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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Giving to believers or unbelievers?

Orphans, widows, and the poor are well known groups that Christians are commanded to take care of and give to. But what about whether a person is a believer or not? In practice Western Christians try to give equally to both categories - some might indirectly give more to unbelievers.

Jesus' command of love is very well quoted,
34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  -John 13:34-35

But can we ask why Jesus (speaking exclusively to his disciples at the Last Supper) didn't command them, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have unconditional love for all men"? I know this question will likely offend some people but it is a fair question to ask. Jesus was very intentional about what he said and the Apostles were faithful to record him correctly.

Lets look at how the Apostles talked about giving to people. I won't be able to list all the cases and that won't be my objective, it is only to point out a trend in the primary context that they teach giving in. Who is the intended hearer? And who are they supposed to give to?
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 3And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. -1 Corinthians 16:1
The intended hearer is the Church in Corinth, and they are asked to give to "the saints" in Jerusalem. Read Romans 15:25-26 fore additional information about this giving to poor believers in Jerusalem.
3 Honor widows who are really widows. ... 9 Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once;c 10she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way. ... 16If any believing womand has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows.  -1 Timothy 5-16
The intended hearer is Timothy, a leader in the church at Ephesus, and the church is asked to give to true widows who are in the church.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,e if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?  -James 2:14-16
The intended reader are believers scattered in "the Dispersion" away from Jerusalem, and these believers are asked to give to "brothers and sisters" in need: other believers.

Obviously, I don't expect anyone to make conclusions about such a big topic from just a few passages pulled from some New Testament books, but none the less I think with more study you will come to the same observations that I have come to: the apostles encouraged believers to give to other believers in need. I don't see the same kind of encouragement to give to unbelievers.

How do we interpret this? And how do we apply this to our giving philosophy?

Can anyone think of some good counter examples? (post comment below)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Who is called to judge?

I hear this passage from Matthew,
1 "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbor'sa eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbor,b 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor'sc eye.  -Matthew 7:1-5
quoted often when believers and non-believers complain about Christians judging them. Is this how Jesus meant this parable to be used?

They're right at least that in the context of this passage (and Luke 6:37-42) Jesus is speaking to his disciples so this message was meant for believers and not the Pharisees. I think we can assume that the "log" and the "speck" are meant to represent sin(s); and that trying to remove something from the eye is a type of judging or disciplining. Could the parable mean something else?

Why does the person trying to help his friend have the bigger problem? Why doesn't the one trying to help his friend have the smaller problem? What does this imply?

Does this imply that anyone who tries to judge/discipline someone else will be judged more harshly by God for the sins that they have? This interpretation would be similar to James' command,
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,a for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. -James 3:1
Is the "log" that Jesus is talking about meant to represent a specific thing and not be general? Could the "log" be the Jews' failure to recognize the Messiah? I thought this might be the case, but then again the context is Jesus speaking to his disciples.

Paul seems to says something similar in Romans,
1 Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2You say,a "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." 3Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? -Romans 2:1-3
In this context, Paul is addressing church disunity issues and animosity between Jew and Gentile believers.

Let me bring in some more passages. I have been thinking about the question about, "When is the right time to judge?" I think some believers think that the answer is "Never", because we will not be able stop sinning in every area of our life until the resurrection so therefore we will always have a log in our eye. However, Paul calls the church in 1 Corinthians to judge and discipline those in the church who are in sin - specifically a sexually immoral man who was sleeping with his father's wife! It seems that there is a time to judge.
   9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons-- 10not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sisterc who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? 13God will judge those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you." -1 Corinthians 5:9-13
But Paul makes it clear that the church's judgment is only for believers, not unbelievers.

Believers are called to judge other believers, but in righteousness and humility.