When an organization claims to be a
charitable one, it needs to be charitable and proselytize not by
force but by example. A lot of churches do some major charitable
works: They get food to those that need it, make sure the cold are
warmed through coat and blanket programs, and find ways of helping
people cover rent and bills, among many other things. There is no
doubt that society needs churches, at least on some level.
However, there is are several problems
when the same church that puts out a helping hand asks that the
person being helped join the church. The biggest is that this is the
same as conversion at swordpoint; the person has no choice but to
join, and thus the conversion is probably not going to take. It is at
best a false conversion; the person is not looking to be a Christian
because he believes the Jesus Christ is the way, but because he
simply needs something that the church happens to provide. That is
not the way to gain converts, at least those that will support your
church in the long run.
It also comes off as being a bully. You
are holding back something that someone else needs to survive, and
that's just not cool. Getting someone to come to Christ is not about
putting them over a barrel and telling them to "Convert or
die!"; conversion should be about showing them a way to deal
with their spiritual problems, not those of survival. It's sort of
okay for Alcoholics Anonymous, but that's because you have
acknowledged that the problem is bigger than you and that you need
some serious help; giving it to God is just a way of letting it go.
However, telling someone that the fate of their house, children, or
whatever depends on them converting is just not going to work if you
claim to be a charitable organization, and actually causes you to
lose a lot of credibility as one.
It is definitely not okay if you are
doing it as an investment in the local area. Some churches get
charity horribly wrong; they interpret the phrase, "and they
shall know ye by your works" in a way that it should not be
interpreted. Charity is not about seeking to help the community so
that the community shall like you; it's also not about doing good
works so that you look good. It's about doing good works for the sake
of good works. It's not about karma; if you are doing something in
order to get credit for it, then it's just as selfish as greed or
lust. Charity is not an investment, and should not be looked at that
way.
Charity should be seen as doing good
simply for the sake of doing good. We need to do good things for
others not because we hope they will do good things for us, but
because we wish to support our community or simply out of the need to
do good things. If there is any other reason, then just donate money
and get the deductible. Tis the season to do good for your fellow
man, not yourselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment