Christian Charity

The Church of Jesus Christ has largely abandoned welfare to institutions inept, incapable, or uncommissioned to this great work. It is a part of Scripture. We must think as individuals, as families, as a Church how we may improve upon our charity.

Consider:
• how the early church cared for widows,
• the Good Samaritan parable,
• Ruth and Naomi,
• New Testament letters describing inter-church welfare "distributing to the necessities of the saints,"
• the origin of the diaconate in Acts,
• and Old Testament gleaning laws.

On Charity

1 Timothy 5:8-10 (8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (9) Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, (10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

Charity begins at home. There is a priority in view in this entire passage. Household first. Church fellowship next. Those outside the church (see v. 10) next. A side benefit of carefulness in charity is that idleness is restricted. Failure to care for one’s own household is an event so serious that excommunication is the penalty. The lack of action overrules the oral profession of faith. The principle is given here. Not every case is in view. Notice in verse 9 that a widow could be “taken into the list” (provided church welfare) only on certain conditions, including that she “has brought up children.” Now, if these were her children, one wonders where they are when she needs help. Perhaps they are dead, off on a military campaign, in prison, etc. Or, perhaps, they were themselves disobedient. Notice that there is no civil penalty mentioned here for failure to take care of parents. Under the principle of sphere sovereignty, not every sin is a civil crime.

Charity vs. Coercion

Hard questions need to be asked, asked by people who know that the death rate is one apiece, and who know with The Preacher, that there is a time to die (Eccles. 3:2). Charity is when we consult our wallets and our consciences and make a decision to meet a need. By definition, a civil state which collects its revenues under threat of the sword cannot do a charitable deed. It is preposterous that we have a punitive, coercive institution of God, the magistrate as the civil government is called, trying to accomplish a task that is related closely to nurturance, mercy, and tender love.


Excerpt from talk given at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Discerning Charity

1 Timothy 5:3-13 (3) Honor widows who are really widows. (4) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (5) Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (6) But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (7) And these things command, that they may be blameless. (8) But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

(9) Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, (10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.  

(11) But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, (12) having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. (13) And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

The principle is that charity is actually difficult to do with discernment, and it must be discerning. Throwing money at a problem can make it worse. The attitude of service mentioned in verse 10 is premiere.