Charity
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Corinthians 8:1 KJV
Love – We need to resurrect an old word. If you have an old King James Bible, you will sometimes notice that the word “charity” appears in odd places. There are twenty-seven occurrences[1] in the King James; all rendered “love” in newer English Bibles. The reason, of course, is that the King James renders the Greek word agape with this old English term “charity” while we now use the word “love.” But this is just history. In 1611, English had the word “love,” so why did the translators choose “charity” instead?[2] The answer lies in our cultural psychology, not in etymology. Love is an internal word. For us, it describes a feeling, a state of mind. Charity, on the other hand, is external. It is a word about action toward others, not about how we feel. In fact, it is one of the three obligations of Jewish practice. It is at the heart of the Levitical command. It’s not how I feel that matters. When it comes to relationships to others, it’s what I do that counts. In the time of King James, the culture understood the necessity of social relationships. Christianity embraced this Jewish idea because the society could not function without it. The Church was at the center of social welfare and recovery. The Church was the active agent in social reform. Community was a living reality.
Things have changed. We no longer “need” each other for survival. The government has usurped the roles God assigned to us. Now an anonymous bureaucracy provides welfare, retraining, comfort, sustenance and protection. Relationship has been sacrificed on the altar of efficiency. Now we can feel good by making a financial contribution without having to lift a finger. We have been seduced into thinking that God is the God of the inner spiritual life rather than the God of community relationships. We need a cultural resurrection, a resurrection that will restore the obligation of interpersonal action to the concept of agape. What is love? It is active care for the other, the willingness to put myself at risk for the needs of another, to bend my yetzer ha’ra to serve someone else. It is intensely personal because it must involve confrontation with my agenda. Love at a distance means nothing. That is words, not deeds. If God kept His distance, none of us would know anything about love. But for God to involve Himself in our lives, He must suffer. Those who are touched by love experience emotion. Joy and sorrow, jubilation and pain, celebration and regret, victory and loss. The opposite of love is not hate. It is apathy.
Today we have the opportunity to love, the opportunity to resurrect the true meaning of charity. Do what is needed. Do it yourself! Convert feeling into action.
Topical Index: love, charity, agape, 1 Corinthians 8:1
[1] Consider 1 Cor. 8:1, 13:1-4, 8. and 13, 14:1, Col. 3:14, 1 Thess. 3:6, 1 Tim. 1:5, 2:15, 2 Tim. 2:22 and 2 Pet. 1:7 as examples
[2] For the etymological history, see http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=charity. Notice that the Vulgate retained the idea of action, but since Tyndale, Protestant Christianity moved in the direction of inner feeling.
Skip, this has been a burden on my heart for a good while now. Charity is impossible without opportunity. What creates that opportunity best? Community. Community; COMMUNES; has been noticeably absent for a while now. Small town USA, which was our last true vestige of it, has been thoroughly infiltrated by 4-lane highways to the surrounding cities, and, like you point out, government substitutes for true almsgiving – that acid test of the hearts – has been completely supplanted, too. The only vestige of that we have left are the homeless begging on city street corners. No working communities, which depend on each other for survival, wisdom and sustenance.
I wanted to ask something. In the first century I see an entire way of life being embraced by the followers of the Way. True, they were being pressured out of their communities and family tribal groups, but not many of them. This was a seemingly CHOSEN and preferred Way of life consisting of pooling resources and lifestyles. I am talking about hippie – like kibbutzes. The question I have, then, is this. What if joining the Way meant that you became literally willing to forsake your communities of origin and pool your resources generated by that move with others? Would that change anything? What if it changed everything? What if that were the real litmus test, instead of asking Jesus into your heart? What if you got together with a bunch of like – minded folks; some rich and some poor, and built off – grid communities where everybody was thrown back on the resource of EACH OTHER? These conditions would precipitate the necessity of Torah in a really big way as people scrambled to understand just how do you get along when you are sharing space and the problem of your next meal. I wonder what kind of folks would currently be attracted to that, and what kind of folks would rapidly drop off? Just thinking.
If we are going to get really serious about HOW to go about recreating the mindset of the first century, sooner or later the subject of the fact that the only way to do that is to recreate the conditions in which that mindset flourished is going to have to be broached. SO, the Jeopardy question of the day is, how many people would be willing to sell all that they owned and move in with others in this community, say? What would make you want to? Not want to? What if THAT was the true test of where our hearts really are?
Good morning everyone 10 Cals that I slept in this morning. Our prayer meeting went long and was very encouraging we are looking for property to purchase and build please pray for us l 0 t m. Light of the menorah we are located in Massachusetts we are called the Frozen chosen hahaha we are hotter than ever the fire of God is evidence. Back to comments. Through the sixties seventies and early eighties a very well known theologian known as Francis Schaeffer had a community called Lil Abre , if I remember correctly they were in Switzerland but he traveled the world one of his best works was and still is a video series called how shall we live then. It is available on Amazon Prime 4 $0.99 believe it or not. Although he doesn’t talk about the community you can find out more by searching for it. They were very successful loving group. Back to commenting on skips post causes some thought. Our family who all love the Lord with hebraic flair see that hospitality is one of the greatest treasures that the church has forgotten. It is noted with the symbol of the pineapple. It was and still is focus on family smaller and greater.
Laurita, Bring it on. Would there were such critters as Messianic communes (even if I can no longer grow my hair long, though the music would still have to be loud because of my slight loss of hearing from the first go around with “alternate lifestyles” many (new) moons ago!)
I’m back I apologize for the misinformation. Francis Schaeffer was at his Peak in the sixties and seventies writing many books and his community was called the correct spelling is L’ Abri. I would recommend all of he and his wife’s writings many books Frankie Shaffer fell off the mark a little bit. Our family cherished Edith Schaeffer’s his wife her book was titled Christianity is Jewish it’s somewhat her memoirs.
I forgot to mention his works are still carried on to this day actually a n Evangelical Institute deep thinkers still exists and going strong.
I spent about a year at L’Abri with the Schaeffer’s. Frankie was just a child then. It was a turning point for me.
Skip could you share any of the information or links for us or on the book Edith wrote Christianity is Jewish it’s been out of print for a long time or anything else. Shalom
Well skip you lead us to a question. Why was it a turning point for you?
When I first read Schaeffer I wrote to him and asked to come to talk with him. I realized that theology is really the outgrowth of philosophy – and that started me on the path to investigating the philosophy behind cultures.
Thank you for getting back to me. Remind me of the beginning of bonhoeffer’s Quest early in his life. I think it was 12 or 13 years old. Thank you again skip
Michael, what if charity IS community? I have also been thinking about what Dana and Dawn have shared, too, and the uphill struggle to provide for the needs of others. A lot of the most meaningful help we give to others is the WITNESS of what actually works. What if the equivalent of teaching people to fish for themselves is to show them something that they want to be a part of at the elemental, needs – oriented level? What if our needs were structured in such a way that it is impossible to self -serve them? Wait, we are back to that table in heaven with 3 foot forks again…
Love is an action verb. ~ Because God “SO loved,” – [He sat around ‘feeling’ all warm and fuzzy?] No. Because God so loved, — He [and.. action!] gave. He gave to us the Supreme Sacrifice. Some gave all. This is what God did for us. Motivated and moved to action because of His great love towards us, He ‘bankrupted’ the vaults of heaven and gave unto us [sinners all] the gift of His only begotten Son.
We desperately need (up close and personal) a “demonstration” of love. What does love look like? We need nothing further than to go to the foot of the Tslav- the execution stake-the cross. ~ God showed His great love for us by sending Christ [the Anointed-the Messiah] to die for us while we were still sinners ~ (Romans 5.8)
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure —
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Yes, and because we gave government the controls, when you’re poor you are inundated with their protocols. They can invade your home, take your kids, (and its become so bad that neighbors turn on neighbors calling the local social service agency if that family starts doing a little better than them, so that social workers come to their house). And then everyone else gets mad when the poor “use” the system or worse “use” the Church! Sadly, doing inner-city ministry for over 25 years, I’ve seen a lot of everything. But what really gets me is when then Church is offended when the poor “use” them. Most come in with “savior” agendas of how they have the answer – but its always about the person and an agenda. The thought that God has put the poor their for us is not even considered. So, the poor know when people have agendas. It can be disguised in all the wonderful words of Scripture, but what does it say, as I have seen, when Christians who start to get involved until it becomes hard and difficult that “Jesus loves you,” especially to children, and then run away when the realities of life for someone in poverty requires too much, and leave. Does Jesus really love them? It requires a lot to stay and plant roots and build community – but, it’s the most real thing I’ve ever done in my life!
Such an awesome post today! Love IS an action we take towards others. I would agree that apathy must then be the opposite of love.
In moving away from the state where my husband and I were both born and raised to a new state where we knew almost no one, we have learned a lot about love in action and guess what, it originated with us! People are funny and so very few actually reached out to us as everyone tends to simply mind their own business. If we wanted to be recluses, the community would sure allowed us to have been. We have had to get out and get involved in our little rural community and it has been mostly very rewarding!
We have not joined any “programs” but kept our daily business on a local level and joined a Lion’s Club to help with civic works right here in our own community. Getting to know lots of folks that way! And got jobs right here too! Love up close and personal!
It takes work and there are days when I am tired and don’t even leave the house but enjoy what God has given us in the way of location. We don’t have any visible neighbors for miles:-)
Dependence on gov’t programs and support seems to me to be in the same vein as the folks who wanted a king. God said “why?” you have Me! But they wanted an earthly king anyways and I wonder about the whys of that often.
Love at a distance-how is that even possible?
I’ve been listening again to skip study on prayer Hebrew prayer and if I remember correctly 75% of Hebrew words relate to prayer we’re 25% of Greek words relate the prayer. Of course love has everything to do with prayer.
and looking at the etymology link, “charity” can be “diligence”! NOW let’s read some of those “love” passages and do a word substitution… pretty convicting. Thank you all for open community sharing!