Mercy Ministries and Helping the Poor

I’d like to recommend a book that shares the Christian perspective on many of today’s issues like euthanasia and suicide, environmentalism, immigration and border control, entertainment, birth control & surrogacy, divorce, and more.  It’s called: “Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong: A Biblical Response to Today’s Most Controversial Issues”.
http://www.amazon.com/Right-Thinking-World-Gone-Wrong/dp/0736926437

It also has a chapter called “Help for the Hurting and Hope for the Lost” by Jesse Johnson which is very helpful on the topic of ‘Mercy Ministries’.

Here are some excerpts from the chapter:

Mercy ministry refers to meeting the needs of the poor and the destitute, the widows and the orphans, especially in the church but also in the world (Galatians 6:10).  James describes this kind of ministry as religion which is “pure and undefiled” (James 1:27).  It is a form of ministry that is woven into the fabric of Scripture because it has its foundation in the character of God Himself. (210).
Dozens of Old Testament verses stress the importance of showing compassion to those in need,  Significantly, they are not followed by exceptions or disclaimers if the poverty was the result of rash decisions or sin.  Often poverty is the result of foolish living.  Nevertheless, to neglect the needy who cross our paths is to sin. (211)
When the apostles sent Paul out, they gave him only one specific charge: “They only asked us to remember the poor – the very thing I was also eager to do”  (Galatians 2:10).  How Paul fulfilled that command is noted in his epistles.  He took collections from various churches to help meet the needs of destitute believers in Jerusalem (Romans 15:26).  In fact he told the church to take this collection every week so that when he arrived, there would be no shortage for the poor in the Jerusalem church (1 Corinthians 16:1-4).  It is evident that care for the poor and needy, especially within the church, is a mark of New Testament ministry. (211 – 212)

In the Old Testament, Jews were not commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  They were commanded to stay in Israel and keep the Mosaic law so that the world could see the glory of God through their obedience.   But in the New Testament, Christians are called to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  When people receive the gospel and become believers, they are then added to the church, and they obey God out of their love for Him.

It should be noted at this point that there is a careful distinction in the New Testament between tasks given to the church corporately and tasks given to Christians individually.   Individual Christians are to love their neighbors, their enemies, and those in need.  They are to meet needs as they see them, as they are able.  A Christians first duty is to care for the needs of his family; his second duty is to meet the needs of those in the church; and his third duty is to those outside the church (Galatians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 4:10; 5:4,8)  Meanwhile, the church’s main task is to spread the gospel throughout the world by equipping saints for the work of the ministry.  In addition, the church is called to care for the widows and the poor in her midst.  In other words, the church is to care for Christians.  The thrust of biblical commands concerning the poor, which were given to the church as a whole, relates to taking care of the needs of Christians, and not the poor in general.

When people look to the church to end poverty, halt human trafficking, bring drinking water to Africa, or cure AIDS, they are looking in the wrong place.  The church was not commissioned to do any of these tasks.   Elders are not appointed based on their ability to politic or irrigate.  But as individual Christians live holy lives, they will inevitably find themselves in situations where they can make a difference.

Clarity is what’s needed about what the Bible calls and does not call Christians to do.  We are not called to end global hunger, fight homelessness, or feel guilty about having running water.  We are called to show compassion to the poor, to open our hearts to them, to spread the gospel, and to hate materialism.  We are to make sacrifices to advance the gospel around the world.  And as the church is strengthened around the world, there will be more Christians loving the poor and caring for the orphans in the neediest of places. 

The Bible lays obligation for mercy ministry at the feet (and in the hearts) of individuals.  Individuals are called to love the poor and care for the needy as they have opportunity. Hiding behind a donation is not sufficient.  As Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 13:3, it is possible to give all you have to the poor without loving them, but with such action, God is not pleased. (212-213)
It is possible…for churches to faithfully fulfill their primary duties (evangelizing the lost and edifying the saints) while also caring for the material needs of those in their midst.  It is also possible for pastors to train people to care for others as they spread the gospel through the context of their everyday lives.

So it must be unequivocally stated that Christians are to show mercy and kindness to all with whom they interact, both inside and outside the church.   …The American Dream may promote people to pursue health, wealth, and prosperity, but the gospel prompts Christians to a life of stewardship and sacrifice, all while fleeing the love of money and cultivating a love for others. (214)
…mosquito nets are not the end for which God created the world.  It is critical for churches to view missions for what they are:  the expansion and strengthening of the church of Jesus Christ around the world.  Consider this comment from the president of Detroit Baptist Seminary:  “All missionary ministry should be intricately connected to the planting of local churches.  Church planting is not one of the things missionaries are to do, it is the thing!”  God’s plan for social transformation is the gospel.  Corruption will never be eliminated, and the poor we will always have with us.  But the church in America can use her wealth to bring the gospel into the midst of poverty, and in doing so, lives will be changed.  This is what it means to love the poor.  God’s character is put on display in the ministry of His missionaries….As churches are established and pastors trained, lasting social change comes.   This is never the primary goal, but is always the byproduct of authentic Christian living. (215)