Social Justice and the Church

[Jet]

I know the previous church I attended donated a generous amount from it's budget to help the poor and needy in the local community.  I always accepted this as the norm for most Christian churches. Recently during a discussion with a member from my current IFB church, the member stated that their church does not donate any money to charity, I was a little surprised and disappointed by that admission.

A quick search on the internet revealed there is an idea amongst at least some IFBs that the church should not involve it self in social justice issues like providing care for the poor. They believe it is the responsibility of the individual Christian and not the church. They further argue social justice ministries are a slippery slope to compromise.

Now I strongly believe the primary purpose of the church is to preach the gospel and discipleship. However helping the poor and needy is also commanded in the bible, eg. James 1:27. And I believe the church should take a lead role in this to encourage members to also do the same whilst not losing sight of it's primary purpose.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

You tell us after reading Jesus' first recorded public sermon:

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

 

[Fresh Air]

Where I live there is tremendous need, physically and spiritually. Where I live there are dozens of organizations dedicated to reaching out to help people with their physical needs. There are only two dedicated to reaching out to help them with their spiritual needs. Logic, stewardship, wisdom, and discernment drive our passionate pursuit of meeting their spiritual needs.

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Today in Sunday School, one of the pastors was going through the church's outreach program and how funding for outreach would be distributed. He used this verse but put a spin on it that I had never heard:

"...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

I've always read this as if it were a target with Jerusalem being the center and working around in surrounding areas like a stone causing ripples when dropped in the water.

Their view is that of 4 squares: "Jerusalem" represents within 5 miles surrounding their church facility. "Judea" represents the USA. "Other parts of the earth" represents nations outside of the USA's borders. "Samaria" was presented differently. In the NT, Samaria was the town where Jews avoided at all costs. They feared for their safety. It was the "urban" area where the minorities and poor lived. The family unit was completely fallen apart. In essence, it would represent inner-city living, those area where we white-bread, middle-class people would fear to walk through.

They are divvying up their funding at 25% for each quarter of the dynamic in both their evangelistic outreach as well as material benevolence toward those in need of social justice.

Thought it was interesting...

 

[Biker]

They believe it is the responsibility of the individual Christian and not the church.

This is true. Thanks for posting James 1:27

The Churches are always trying to get their money grubbing hands onto their members hard earned dough.
Adults will chose how and which, organizations they choose to donate to. The church needs to keep their noses out of their finances.
Not create opportunities to guilt a whole group into donating to a secular organization of their choosing.

Now I strongly believe the primary purpose of the church is to preach the gospel and discipleship. However helping the poor and needy is also commanded in the bible, eg. James 1:27. And I believe the church should take a lead role in this to encourage members to also do the same whilst not losing sight of it's primary purpose.

James 1: 20-27 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [c]natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [d]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [e]an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in [f]what he does.

If you look at the context of your James scripture, it is not preaching to the church as a group. It is preaching to individual Christians within that group. Just as you pointed out.
And the only way to be obedient to that command is to adhere to it. Not give your hard earned money to the church to filter to the poor FOR YOU.
The expression of gratitude shown on the faces of the poor when you hand them money..well that is part of that blessing. It fulfills something inside which ignites a spark to want to help more often. A church has no right to cheat a person out of that blessing. Same goes with a Missionary if you choose to support one. Directly hand them your donation, mail it maybe.
There are many Judas' in the world also. If your church is out of line trying to get into your personal pocketbook, that is a sign to close it right up. Your thinking is in line with scripture and you seem very genuine.