Is the Church a charitable institution?

[Earth Wind and Fire]

At one time I was a Roman Catholic & a poor one at that! My mother was a widow & we were left without a father at a very tender age....with the added complication of my sister as a Cerebral Palsy(severe w/o the ability to walk, talk, feed herself, etc.,) child that my mom had to devote most of her time to. Subsequently mom could not work. So we were poor.

The RCC came through with charitable contributions that honestly I am grateful for.....however I was ashamed to take. But we had to eat & they were very helpful & generious.

What is the policy among Churches today (specifically Baptists) regarding charity? Obviously I understand that smaller churches.....particularly my own that is extremely small & not particularly wealthy can not do much....but it is our responsibility to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1: 27), and prayer should be offered for the sick (James 5: 14-16). However it is the chief aim of the church to render a spiritual service that is pleasing to God (John 4: 24). Therefore we should NOT promote charitable works then should we? Or am I wrong in my interpretation of scripture?

 

[annsni]

Our church has had a good way to deal with issues like this. Our missions pastor would assess the situation and then help the family/individual as needed.

I believe it's absolutely the role of the church to help those who are in need. I see it all through the scriptures!! I would hope that every church that has the needy around them are doing all that they are able to do to help!

 

[preachinjesus]

We help people in need.

Part of our ministry is a benevolence office (we don't call it that) where they can go and apply for assistance. We have some basic forms and can help those who demonstrate a financial need. We also have some specific policies about assistance for both members and non-members.

One challenge is that there are some people who need legitimately need financial assistance and there are, sadly, some who simply live off assistance. So we have guidelines.

However, we believe the Bible instructs us to care for those in need. We need to have appropriate systems to help those in need. So we provide avenues to assistance.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I would hope that every church that has the needy around them are doing all that they are able to do to help!

Unfortunately Anne, there are only two churches that do this in my community..... A RCC & a UMC. Sad!

 

[evenifigoalone]

Absolutely! What better and more effective way to witness is there?

 

[Aaron]

What is the Great Commission?

 

[SolaSaint]

Yes our church is good about providing food to those in need. I was just thinking the other day how much churches spend on attracting the lost by decorating their churches or even building magnificent worship centers worth millions. We spend much on sound systems and organs and pianos not to mention stages full of hi-tech entertainment eye candy. Sure God's house it to be nice but IMO I feel it could be better spent on providing for the needy.

Which now reminds me of the latest story I saw about Food Stamps (SNAP) being reduced for a family of four from $668 to $632 a month. WOW--we could eat like Royalty on that much food. With 49 Million on food stamps, should we even see people in need of food? I read a story today of a single mother of two kids who receives $500 a month for food and thinks she will now have to go to food banks to supplement the stamps to be able to feed her family. Really? My wife is a smart shopper and she probably spends less than $400 for our family of four a month. She clips coupons, finds sale bills, doesn't buy name brands, and we eat well. What are these people eating, Ribeyes and Lobster?

Sorry for the rant.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Yes our church is good about providing food to those in need. I was just thinking the other day how much churches spend on attracting the lost by decorating their churches or even building magnificent worship centers worth millions. We spend much on sound systems and organs and pianos not to mention stages full of hi-tech entertainment eye candy. Sure God's house it to be nice but IMO I feel it could be better spent on providing for the needy.

Which now reminds me of the latest story I saw about Food Stamps (SNAP) being reduced for a family of four from $668 to $632 a month. WOW--we could eat like Royalty on that much food. With 49 Million on food stamps, should we even see people in need of food? I read a story today of a single mother of two kids who receives $500 a month for food and thinks she will now have to go to food banks to supplement the stamps to be able to feed her family. Really? My wife is a smart shopper and she probably spends less than $400 for our family of four a month. She clips coupons, finds sale bills, doesn't buy name brands, and we eat well. What are these people eating, Ribeyes and Lobster?

Sorry for the rant.

There will always be those who abuse the system Sola and those that truly need the assistance. We never got food stamps. My mom clipped coupons, got double coupons and walked around in rags to give us kids what we needed to survive...even educations. She is and remains my hero. Still through it all a woman of God...even to her death with pancreas cancer.

I wonder though, when I go to a church that has some wealth and I see no charity and no community outreach...what God do you pray to?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What is the Great Commission?

I would like you to expand on your question.

 

[Luke2427]

Unfortunately Anne, there are only two churches that do this in my community..... A RCC & a UMC. Sad!

It truly is one of the great shortcomings of the church in our culture today. I suspect with the Southern Baptist Denomination,though it is very generous in some pockets the reason why it is not broadly as generous as it ought to be is a knee-jerk reaction to the Northern Baptists or American Baptists going to far in that direction at the beginning of the last centurand trading the true gospel for the social Gospel.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

It truly is one of the great shortcomings of the church in our culture today. I suspect with the Southern Baptist Denomination,though it is very generous in some pockets the reason why it is not broadly as generous as it ought to be is a knee-jerk reaction to the Northern Baptists or American Baptists going to far in that direction at the beginning of the last centurand trading the true gospel for the social Gospel.

I don't know what you are trying to tell me here Rick. I'm not a southern Baptist either so you will need to clarify. I'm just lost right now because for all the platitudes and mouthing of good intentions I have heard from Baptist churches, they never follow up on their promices....it is the other churches, the ones we Baptists call apostate that are feeding the poor and destitute. Actually I'm ashamed and I'm seriously considering joint an apostate church. At least there I can stand by the true gospel, reform the broken and provide charity where its needed.

 

[Luke2427]

I don't know what you are trying to tell me here Rick. I'm not a southern Baptist either so you will need to clarify. I'm just lost right now because for all the platitudes and mouthing of good intentions I have heard from Baptist churches, they never follow up on their promices....it is the other churches, the ones we Baptists call apostate that are feeding the poor and destitute. Actually I'm ashamed and I'm seriously considering joint an apostate church. At least there I can stand by the true gospel, reform the broken and provide charity where its needed.

I don't blame you. I am often ashamed of the baptists in my area, and I am ashamed of what my own church does to help the poor and needy.

Whenever the reformed doctrine is finally joined by a compassionate practical ministry, I believe we will then take the world for Christ.

There are however many reforms people like David Platt who are extremely compassionate.

We need to pray for a revival in this area for our circle.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I don't blame you. I am often ashamed of the baptists in my area, and I am ashamed of what my own church does to help the poor and needy.

Whenever the reformed doctrine is finally joined by a compassionate practical ministry, I believe we will then take the world for Christ.

There are however many reforms people like David Platt who are extremely compassionate.

We need to pray for a revival in this area for our circle.

This experience is like coming out of the mouth of the wale.
In order to commune with Ninavh, one must be in it Tara firma. And this is what I have been avoiding. They wont change me in my love and commitment to the lord but perhaps I can change them...with the help of the HS that is. And my theology will remain in tact...and I will be standing on the sholdiers of my Calvinistic Methodist ancestors in doing it.:thumbs:

 

[Aaron]

I would like you to expand on your question.

If one is going to define the church by its mission, I think one should look at the commandments Christ gave to his Disciples on the day He ascended.

The church is an educational institution first and foremost. Not a charitable institution.

As an institution, it's charity is to true orphans and to widows who are "widows indeed," not to the poor at large.

 

[evenifigoalone]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."~Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Matthew 25:35-40

"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him."~Proverbs 14:31 ESV

"The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”"~Mark 12:31 ESV

 

[Luke2427]

This experience is like coming out of the mouth of the wale.
In order to commune with Ninavh, one must be in it Tara firma. And this is what I have been avoiding. They wont change me in my love and commitment to the lord but perhaps I can change them...with the help of the HS that is. And my theology will remain in tact...and I will be standing on the sholdiers of my Calvinistic Methodist ancestors in doing it.:thumbs:

Just be sure that its not an excuse to leave yet ANOTHER ministry.

Don't be a church hopper all your days and don't look for faults in ministries so that you can justify your leaving.

 

[agedman]

I often wondered why the SB churches did not use their "fellowship halls" to feed the flock twice each day.

Would that not be following the example of the original assembly?

Sure some unbelievers may wander in, but what better way to express the love of Christ than with "loaves and fishes?"

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Just be sure that its not an excuse to leave yet ANOTHER ministry.

Don't be a church hopper all your days and don't look for faults in ministries so that you can justify your leaving.

Number one.....dont tell me what to do. I have ZERO intentions of joining any apostate church, however I will work with them to help this community, something that Baptists appear to have no interest in. [personal threat snipped]

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If one is going to define the church by its mission, I think one should look at the commandments Christ gave to his Disciples on the day He ascended.

The church is an educational institution first and foremost. Not a charitable institution.

As an institution, it's charity is to true orphans and to widows who are "widows indeed," not to the poor at large.

Most churches are failures at both education & at charity. They are good at passing the hat around however.

I will affiliate myself, at this point, with the latter & self educate myself (with the help of the HS) by reading for the former ( and with the help of people I know who are sympathetic & I can reach out to). At this stage, I view the Baptists as doing a P Poor Job of doing either......and if you can & do find one, send them over here. Sadly they wont show up cause there is too much work to do.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I often wondered why the SB churches did not use their "fellowship halls" to feed the flock twice each day.

Would that not be following the example of the original assembly?

Sure some unbelievers may wander in, but what better way to express the love of Christ than with "loaves and fishes?"

Well there I agree with you, but its really only laziness & complacency that are the DE-motivators. Personally I question any church that does not even put an effort forward.....are they truly Christian or masquerading as Christian......there is plenty of that to go around. After a while, you can smell the phonies & thats when you cut loose of their BS......kinda like, "If your happy with your own insurance....." Lying sack of crap!!!:BangHead: