Sunday, July 20, 2014 am
BACK TO BASICS 23
The New Testament Church 7
The work of the church – Benevolence
For many,
benevolence has become a primary focus, but when you study the Bible you
will find that benevolence is simply about relieving needs of brethren
so that they can evangelize and edify.
In this lesson we are going to notice some example of benevolence
in the New Testament church as well as the consistent pattern.
Simply stated,
“benevolence” means helping those who are needy.
So according to scripture how is the church involved in
benevolence?
a.
The church
can be involved in benevolence.
Let it be clear from the outset, it IS a work the church can and
should engage in as the need presents itself.
Because we teach the need to respect God’s pattern, we are often
accused of being opposed to church benevolence.
That is NOT true!
We shall see that clearly as we study the church of the first
century.
NOTE: This is an emotional issue as we are dealing with people who are
genuinely in need. If we
have been blessed with prosperity we ought to care about the needy.
BUT, in establishing God’s pattern, we must maintain an objective
attitude or else what God HAS instructed will become cloudy and unclear.
That is what we have sought to avoid all along.
b.
Benevolence within a local church
–
i.
Brethren
in Jerusalem – at the very outset of the establishment of the church,
brethren started caring for one another.
Acts 2:44-45 tells us that all who believed had “all things in common”
and sold possessions and divided them so that all who had needs were
cared for.
Acts 4:32-37 describes “the
multitude of those who believed”.
They were of one heart and one soul and had “all things in
common.” Many who had
possessions sold them and shared with those who lacked.
Included in this number was Barnabas, who had a piece of land
that he sold and gave to the apostles.
ii.
Acts 6
records 7 men appointed in Jerusalem to help needy Hellenist widows.
iii.
1 Timothy
5:16, “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve
them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those
who are really widows.”
In this text, we find there are circumstances where a congregation can
take care of its needy.
However, it is worthy of note, that even in such circumstances there are
limitations. In. vs. 5 we
find that their help was directed toward those who had honorably served
God and who could not be cared for by others.
Actually this passage indicates that the church only steps in
when all other means have been exhausted.
c.
Relieving needy saints in other locations
–
i.
Brethren in Judea
– Acts 11:27-30. Prophets
came to Antioch and prophesied that a famine would affect the whole
world. Brethren in Judea
would need benevolence (Specific reasons are not given, but consider how
1) they had exhausted their resources helping each other at the
beginning; 2) they were in Jerusalem which was largely hostile toward
Christians thus their livelihoods were probably affected).
So the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to
send relief.
It was sent directly to the elders of varying congregations in Judea by
the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
There is no scriptural evidence that it was sent to one church
and then distributed to other congregations, or brethren in varying
congregations. (i.e a
“sponsoring church”)
ii.
Jerusalem
– years later, the brethren in Jerusalem are again in need.
One of the reasons for Paul’s 3rd preaching journey
was to gather funds for the needy brethren there.
This is addressed in a number of passages.
1.
Romans
15:22-27 – Paul’s plans to come to Rome.
But first he is going to Jerusalem to “minister to the saints”.
Brethren in Macedonia and Achaia made a contribution for the poor
AMONG the saints at Jerusalem.
2.
1
Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul writing to Corinth instructs them (as he has
done in other places – individual letters to various congregations).
On the first day of the week (when they are gathered), a
contribution is taken. They
were to choose whomever they desired to bear their gift to Jerusalem.
3.
2
Corinthians 8-9. Paul begins
by commending the brethren of Macedonia for their generosity (8:1-5).
In great poverty, they provided a gift for the brethren in
Jerusalem.
Apparently, Corinth had committed a year earlier to send relief to
Jerusalem. Paul
reminds them of this and gives the example of the brethren of Macedonia
(8:10-12)
8:16-24 – as Paul sends this letter by hand of Titus, he notes that
various churches had chosen one (probably Timothy).
He also notes that there were messengers (multiple) from various
churches. A close
examination of this text shows each congregation acting independently
(though more than one congregation was CONCURRENTLY engaged in the same
work of benevolence).
2 Cor. 9:1-5 – he urges them again to
fulfill their promises and be ready when he comes.
4.
Putting
these texts together you find the following pattern:
a.
Each
church acted independently.
Paul wrote separate letters to different congregations.
b.
Each
congregation raised its own funds by its own members (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
c.
Each
congregation chose HOW (and who) to deliver the funds.
(1 Cor. 16:3-4, 2 Cor. 8:19-24)
NOTE: Several congregations chose the same messenger.
It would be like someone going to a country (or city) where there
had been a disaster. Since
he was going there anyways, various congregations, who trust him, would
entrust him as their messenger to carry their gift.
d.
There was
NO “sponsoring church” or organization created to carry these funds.
It was simply a matter of getting the funds to where the need
was. Studying these texts
you read NOWHERE of any church handling the funds of another
congregation (except perhaps the church receiving the relief (if we
grant the example of Acts 11:30)
e.
The money
was sent DIRECTLY to the need – Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26-27).
a.
In the
Bible, the work of the church in this area is NOT about “general
benevolence” to the world.
The church is not about meeting all the needs of humanity.
As we have noted, the church is about supporting the truth (1 Tim.
3:15). The more important
need of souls is the gospel.
That is what the church is about.
Romans 14:17,
“for the kingdom of God is not
eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit.”
Acts 6:2-4 makes this clear when the apostles distinguish between
benevolent works and ministering the word of God.
b.
General
benevolence is addressed by other means:
1) The home – 1 Tim. 5:8.
Taking care of its own is the priority.
2) Government can address these things – the purpose of government is
supposed to be to protect its citizens. We
pay taxes to support their efforts.
We ought to support good works that they are engaged in.
Luke 20:25, Rom. 13:1-7, etc.
3) Individual Christians can and should be involved in such.
James 1:27, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 25:31-46, etc.
c.
Benevolence was never used as a means to introduce the gospel to the
world.
The pattern of scripture is clear.
Whatever benevolence the church provided was for needy SAINTS
only!
IF it takes benevolence to introduce the gospel, it will take more of
the same to keep those who it reaches.
(cf. John 6:26-27)
Consider also Acts 3:1-9 where Peter healed a lame man.
He was asking for alms at the temple.
Peter said to him, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.”
(3:6) Peter healed him that
day. NOTE:
There was already funds available in the city for the church
(Acts 2:44-45) but it was NOT available to distribute to this needy man.
d.
It was
always for brethren – “poor
saints”. And even then, there are limitations (when family efforts are
exhausted, etc.)
e.
It was
always when all other efforts had been exhausted. 1 Tim. 5:16, “If any
believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let
the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.”
f.
It was
always temporary and for a specific need.
Needs were not created and then funds sought.
g.
As with
every other work, churches maintained their independence and autonomy.
Sent directly to the need.
h.
No
organizations were created or used (including sponsoring churches) to
relieve needy saints.
No church sent its needy to another congregation to be cared for.
i.
There
is a difference between the responsibilities of the church and
individuals.
We have addressed the responsibility of Individuals in the area of
benevolence ( James 1:27, Gal. 6:10, etc.)
Sometimes, justification for general works of benevolence by the
church are made by misapplying passages which contextually are addressed
to individuals. In our next
lesson we are going to address the distinction between the local church
and the individual.