short on what I had claimed I would post. With monthly musings, I only have to come up with something to post about each month.

On the other hand, I expect most of my posts to be closer to driveling then musing. A driveling can refer to spittle coming out of the mouth, ie. a dog's drool. Thus, when applied to discussion, it implies the conversation is pretty worthless. A musing, on the other hand, is something of meditation. So, while I have set the bar low as far as amount, perhaps I have set the bar much to high on the quality of content! I would have named the blog monthly drivelings, but that just doesn't roll of the tongue well!

What I really hope this blog will contain is several posts a month, and perhaps 1 of them will be considered by you as a musing, while others may just be plain drivel. I intend to be posting reflections upon and happenings in life, but also reflections upon God's word. I look forward to your comments (re-musings), or to you reading without comment if that is your wish, as this blog is more for myself than anyone else!