Posts Tagged ‘benevolence’
If an institution was not involved, could the church take care of orphans?
Question: I am familiar that the issues over orphan homes as always been the church giving the money to an institutional board so they can provide for the needs of the children. But would it be an issue if the church avoided the giving of funds to a board and the local church buying a…
Read MoreWhere do you start in helping a young Christian?
Question: My wife and I are acquainted with a single mom with three children. Over the years the eldest girl left home and went away. The middle child remained and finally graduated from high school. Since that time, the mother has asked her to leave the home three times. I am sure that in every…
Read MoreDoes the feeding of the 5,000 show we should feed people when we teach them?
Question: Matthew 14 says Jesus fed and healed the 5,000. He said they do not need to go away hungry, give them something to eat. Should we take this literally as an example and feed, help, and teach the lost? Answer: You are seeing what you want to see in this example instead of what…
Read MoreDoes Acts 2 justify churches helping the poor in the general population?
Question: In Acts 2 Christians were selling their property and giving to those in need. Were these individuals giving to individuals or individuals giving to the church and the church giving? If it was the church giving, were they giving to non-Christians or Christians only? I’ve heard this scripture used for the church giving to…
Read MoreIf I Had More I Would . . .
by Van James The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, is full of all sorts of information about us. I saw some figures from it the other day that I thought were interesting. They told us how much of our income was used for “charitable contributions.” In the…
Read MoreWhy did Antioch send relief to Judea if the famine was worldwide?
Question: Can anyone tell me why the church in Antioch sent relief to the brethren in Judea (Acts 11) if the famine was worldwide? Wouldn’t they all have suffered? Were the people in Antioch just more wealthy and could afford to help more needy Christians? Answer: In regards to your question, we do not know…
Read MoreThose “Strange” Macedonians
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ThoseStrangeMacedonians.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Corinthians 8:1-5 I. Have you felt a little strange lately? A. It is human nature to want to be liked by others. 1. As a result, we will modify our behavior to fit in with those around us. 2. You’ll see teens dressing in similar fashion to those they consider to…
Read MoreDo you sell everything you have? Why do you have an air-conditioned building?
Question: “Quite simply, we are a church that follows after the pattern of the New Testament.” —from the church website. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the…
Read MoreHow do you distinguish the needy from the wanters?
Question: Hi! I came across your site and subsequent Bible studies while trying to research the subject of giving but not in the traditional sense. Since my on-line searches are not producing the answers I am looking for, and since I noted that you are a preacher, I thought I might ask you for a…
Read MoreWhat do you do about helping the downtrodden?
Question: Hi, I noticed something through your home page description and the social gospel question answered that makes me have a question for you: What do you do about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting sick and imprisoned? (Matthew 25:31-46) And what do you do about selling your possessions and giving to the poor (Luke 12:33) and the…
Read MoreShould the poor be helped if it makes our life harder?
Question: I have a penchant for helping the poor. But I came across an article titled “Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor” and it was really interesting. Here is an excerpt: “If we divide the world crudely into rich nations and poor nations, two thirds of them are desperately poor, and only one…
Read MoreCan a person, ashamed over their living condition, be too proud to ask for help?
Question: This was asked of me by a friend. I don’t know the answer. I told her I don’t think shame can turn to pride. Can being ashamed of something be misinterpreted? Such as having a house that has become unliveable, and being overhelmed by it? I am ashamed because I let it get that…
Read MoreI want to donate to disaster relief, but not to an organization that has wrongful practices. Where do I start looking?
Question: I am wanting to donate money to help the Haiti situation out, but I also realize that certain organizations are associated with religions whose teachings are not of God. I wanted to give to organizations or charities who will most effectively use the money. Of course, the older, more established charities are better, but…
Read MoreQuestions about the use of funds given to the church
Question: Having read your articles and also was a member of the conservative church for 24 years I have some questions. The conservatives say it is ok to use the Lord’s money for a $20,000 yard but wrong to give a sinner some food from the treasury. Really? It is ok to rent a place to…
Read MoreCan you explain why you talk about benevolence, but then say the church isn’t always involved?
Question: I saw your web site while doing some study on a series of messages this weekend I am doing on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I found your message on The Three Philosophies of Life. I have heard from others that same approach to the parable. Do you know where the idea of “Three…
Read MoreWhat should I do for an ex-Christian who is trying to care for a grandchild?
Question: I am helping an elderly lady financially, who has taken on her granddaughter. Her granddaughter’s dad was killed and her mom lost custody due to drugs. I suppose she is considered an orphan. I discussed with grandmom the need to become a Christian. She said she was baptized into the Lord’s church years ago…
Read MoreDo you think it is right for a congregation to go door-knocking while neglecting to help its needy members?
Question: I have a question concerning our church. No church of Christ I have ever attended has done this. I have been disabled and been divorced, biblically, for a long time. No boyfriends and very poor. I got into a bind and could not pay my light bill. I was also asked to move because…
Read MoreCan brethren choose to have a kitchen and clothing pantry to show love to the needy?
Question: I received my calling into the ministry of Christ, to teach and preach the gospel and to feed and clothe the destitute, not as a welfare system, but to those in need; thus, teaching them to fish and not only giving them a fish. So in the like manner, would it be scriptural, if…
Read MoreI would like to help the starving kids in Africa, do you know of a trustworthy organization?
Question: I really would like to send some money to the starving kids in Africa. Is this biblical and do you think that ‘Feed the Children’ is a good place to send this money too? If you know of a more trustworthy one, please let me know. Answer: “For you have the poor with you…
Read MoreHelping the Needy in Our Community
by Matthew Allen “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36). I am convinced that the verse you have just read is…
Read MoreWouldn’t a New Testament church realize that we are our brothers’ keepers?
Question: On the home page, it says that you really don’t participate in community activities, fundraisers, home missions or anything like that, in the way I interpreted it anyway. Wouldn’t a New Testament church realize that we are our brothers’ keepers? And that James said faith without works is dead? I understand totally that God’s house must…
Read MoreWhere do you draw the line between helping and enabling?
Question: I’m almost embarrassed to ask this one, but I would like an objective point of view and refuse to bring it up to anyone at my congregation. We recently moved and placed membership at a local congregation of the Lord’s church. Since I become a Christian in December, I have really been looking forward…
Read MoreHow do I help a guy who seems down on his luck?
Question: Hi! In my workplace, I got to know a guy who is in his near 40s. This is a minimum wage job and I’m not judging or anything, but I thought it seemed odd that he was still working at a job like this because if you talked to him he seems like a…
Read MoreCan a church support a saint who doesn’t believe as you do?
Question: Since you do not believe that the church, out of the church treasury, can help non-saints, do you believe the church can help a saint that does not believe in some of these matters as you do? Answer: The church is restricted to helping members of the church because that is the only example…
Read MoreWhat should be done when a foreign preacher asks for money?
Question: Regarding the article “The Corruption of Money”: What is the proper and scriptural way to support the work of preachers overseas? How should we approach situations where people write asking for money for individual health care or building buildings? I ask about these in particular because I have seen those often (and you’ve seen…
Read MoreHow do you feel about giving non-monetary aid directly to a congregation?
Question: Our congregation has received a letter from a man in the Philippines requesting aid in the form of Bibles, songbooks, and other training materials. Given the concerns you mention, how do you feel about giving non-monetary aid directly to a specific congregation? Answer: Direct aid is less likely to be abused. However, I have…
Read MoreHow should we take care of orphans?
Question: Other than taking a child into our home and family to rear, how should we take care of orphans? Answer: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). The word translated as “visit”…
Read MoreThe Work of the Church
Text: Psalm 104 I. The world is evidence of the ability of God to design perfect systems – Psalms 19:1 A. Everywhere we turn the wisdom of God is manifested – Psalm 104:24 B. This same masterful designer displayed His great wisdom in the design of the church – Ephesians 3:8-11 C. Just as man is not able…
Read MoreIf the church isn’t a social organization, then how are the needy cared for?
Question: “The church has no bowling league, no softball team, nor does it sponsor a Boy Scout troop. We have an air-conditioned building with several rooms for Bible classes, but there is no kitchen, no banquet hall, no gymnasium, or party room. Perhaps you are wondering what kind of church is this, or what does…
Read MoreHow do you handle a family in constant financial need?
Question: We have a family who are members here and who have several young children. They have been with us for about six months. He has attended services about five or six times. When he does he participates in class, he seems to know the Scriptures well and could be a real asset to the…
Read MoreShould the church help a family that is constantly in financial difficulties?
Question: Now, one other problem that I sure would appreciate your help with: One family (husband, wife and four children) are new members here and seem to have an ongoing financial problem. A couple of weeks ago they needed money because of an $800 utility bill and were going to have them shut off. This…
Read MoreThe Great Giveaway
Text: Luke 14:25-33 I. A Christian came to me and handed me a note one which was written “Luke 14:33 cannot be a disciple unless give up possessions. Why? 2 Cor. 8:14 for equality” A. I immediately told him he was wrong. B. His reply was how can he be wrong, he just quoted what the Bible…
Read MoreBenevolence
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Read Lk 10:25-37 A. We understand that God wants us to be charitable to those around us B. But when faced with opportunities we often hesitate 1. Does this person really need help? 2. Is it part of a complex con-game? 3. Was it brought on by their own foolishness? 4. The government has programs to help…
Read MoreWhat Shall We Do Then?
by Kent Heaton John the Baptist was a fire and brimstone preacher. His appearance alone would strike fear into most hearts. “Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). His sermons were direct and not very commending…
Read MoreWhat can the church do for widows?
Question: I am interested in knowing what can the church do for the widows? There is a lady who is a widow and a member of the Lord’s church. She has five grown children. Can the church pay for her husband’s funeral out of the treasury? What if all members quit paying their life insurance…
Read MoreThe Corruption of Money
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Timothy 6:3-10 I. In any discussion of false teachers you have to address the issue of money. Money is often the motivation for compromising the truth – I Timothy 6:10-11 A. Teaching for the money they can make – Titus 1:10-11 B. II Peter 2:3 – Some make merchandise of the…
Read MoreNotes on Church Spending
Eldership I Timothy 5:18 Preaching Matthew 10:5-10 Luke 10:7-8 I Corinthians 9:3-14 II Corinthians 8:1-8 II Corinthians 11:8 Philippians 4:15-18 I Timothy 5:18 Widows Acts 6:1-6 I Timothy 5:3-16 See also: Notes on Benevolence
Read MoreNotes on Benevolence
Acts 11:29-30 Romans 12:13 Romans 15:26-27 I Corinthians 16:1-3 II Corinthians 8:1-8 Ephesians 4:28 See Also: Notes on Church Spending
Read MoreCan the church use its funds to send flowers?
Question: In an attempt to justify the church using money out of its treasury to send flowers to sick or bereaved members, an argument has been made that it is a “gift” meant to encourage, like the gifts sent to Paul in Philippians 4:15-19. In comments I have read in discussions and debates, it seems as…
Read MoreThe People of God: Their Attitude Toward the Social Order
by Ed Harrell Throughout history, in relating themselves to the world, the two options which Christians have most often pursued were to vigorously strive to control the world or to disdainfully withdraw from it. Some have dreamed that they would make their society “Christian,” necessarily defined in cultural and nationalistic terms, and have passed laws,…
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