Why is it that "Church of Christ" never gives a hand or support charities?

Question

Are they that narrow-minded enough as written in their magazine " Where is such in the Bible can you read such thing ? ( Helping or organizing charities out of collection).

This is the article where i read it..
TRUTH MAGAZINE
Vol. XLVI,No. 14
July 18,2002
Title: Who Would HAve Ever Thought It?
Author: withheld
It says..
A couple of church bulletins came across my desk that caught my eye. As I read these bulletins, a question came to my mind as to who would have ever thought churches of Christ would be engaging in such things? Please note how far some Churches of Christ are getting out of field.
*Community Care Center. The Central Church of Christ Bulletin of Bedford, Indiana said, " I consider 2001 a success financially because we supported many benevolent and outreach works. When we include preaching, preschool, food preparation and flowers, local outreach and outreach for mission works, as well as benevolence for people of the local community, including donations to the Community center... A thing might look financially successful but not touch top, side or bottom scipturally! Is there a passage of Scripture telling the church to support such?

Answer 1

Hitch,

(I noticed that you seem to have posted this same question a couple of times & I will post my answer on all of the ones that are still open, since some people may read one & not the others.)

I am a member of the church of Christ. I have grown up in & around the church of Christ. I have attended 2 coC-affiliated universities & currently work for one of them.

The first thing that you need to understand is that ALL congregations are autonomous. I had NEVER even heard of the “Truth Magazine” that you referenced. I did look it up on-line. It appears to be associated with congregations that are ultra-conservative or what is commonly referred to as “anti”. ALL of the congregations that I have been associated with use a large portion of the church funds to support various benevolent acts. One thing that my home congregation is currently doing is continuing to work with Best Buy & a congregation in southern Mississippi to supply new appliances to those rebuilding in Gulfport, MS as their homes become ready. Most of the congregations in North Alabama support AGAPE & Childhaven. (See the links below.)
http://www.agape-nal-inc.org/
http://www.agape-nal-inc.org/staff.html
http://www.childhaven.com/index.asp
http://www.childhaven.com/programs.asp
http://www.childhaven.com/fostercare.asp

Here are links to some congregations that I am familiar with that show/mention benevolence:
http://www.estes.tn.org/Estes%20Echo%20Bulletin/B033007.pdf
http://www.westhuntsville.org/works.shtml
http://lincolnchurch.org/Ministries/benevolence.html

My first thought when I read your question went to Acts 6:1-4 (NAS).
Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

I will grant you that this text is about appointing deacons/servants, but it is an example of them serving widows, which is a benevolent act.

I also found a copy of a sermon online from a well-respected deceased coC minister that addresses this issue. Here is the link: http://www.acoc.org/bduncan/Benevolence%20and%20Church%20Cooperation.pdf

I hope this answers your question & helps you to understand that not all congregations are the same. BTW, here are links to some other coC publications that are more mainstream coC.
http://www.housetohouse.com/hth/index.htm
http://www.apologeticspress.org/

Answer 2

I do believe the New Testament tithing says, as you so prosper, give accordingls. So, when we give to the churches, we've done what God told us to do. Now, the head of the church is supposed to be a good steward over the funds!
The Word tells us to help widows and orphans, and, as the Samaritan helped the man, so are we to help others. So, the pastor, as long as he isn't using the funds for anything illicit, imoral or of a selfish or unscriptural nature, I believe he is well within his authority in helping those charities that are helping others.
This is why the Word says, " study to show yourself approved, a workman unto God that need not be ashamed." If you know the character of God, there would be no question about if the pastor is right in helping. Once the money is out of our hands, we've done our part, and will get our blessing. What happens after that, God will also reward for what is done with the money.

The Church of Christ in my town gives a lot to the community.

Answer 3

As you already know, Christianity has split up into so many branches that it's ridiculous. Some Churches of Christ think that it's not right to give to charities because the money is not going to be used in the right way. While other Churches of Christ support charities and help in their communities. A group of COC in my area is helping out with tornado relief so I know that it's just some COC's that think supporting charities is wrong.

Answer 4

I am a member of the Church of Christ.

The beliefs you describe are from a small branch of churches of Christ and is not the view of the majority of congregations.

These churches call themselves "conservative", but really, they are ultra-conservative. Many call them "Anti" congregations because they are against supporting orphan homes, helping needy outside the church, etc.

We should follow the Bible. It is wrong to introduce a new doctrine that the Bible does not allow. It is also wrong to bind a doctrine that the Bible does not bind.

Those churches who believe they should use their money just for helping the members are free to do so. The problem is they say it is wrong for other churches of Christ to also help non-members. The Bible does not make this restriction.

It is just as much a departure from the scriptures to loose what the bible does not loose (librelism) and to bind what the Bible does not bind as a doctrine (ultra-conservative). We should not go beyond the word of the Lord in either direction. We should speak where the Bible speaks, be silent where the Bible is silent, do Bible things in Bible ways, and call Bible things by Bible names. We should not "go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more." (Numbers 22:18)

I don't want to give the wrong impression, most of these congregations are very friendly, and they believe that it is good to help the needy, but not from the church treasury. They feel the money in the church treasury should go to help those who are in the church. They feel if someone is going to help the needy outside the church, they should do this out of their own funds.

Most congregations of the Church of Christ are very benevolent, helping many in need (both in and outside of their own fellowship). In the Bible, the letter written to the churches in Galatia says, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 1:10)

The congregations I have been a member of help many people. These congregations also contribute to organized charities such as orphan homes, disaster relief organizations, and a local charity that trains the handicap for employment. I know several congregations of the church of Christ that sent groups to help with hurricane Katrina clean-up.

Most congregations do help the needy as they have opportunity! Sometimes this opportunity is to help individual people and sometimes this opportunity is through organized efforts and groups.

I must add though, many congregations of the Church of Christ will not give support to an organization that (in addition to helping the needy) teaches a doctrine that contradicts what we see in the Bible. We do not feel our funds should help teach a doctrine we don't see as biblical. Instead, we will find other ways to help those in need without comprimising our doctrinal beliefs, but just because we don't help a certain organization, that does not mean we are not helping in some other way!

Most congregations of the church have a large part of their budget that goes to helping others!

Answer 5

I'm really not sure where you got this idea... My uncle is the youth pastor at a Church of Christ church in Ohio and they support lots of charitable causes... My youthgroup in highschool went on a missions trip to Mexico to help the mexicans by assisting in building projects and buying them materials as well as being involved in many charitable projects in the surrounding community. That church was a non-denominational church, but "Church of Christ" and "Non-Denominational" churches are often grouped into the same category...

Answer 6

You mentioned she, so I'm now not certain if that is a typo, or if speaking approximately giving hand-jobs to trannies. But it is a gigantic activate, it doesn't matter what the obstacle is, it is almost always in no way bizarre, so long as its now not at a nasty time. Like if the men mother beyond away, and also you begin to arrive into his pants, could now not be the nice time . But if the whole lot goes pleasant, your in a vehicle, then paintings the ones wrists.

Answer 7

I am a born again Christian of 12 years so I consider myself as the church of the Christ, i have personaly built 4 orphanages in different places of the world Sri lanka, India, Kenya, worked on the Raz-en-nagab T B clinic in Jordan been on and drove a lorry full of aid to Rumainia Just after the fall of chauchesku, to help with the rocking children,
went to Iraq in 97 to see if i could help the old folks that were needy, and refurbished an Eye ear and throat clinic in Daraw Egypt, from there we went to the sudan to help only to have the muslims burn and steal our mobile clinic we had 8 children to opperate on and muslim may i add, every where that i went only Christian people were involved with aid or charity work. no Jew or muslim ar any other religion did i see or hear of giving any form of support.
why is it that jew muslim buddist etc never give to charities, so where the hell are you coming from,
did you give up three months of the year to help others.

you should say the cult of not "Church of Christ" that is not a true Christian church,

Answer 8

I go to a church of Christ and we do support charities therefore your theory is wrong. Maybe a lot of churchs don't but our church does, so be fair, don't stereotype and don't say "never"

Answer 9

i was raised in the church of christ and we gave to/helped out charities all the time. especially in youth group. one of our deacons FOUNDED a charity. that was his 9 to 5 job, the founding, overseeing, and running of this charity. soooo.....where are you getting your info?

Answer 10

doesnt sound like a real church that belongs to christ