Compare the approach to benevolence we find in the scriptures to the some of the attitudes that have prevailed for so long.
Tokenism. Many churches have a benevolence budget of $500 and then just for the occasional beggar who comes to the door asking for a free lunch. It’s really just barely enough to salve our consciences–hardly enough to actually change the world!
Check the box. Similarly, we sometimes think we get to heaven by being scripturally organized. One requirement is to have a benevolence program, and so we have one. But just a little one. After all, big or small, we still get to check the box and say we’re organized correctly!
In reach. Some churches take the view that we should help our own people before we help those outside the church. And certainly love for one another is one of the dominant themes of the New Testament. But if we never help those outside the church, we’ll never impress them with God’s love. After all, even the pagans help their own.
Missions first. We sometimes argue that evangelism is more important than benevolence. After all, it’s far better to go to heaven than to be well fed and go to hell. Thus, the benevolence program is a lower priority than missions. And there’s no limit to how much we can spend–and spend well–on missions. And so we never get to benevolence.
Means to an end. By similar logic, we figure that money spent to help people who deny Jesus is wasted. Therefore, we shouldn’t offer food to the hungry unless they’ve agreed to sit through a Bible lesson. And if they aren’t converted in 10 weeks, we kick them out and give our soup to someone more pliable.
Taxes. Or we don’t do benevolence at all, saying that our taxes meet our obligation to the poor. And then we complain because government welfare hurts families and takes away the will to work. We say, “We could sure do welfare better than the government!” all the while refusing to do so.
Futility. We quote Jesus as saying “The poor will always be with you.” Well, we figure, if there will always be poor, why try to end poverty?
Because even if we can’t end all poverty, we can end some poverty. In fact, Jesus was quoting the Law of Moses,
(Deut. 15:11) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
We help those in need because we love them–and because we want to follow Jesus’ example–and because we know that God loves them.
(James 2:5) Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
The logic of this is challenging. Follow me closely here.
We don’t feed the poor in hopes of saving them. We feed them because they are hungry and we love them.
However, this will inevitably lead to people being saved. First, some of the poor may well see our compassion and want to be part of a community that loves unconditionally.
Second, some outside the church will see our good works and want to be part of such a community.
Third, some within the church, by doing good, will become even more compassionate, leading them to become better evangelists.
Fourth, some within the church will be so pleased to be part of such a community that they’ll share the good news with their friends.
And so, even if we don’t convert a single hungry person, Jesus will still be lifted up and many will be drawn to him.
But because we love the hungry, and because we are no more willing to discriminate than Jesus, we teach the poor about Jesus, too. But never as a condition of being fed. We love them too much to turn them away, even if they aren’t yet converted.
Thus, evangelism and benevolence are necessarily tightly intertwined. They work together. They are, as the business consultants say, synergistic. One reinforces the other–often in indirect, subtle, immeasurable ways.
We understand this in the mission field, where we’ve often sent doctors and nurses. But somehow we have trouble helping those nearest to us this way. Some of this is habit. Some of this is the false assumption that no one in America needs our compassion. Some of this is bigotry. After all, if we start converting the poor in town, they might just start coming to church with us!!
Which brings us full circle–back to marketing. Whom do we wish to target our evangelistic efforts to? Well, everyone, but especially the poor, the hungry, the marginalized, and the vulnerable. And as we try to do this, we’ll attract all sorts of people–but people who are just like us–people who love unconditionally, indiscriminately, and lavishly–like Jesus.
