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You are not a Christian if you do not help widows and orphans.

Jethro Bodine

Jethro Bodine

Member
Christians, how would you answer this accusation from an unbeliever?

Particularly the 'do gooder' unbeliever who's convinced they are righteous because they do good works for needy people.

How do you measure whether or not a person helps widows and orphans?
 
First off, how often does any Christian come across an opportunity to directly help a widow or orphan? Second, anything a Christian does in a charitable manner, at all, is something that should not be called attention to. Yes, we are called to help others, but you start getting into legalism when you start asking why every Christian is not helping widows and orphans.
 
Jethro, We know in our hearts when we have helped and who we have helped.... We can see the Pharisees of giving. We are not to give " what ever the gift may be" so the world can see. God does the measuring the widows 2 pennies was the better gift. When we try to please the world we fail.

I do believe we often don't do enough... we set back and let the government do the job/responsibility of the church.
 
The argument goes that if you're going to point out failures that condemn an unbeliever then why can't they point out what Christians are supposed to be doing, but not doing (assuming that's true), and are therefore not Christians either.
 
They are welcome to point out what they need to... My 'doings' are unto the Lord, not unto them....Romney has given millions to charity big deal what has he done with Jesus?... Giving ' helping the poor etc 'is not salvation. We do not gain salvation by giving... A Christian always knows s/he has room for improvement we know this in our hearts...

I have had this scenario put to me often and it is a merry-go-round... Unsaved sinners will try to justify their sin by showing the saved sinner s/he sins also... OK yes i sin i don't want to but the old nature sneaks back in the question is not do i give enough the question is where will you spend eternity.
 
reba said:
They are welcome to point out what they need to... My 'doings' are unto the Lord, not unto them....Romney has given millions to charity big deal what has he done with Jesus?... Giving ' helping the poor etc 'is not salvation. We do not gain salvation by giving... A Christian always knows s/he has room for improvement we know this in our hearts...

I have had this scenario put to me often and it is a merry-go-round... Unsaved sinners will try to justify their sin by showing the saved sinner s/he sins also... OK yes i sin i don't want to but the old nature sneaks back in the question is not do i give enough the question is where will you spend eternity.
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reba:

Exactly! testimony is first and foremost a Godward thing, even before it works its way out to our fellow men and women (as it should, of course).
 
Jethro Bodine said:
The argument goes that if you're going to point out failures that condemn an unbeliever then why can't they point out what Christians are supposed to be doing, but not doing (assuming that's true), and are therefore not Christians either.
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Which is a very valid line of argument but we don't help others to gain credit with God or anyone else
 
The definition of a Christian not one who helps widows and orphans. A Christian is simply one who has repented of their sins and has put their trust in Jesus Christ.

That being said, if your faith in Christ produces no good works, then your faith is dead as James tells us. However, works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. Helping widows and orphans is an evidence of faith but not a requirement of Christianity. The thief on the cross had no good works, yet Christ promised him, "Today you will be with me in paradise" implying that the thief had become a born again Christian.
 
For the sake of argument let's say a Christian never directly or indirectly helped an orphan or widow that they could have. One of the hardest things to explain to an unbeliever is how the unbeliever stands condemned by their sin, but the only time sin can condemn the believer is if it represents a decision to no longer trust in the blood of Christ.

IOW, a 'believers' sin can not condemn him or her unless they are sinning for the same reason the unbeliever sins--because they really aren't trusting in the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

I hope no Christian takes false comfort in not being obedient in some particular area when an opportunity to serve comes up consistent with their gift. The Bible exhorts us to 'make our calling election sure'. We do that by making it a point to produce the fruit of our faith in Christ's blood for the forgiveness of sins...and doing that to the very end.

"10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure." (Hebrews 6:10-11 NIV1984)
 
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Knotical said:
First off, how often does any Christian come across an opportunity to directly help a widow or orphan? Second, anything a Christian does in a charitable manner, at all, is something that should not be called attention to. Yes, we are called to help others, but you start getting into legalism when you start asking why every Christian is not helping widows and orphans.
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You can help an orphan or a widow if you want. The kids on the compassion website in Africa often have lost a parent to aids or both of them. You can give a family gift for the widow. If you allow people to see your deeds so they praise God it's a good thing. We aren't supposed to hide our light.
 
I don't know what Life International is doing these days, but years ago they were doing wonderful work on the mission fields feeding children.

It's amazing what five American dollars can do in a foreign country. Someday we'll meet some of the people who ate and were satisfied because we gave. I believe they are the reward that awaits those who did good works of faith in this life.

"19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy." (1 Thessolonians 2:19 NIV1984)

"Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?" (1 Corinthians 9:1 NIV1984)
 
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Gordon said:
You can help an orphan or a widow if you want. The kids on the compassion website in Africa often have lost a parent to aids or both of them. You can give a family gift for the widow. If you allow people to see your deeds so they praise God it's a good thing. We aren't supposed to hide our light.
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But the reason for doing it should not to bring attention to yourself. If someone happens to see you do it, but that was not your intent then there is no problem. But when you start being obvious about it then your motivations are suspect.
 
Widows and orphans don't need help, anymore. Orphans are provided for by the state. Widows, women, work in our society.

What's a charitable Christian to do when there's no needy?
 
Umm...for example there are huge numbers of Hispanic people (some of them have been in the US since infancy) who are without rights and struggle greatly.

I'm no socialist.

But there is also an underclass to capitalism.
 
This is what Jesus has already told us:


Matthew 6:
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Matthew 25:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
 
You left out the part about not hiding your light. I don't think the idea is to treat giving like we are ashamed of it. It's so that it doesn't go to our heads or to look good in front of people. If someone sees you are devoted to charity because of Jesus I don't think you want to hide that. We certainly shouldn't feel uncomfortable discussing it anonymously here.
 
Gordon said:
You left out the part about not hiding your light. I don't think the idea is to treat giving like we are ashamed of it. It's so that it doesn't go to our heads or to look good in front of people. If someone sees you are devoted to charity because of Jesus I don't think you want to hide that. We certainly shouldn't feel uncomfortable discussing it anonymously here.
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Gordon, I never said we should hide our giving as this is allowing the light of Christ shine through us as a witness of Gods love, what Jesus said here is that we should never boast about our charity to others and was showing in scripture where we are to help widows and orphans.
 
I just thought it was weird some of the responses in this thread. Maybe thats just how it went but there wasn't much talk about actually helping widows and orphans and Jesus saying not to be a hypocrite about giving came up a few times.
 
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