Benevolence and the church
Submitted by James
Benevolence & “The Church” Congregation & Individuals
Why can’t we take the money from the contribution for those not members of the church?
In the church as a (congregation of believers) we must do all things by “Bible Authority” Jesus said “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”. Mt 28:18; 19-20; Luke 19:10. For members to attempt to live by Spiritual Authority and Human Authority is to act without Christ’s Authority (in the Church) (2Tim 3:16-17),
(2Pet.1-19-21)
Let’s note types of authority:
1. Specific Authority -- You have a pattern, no leeway
2. Generic Authority -- You have no set pattern, you have leeway
Remembering that Christ is “HEAD” (Col. 1:18) of the church (The Body) of people that make up the congregation. Whatever the head tells us to do is what we must do and nothing added or taken away. We are not to have a better thought than the head by what one: (wants, thinks and feels). Jesus gives us the direction of how “He” wants things to be done through the gospel. Please note he tells us by
1) Direct Command (Mt. 28:18-19)
2) Apostolic Example (Phil. 4:9 ;(:8) Apostles never started modern practices of using free food, recreations etc. to draw non-Christians.
3) Necessary Inference ( Mt 3:13-16)
• Please remember the bible justifies a thing by what it says, not by what it does not say. Think about this for a moment, if the thing that God has not said is as good as though God said it, then what power and authority can be seen in what God has said?
• We must have scriptural reasons for our practices; (2Jn :9)
• To do things by Moses Law (OT), is fatal to Christianity (Rom 7:1-4), Gal. 5:4 we sever ourselves from Christ.
• Silence of the scriptures is no reason or excuse to do another’s will. Example; “the bible did not say not to”; that does not mean it’s okay.
• Gal 1:1-9 (must-read)
• 2Jn :9-10 whosoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have GOD.
• Jude 3 earnestly contend for the faith
• Rom. 1:16-17; for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God.
• Isa. 55:11 we must believe by our obedience that God’s word will not come back to Him void. Heb 4: 12-13; word is powerful than a two edge sword.
That being noted lets get to the heart of the matter, we must not in our desire to be fed add or take away from what has been commanded by our Lord.
· Evangelism; “To seek and save the lost”
· Edification; teach, admonish, to build up.
· Benevolence; to support the poor needy saints among you.
1) MISSION: defined is an organized effort to spread the Christian Faith.
· Jesus said His mission is; “Seek and Save the Lost” as stated above.
· Secondary Sense is “Benevolence”
· Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28) was shed for the church; its mission is spiritual one. Christ did not have to shed his blood for the benevolent institutions to be built, and man’s physical needs met. Not a single soul could have been saved without His blood. So it seems quite obvious that the church was brought forth for something more than providing for the needs of the body.
2) Now some benevolence work falls upon the church and we want to note that respectful to the gospel. (Evangelism, Edification, Benevolence)
· What is the benevolence work of the Church?
· We must never forget that the local church is neither required nor allowed to do all the benevolent work we as individual s may and should do (1Tim. 5:16). The church is a spiritual relationship (Rom. 14:17). When a local church gives benevolent aid, it is an expression of fellowship in Christ (2Cor.8:1-4).
To find the pattern for the work of the local church in ministering to the needy, we must examine every scripture dealing with the subject, obey this pattern, but not go beyond it (2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Cor.8:1-2; 2Jn :9). Our appeal must be to a “Thus saith the Lord” rather than emotionalismCol. 3:17).
Nine Passages in the New Testament address the subject: Some work we can see Acts 2, 4, 6,
1. Acts 2:44-45 word “all” is unlimited in its context but limited by its context. Ex. Paul
2. Acts 4:32-45 Needy-Saints
3. Acts 6:1-4; Complaint against the Hellenists.
4. Acts 11:27-30; Relief to the brethren,
5. Rom 15:25-26, Poor among the saints, 2Cor 8:1-4; They gave themselves unto the Lord
6. 1Cor 16:1-2; Collections for the saints,
7. 2Cor. 9:1; Ministering to the saints,
8. 1Tim 5:3,9-10, 16, Believing widows relief, “Honor widows who are really widows”
9. Jas 1:27; assigns Christians the obligation of caring for “orphans and widows in trouble.”
3) Individuals Duty (personal duties) Gal. 6:10 most benevolent works by nature, personal and individual. Individual Christians have a obligation to help the worthy poor as we have opportunity and ability regardless of whether or not the poor are Christians (Mt. 5:43-48; Jas 1:27). Especially true of orphans, Jas 1:27. We must all practice the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20:35.
· Yet even as individual Christians our primary responsibility in material aid first is to our own families (1Tim. 5:8); and second to our fellow Christians as our spiritual family (Mt. 25:40).
· Orphan children needing a home, they need and deserve to have fathers & mothers, and a family. If all would do as God commands this would be no need.
4) We must remember that the church is the manifestation of God’s wisdom; the crowning perfection of God’s eternal plan of the ages for saving men‘s souls. There is no substitute; it stands alone in majestic glory. The Church as God made it is sufficient to do the work that God gave it. We must be careful of how we draw people unto God, if we draw them by ways that God has not commanded, we bring shame upon the church, and the church (we) need repentance.
5) Other passages to consider:
· Romans 14:17; Rom 8:6-8;
· Heb 4:12
· Gal 5:4,
· Luke 10:38-42 Martha-Mary example
· 1 Thess. 2:13 For this reason we also thank God, without ceasing
Conclusion
Here is a pattern for the benevolent work of the church that we must not shirk (2 Corinthians 8:24). When we have brethren in our midst who are doing without the necessities of life, or if we learn of congregations elsewhere which cannot meet their benevolent needs, we should rush to their assistance and so cement our ties of fellowship in Christ (2 Corinthians 8:1-4.). But church relief of needy saints is also a 2008 FAITH AN1 FACTS
37 pattern of benevolence we must not violate (2 John 9-11). Let us all abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
We must always keep in mind as we strive laboring in the faith, that we must continue to study to show ourselves approved to God a worker that needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. By diligently studying the word of God we will know just what we must do specifically, to be pleasing to God our father in heaven, and not men. He has given us a pattern and we do well to follow exactly the way he commands, He gives example, way He necessarily infers. Be Wise, Be Mature.