Longhenry/Jackson Debate on Benevolence

 
 
 Proposition: 
 The Scriptures teach that the church, from its treasury, may help any needy person.
 
 Affirm:  George A. Jackson
 Deny: Ethan R. Longhenry
 
 Ethan:
 I do hope that George understands that these verses are of the Old Testament, which has been put 
 aside by the Law of Christ. Or does he not understand the message of Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 
 9:15, and many other passages? Furthermore, the fact that the poor should be taken care of is not 
 under discussion-- what is under discussion is whether or not the CHURCH has been given this 
 commandment.
 
 George:
 I do hope Ethan remembers his definition of his proposition concerning "the Scriptures:" "the 
 word of God, the books of Genesis-Malachi representing the Old Testament..." And my definition: 
 "I mean the 66 books of the Holy Bible." Does Ethan now say we cannot use the Old Testament? 
 Was not Stephen referring to the Old Testament when he mention "the church in the wilderness" 
 (Acts 7:38). Is Ethan now saying that God's care for the needy was also nailed to the cross?
 
 Ethan:
 George has assumed his proof, that whatever the Scriptures speak considering the individual, the 
 church can do also. The proof for this assumption has not been made. 1 Timothy 5:16 clearly 
 shows the separation of duty between individual and the church. It must also be stated that Jesus 
 has spoken nothing of the responsibilities of His collective body in this passage, but is exhorting 
 individuals to act correctly in the eyes of God.
 
 George:
 1 Timothy 5:16 is a verse that I never mentioned in my affirmative. So lets look at it closely to see 
 what it does not say! It does not say that the church cannot help the widow if the individual cannot 
 or will not.
 
 Listen again to the Head of the church: "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart 
 from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an 
 hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 'I was a stranger', and 
 ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick an in prison, and ye visited me not. Then 
 shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, 
 or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, 
 Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 
 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Mat. 
 25:41-46). 
 
 As I have said, God has, in every age, enjoined upon His people the responsibility of caring for 
 those in need. In this, God has enjoined the church to be responsible in benevolence to the needy 
 and helpless (widows, fatherless, strangers, poor, oppressed, sick, hungry, thirsty, naked, etc.). 
 As shown by a study of Galatians 6:10. 
 As shown by a study of James 1:27.7 
 
 The responsibility of the local church In benevolence as shown by Galatians 6:10 it does not refer 
 to an action of only an individual Christian. Ethan teaches the action prescribed in this verse is 
 only an individual action, and that the church cannot, and must not, involve itself in doing good 
 unto all men, for it would be a sin in doing so, or in attempting to do so.   If this is only an 
 individual action, notice what the church may do. The church may not help those of the household 
 of faith, for those who are to do good unto all men are the very same ones who are to do good unto 
 the household of faith (Gal. 6:10; 1:2). The church may not restore a brother overtaken in a fault 
 (Gal. 6: 1). Though Matthew 13: 17 records these words of Jesus: 
 "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church but if he neglect to hear the church, let 
 him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."  The church may not bear one another's 
 burdens (Gal. 6:2). The church may not fulfil the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). The church may not pay 
 the preacher (Gal. 6:6). Therefore, only individuals would be responsible, and only individuals 
 may help those of the household of faith, restore a brother overtaken in a fault, bear one another's 
 burdens, fulfil the law of Christ, and pay the preacher. Who, proclaiming such a doctrine, practices 
 that which is logically a consequence of it? Who would say, for example, that only individuals 
 may provide the support of the preacher? Who would say the church would sin if it attempted to 
 pay the preacher? Galatians 6:10 does not limit benevolence to "saints only." The Greek word 
 "pantas," translated "all men" means just that, "everyone, anyone, all men., Obviously the "all 
 men" of this verse refers to someone(s) other than just those included in the "household of faith," 
 and is not a reference to the household of faith; that is, to "saints only." If this were the case, the 
 verse would be redundant: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto (the household 
 of faith),, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  A study of other passages 
 employing this same word will reveal the meaning to be inclusive of "everyone, anyone, all men," 
 and not restricted to "saints only" (John 12:32; 2 Cor. 9:13; 1 The. 3:12; 5:15). As shown by 
 Galatians 6:10, the church has responsibility to extend benevolence to all men (those other than 
 saints), and especially to the household of faith (saints). 
 
 The responsibility of the local church in benevolence as shown by James 1:27.  Ethan's doctrine 
 erroneously teaches only individuals may fulfil that which is commanded in this verse. This 
 command does include individuals, but is not limited only to individuals As Galatians 6:10 was 
 addressed to the church (Gal. 1:2), so James" inspired epistle was to the church (James 1:1; 2:1-2; 
 cf. Gal. 6:16). Individuals and the church must practice that which is enjoined in this verse James 
 1:27 is only for individual then, notice what the church could not do. The church could not 
 practice pure and undefiled religion, and would sin if it attempted to do so. The church could not 
 keep itself unspotted from the world, and would sin if it attempted to do so. The church could not 
 help the fatherless and widows--even if they were members of the church in their affliction. The 
 word "himself" in James 1:27.The same word occurs in I Corinthians 11:28 (in connection with 
 the taking of the Lord's Supper), and refers to an individual action which is performed in 
 association with others, in the assembly, as the body, the church. This word is also found in 1 
 Corinthians 16:2, and refers to an individual action (laying by in store on the first day of the week) 
 which is performed in association with others, in the assembly, as the body, the church. Thus, the 
 word "himself" does not deny the collective action of the church, nor does it limit the action of this 
 verse only to individuals.       
 
 Some  more questions:            
 
 1.May the church help a church member who is widowed, and has a small child?              
 
 2. May the church refuse to help the small child if the mother dies?              
 
 3.Would the church be justified  in letting the child die of starvation, exposure, or neglect-because 
 he is not a "saint"?              
 
 4. Would the church sin if it  allowed him to come in, sit down, and cool off (on the pew, and in 
 the air conditioning provided by the treasury)?             
 
 5. May the church use the phone  (provided from the treasury) to call for an ambulance should he 
 need medical care?      
 
 6. Would those collecting the  contribution be required to forbid a non-saint to contribute?             
 
 7.Must the church post signs prohibiting visiting non-members from drinking at the water 
 fountain, and from using the rest rooms? 
 
 What a ridiculous, and wrong doctrine is the doctrine which prohibits the church from doing good 
 to all men! Hopefully, we can see the error of such a doctrine which would eliminate the 
 responsibility of the church in benevolence to all persons in need The church has a great 
 responsibility and at great opportunity in the area of       benevolence. Many doors have been 
 opened when people have seen Christianity in action in benevolence. (One said, "People do not 
 care how much you know until they know how much you care.") Whether those aided are obedient 
 to the gospel, or not, we still have the responsibility of caring for those in need.  While we must 
 use wisdom, and not support those who will not work, but are simply con men and bums, yet we 
 must not be stingy, nor must we close our eyes, shut up our ears, and harden our hearts toward the 
 cries of the pitiable poor and needy (remember Mat. 25:41-46). The 'local church has a 
 responsibility in benevolence, and should look upon this responsibility as a privilege and a 
 blessing, for in benevolence we can be a blessing, and show Christ, who is omnibenevolent, 
 dwelling in us. We should be thankful we have opportunity to give to those in need (Eph. 4:28), 
 and that we are not in need ourselves. 
 
 I asked Ethan some questions  
 
 1. Does the expression "all (men)" in Gal. 6:10 include more than the "needy saints"? 
 
 Ethan:
 It certainly does; but the good is to be done by individuals and by the context of Galatians 6, 
 seems to be spiritual good.
 
 George:
 Here again Ethan is taken a letter written to the "churches of Galatia" and making it a letter to a 
 individual. Just what did Paul stop writing to the "churches" and write to the individual?  
  
 2. Can the church 'receive' money from the non-saint into the treasury of the church? 
 
 Ethan:
 If the one has no concern for God or His Gospel, by no means. To say that a non-saint would have 
 a concern for God and His Gospel and yet remain a non-saints is a contradiction indeed.
 
 George:
 Then you must judge the motive of each giver and return the money given by "one has no concern for God or 
 His Gospel,"  back to then before leaving the church building? 
  
 3. Is the Lord's Supper an individual activity only, or is it a church activity. If it is individual only, 
 can a non-saint partake of it, even though the elements were purchase from the treasury? 
 
 Ethan:
 The Lord's Supper is a collective activity done individually. The church is not judged by the 
 faithfulness of its members partaking of it, as seen in 1 Corinthians 11 (let each one judge himself 
 before partaking...the one who eats improperly judges wrongly the body and blood of Christ). I 
 would discourage any non-saint from partaking of the Lord's Supper, not necessarily because it 
 was purchased with church funds, but because they have not put on Christ and thus cannot have 
 fellowship with Him.
 
 George: 
 Then when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, and said in chapter 11:20 "When ye come 
 together..." He was not really speaking to the church but to individual 'only'? 
 
 4. Where is the scripture authorizing the taking of the preacher's salary out of the collection of the 
 "first day of the week."? 
 
 Ethan:
 We see that the church collected money on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2), and we see 
 that the church assisted evangelism (Phil 4:9-10). We have no other command or example to 
 determine when a collection is to be made, so we give on the first day of the week so that the 
 church can fulfill its responsibilities, one of which is to assist in evangelism.
 
 George:
 We see the church collecting for the saints, but where do we see the "church" collecting for the 
 preacher. "on the first day of the week"? The scripture you gave does not say such! So, since the 
 collection in 1 Corinthians 16, is for the saints "only," where do get the authority to pay the salary 
 of the preacher from that collection? How can we pay the preacher from this collection, but the 
 non-saint needy cannot be helped from it?      
 
 5. Do you believe the church can take money from the treasury to help a needy child, who is not a 
 Christian, whose parents are dead, making him an orphan, who has no one else to care for him? 
 
 Ethan:
 This is not the work of the church, however, if this child is not helped by individual Christians, 
 there is sin being performed.  In the end, this is the difference: I find that there are no Scriptures 
 that demonstrate that the church is shouldered with the same responsibility toward those not of its 
 own concerning benevolence. This does not mean by any stretch of the imagination that those who 
 are in need should not be helped; this means that it is the responsibility of the individual, not the 
 church, to do so.
 
 George:
 Other words, yes and No!  
 
 Ethan:
 I have some questions for you:  
 
 1. What is the purpose of the church? 
 
 George:
 To bring glory to God. (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph.3:21)
 
 2. Does the fact that the church is "pure and undefiled" mean that the church is separated from sin 
 and from the world?
 
 George: 
 Yes, from the world, but not out of the world. 
 
 Ethan:
 3. Does the church consist of any other form than a collective of faithful Christians?
 
 George:
 Removed the individual from the church, and there will be no more church. Without the individual 
 there is no church. One can no more removed the individual from the church and still have a 
 church, than one can removed the bricks from a brick house and still have a brick house. How 
 does the church "pray"? How does the church sing? How does the church have the Lord's Supper 
 and how does the church love? Through each member of the body: the church. All the members at 
 one time or the other, may not be faithful (Rev.2-3). The actions of its members are the actions of 
 the church. A church may be dead, may have works, may hear, may repent, may watch, may have 
 a crown. May be rich, poor, wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. May be nether cold or hot, etc.  
 Everything an individual can do or be. A church must be able to do or not do what the individual 
 member of the church is able to do or not do, or the church can do or not do anything! Because the 
 church is its members. And as Revelation 2-3 has shown, may be held accountable for its actions 
 or lack of actions, by the actions of its members.  ""He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
 Spirit saith unto the churches."
 
 By His Love and Grace
 George A. Jackson