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Presented, July 9, 2006 am

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

Benevolence

It is important that as Christians we understand the church.  The ONE true church is the one patterned after the model we find in the New Testament in all things.  It is fact that there are hundreds, if not thousands of churches profess to follow Christ, yet they teach and practice different doctrines, are organized in many different ways, and do all kinds of works in the name of Jesus.   But can all these churches be right?  Does it really matter to God what we believe?  When we contradict one another doctrinally, can we be fulfilling John 17:20-21 and other passages calling for absolute unity?   

How can we distinguish the ONE true church from all the others?  The answer is by opening our Bibles and searching for the one we find there.  If we are diligent and honest, we will be able in time, by the process of elimination, to narrow down the many choices until we find the ONE that follows God’s pattern in all things.  In your studies, you will find that in virtually every church at least some elements of the true church, but is partial obedience to God’s pattern acceptable to Him?  That is a gamble I am not willing to take. 

And this concept is even true among churches of Christ.  Not all churches that bear the name of our Lord are His church.  A congregation can call itself the church of Christ and still NOT be following the pattern we find in the New Testament.  They may worship God improperly, engage in unauthorized activities or teach false doctrines.  So we continue to study even more, and in the same way we eliminate various denominations as being false, we can eliminate so-called churches of Christ that are not His.  Remember Matthew 7:21-23 which says, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven…”   Understanding this, in all things we ought to strive to do that which we KNOW pleases and glorifies Him.

In our lesson this morning we want to notice one element of the true church that can distinguish it all others that are not.  We want to talk about the work that God intended for the church to do.  In times past we have studied and discussed the importance of churches maintaining their autonomy and independence, as well as noting scriptural and unscriptural cooperation.  WE have studied how churches evangelized back then while maintaining their independence (All of these lessons are available at our website: www.roseavenue.org).   Today we want to talk about the work of the church in the area of benevolence.

I.                     Benevolence and the church

a.        Benevolence is an important thing.  The Bible recognizes that there will always be poor people (John 12:8) and those who need help.  There are many people who are desperate and have real physical needs that must be addressed before we can have any real hope of sharing the gospel with them.  One who hasn’t eaten for several days probably isn’t thinking about where they can find a Bible to study.

b.       THE Bible does give instructions concerning dealing with the needy.  It is found in the responsibilities of governments, families and individual Christians.
Galatians 6:10 calls upon on to do good to all.
Hebrews 13:16 says, “Therefore do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Speaking of our enemies, Jesus said, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.  Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:35-36)
Considering all that God says to us about compassion and benevolence for others, I am afraid that when many Christians stand before God, they will be found wanting in this area.

c.        AND Christians have a special responsibility toward their brethren in need.
Again Galatians 6:10 says we are to do good, “especially to those who are of the household of faith”
Matthew 25:31-46 shows that when we stand before the Lord in judgment our compassion toward our brethren will be weighed in (esp. 40, 25).
James 2:14-17 describes our living faith as one that helps our brethren with whatever their needs are.
1 John 3:17-18 says that our action toward our needy brethren is a manifestation of our love.

d.       BUT, our question today is, WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH in the area of benevolence?

e.        Today we find that many churches have made benevolence (both general and toward brethren) their primary focus.  They even take great pride in these accomplishments.  For many, it is even given priority above preaching the gospel.  Many churches become consumed with feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless to the neglect of feeding their spiritual souls with the gospel.   Far too many in society see the church as nothing more than a benevolent organization.  When you don’t give them what they want (and sometimes demand) they curse you as being ungodly and uncaring.  Our question today is: Is this what the church is supposed to be doing?

f.         Churches did engage in benevolence

                                                   i.      The challenge we face studying this subject is found in the fact that churches DID have a role in benevolence in the New Testament.  That we do not question.  What we DO question is what that role was!  Consider some examples of New Testament benevolence.

                                                  ii.      In its infancy, brethren in Jerusalem helped each other.  We read in Acts 2:44-45, and later the example of Barnabas in Acts 4:24-27 how within a local church brethren took care of each other.  They cared about their fellow brethren and were willing to sell their possessions to help them.  It was a special time, considering what those who believed would have given up to follow Christ (in a then hostile capital city of the Jews).  Notice how these brethren took care of themselves first.  NOTE: In dealing with needy brethren, the first priority is locally where the need exists.  That is borne out in 1Timothy 5:8-16.

                                                iii.      Needs in Judea – Acts 11:27-30 speaks of a need that was to arise in Judea.   Agabus the prophet noted that a famine was about to arise throughout the world.  The brethren at Antioch of Syria determined to send relief, each according to his own ability to the churches in that region.   

1.        I presume they followed the pattern of 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

2.        The church at Antioch chose Barnabas and Saul to deliver their gift (Ac. 11:30).

3.        They delivered it to the hands of the elders in the churches where the needs were (see Acts 9:31, Gal. 1:22 – Jerusalem, Lydda, Joppa, etc.). 
NOTE: Some reason that it was sent to Jerusalem, whose elders dispensed it to the various churches in Judea but the text does not bear that out.   The text indicates that wherever there were elders in the churches (see Ac. 14:23) the relief was sent to them DIRECTLY (see Acts 11:30).

                                                iv.      Needs in Jerusalem – Years later, this was a more extensive concern with the church in Jerusalem.  Consider that through years of persecution, community neglect, the famine, etc. – the church there was wiped out financially.  There was more need than they were able to address.  Several churches were notified by Paul in letters, and perhaps by other means – to help them.  Churches in Macedonia, Galatia, and Acaiah (Corinth), were responding (2 Cor. 8:1-4, 9:1-5, 1 Cor. 16:1-2, Romans 15:22-27).  Note the following things about this effort.

1.        Paul wrote to each of these churches (it was not any church doing this work)

2.        He wrote separate requests for help to the various churches he had contact with – 2 Cor. 8:4, etc.

3.        They didn’t pool their resources – 1 Corinthians 16:3.  Each congregation raised its own funds.

4.        Each church chose WHO would deliver the relief – 1 Cor. 16:3-4.  Whoever they chose would be their messenger (not some church or organization) to deliver their gift.

5.        The money was sent DIRECTLY to where the need existed.  It was not funneled through another church or organization.  Therefore, each church maintained its autonomy and control in delivering the gift.

g.       The distinction between the local church and the individual.

                                                   i.      Some today argue that what the individual can do, the church can do.  That is untrue.  While there are things that involve both, they are still distinct with their own set of rules.

                                                  ii.      Consider 1 Timothy 5:16 in our study – let family take care of their needy, and DO NOT let the church be burdened. 
Consider also the context beginning in vs. 3.  Dealing with widows, the point is made that not every one who is a widow qualifies for help.  They had to meet certain requirements, namely those that demonstrated their persistent godliness in times past.  In other words, they have proved themselves Christians over and over.

                                                iii.      Often times, to justify actions for which there is no precedent in scripture, passages such as James 1:27 and Galatians 1:10 will be quoted and applied to the church.  BUT, an honest examination of these texts (and contexts) shows that they apply to INDIVIDUALS, and not the local congregations.

II.                   How churches helped others in New Testament times

a.        Benevolence among churches was ALWAYS directed toward brethren – NOT general benevolence. The role a church had in this was LIMITED.  There is not one example of general benevolence.

b.       And even among Christians, what the church can do limited.  1 Timothy 5:16 – as a LAST RESORT!

c.        It was sent directly to where the need was.

d.       It was always temporary. Benevolence was not addressed until the need was known.  Needs were not created or ongoing projects adopted.  Today, churches create organizations to deal with the needy of society.  While it is a good work, is that what God intended the church to be doing?

e.        Churches maintained their independence and autonomy in all they did, including benevolence.

III.                 Observations about benevolence

a.        Understand that I am not saying that benevolent needs are not legitimate or good works.  We have seen that as Christians we ARE to be engaged in them – and we WILL BE held accountable.   And we have seen that there is a place for benevolence within the local church.  But that does not change the fact that God’s work for the church is NOT to be a benevolent institution.   The church is described as, “the pillar and ground of truth”  (1 Timothy 3:15)

b.       Some argue that general benevolence is just a tool to introduce the gospel to the lost.  While that might be their intent, that doesn’t change the fact that no such example is found in the New Testament.  In fact, in the N.T. no church EVER used food and clothing to preach the gospel or introduce it to the lost.  Consider Romans 14:17 which says the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking.  It is not about feeding anyone, but about the gospel of Christ.
An interesting observation is found in Acts 3:6 where Peter sees a lame man as he and John enter the temple.  He notes, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.”  While funds were available (Acts 2:44-45) they were not provided for non-believers OR TO introduce the gospel.

c.        The flaw of general benevolence – it clouds the real purpose of the church.  If it takes food and clothing to get them there, it will take more to keep them there.  Consider what Jesus said in John 6:26-27.  He noted that many of them only sought Him for the food.

 

Thus we can see benevolence and the church.  While there is a time for churches to engage in benevolence, it is NOT its primary work.  This lesson is not intended to belittle these good works or impugn the good intentions of those who are engaged in them.  Our concern is simply to respect the authority of God’s word: ALL OF IT!  I encourage you to honestly consider these things as we strive to please Him in all we do. (Col. 3:17).  Think about it.