Caring for those in need is good, admirable, and biblical, but the Christian is also called to participate in discerning charity. Some assistance produces results exactly opposite of what is desired. For this reason, sometimes the Christian is called to not help someone in need (1 Tim 5:3-5; 2 Thess. 3:10).
In his book What’s Wrong with Benevolence, David Stove warns that some types of benevolence harm rather than help. While Stove doesn't write from a Christian perspective, I believe he makes some excellent observations about benevolence that echo biblical teaching.
Stove argues that by providing some types of assistance in certain circumstances, our benevolence actually causes harm. He gives three characteristics of “dangerous”
benevolence.
The first characteristic of dangerous benevolence is universality. Instead of targeting an
individual in need, unhealthy benevolence “has for its object all present and
future human beings.” Most of the entitlement spending in our government is universal. It is not designed to target needy individuals but rather large (voting) blocs.
A second feature of dangerous benevolence is disinterestedness. As Stove puts it, when Karl Marx plans for “universal happiness, there is ‘nothing in it’…for Marx himself. Whereas, of course, when a father plans his
child’s happiness, or a teacher his pupil's, or a friends his friend’s, there is something in it, should the
plan succeed, for the father, teacher or friend….”
A politician or government entity has no relationship with the ones they are giving aid to. What happens with the individuals who receive this money is of little concern to them on a personal level. This, too, is a feature of much of the state-run benevolence structure currently in place.
The third aspect of dangerous benevolence is
externality. As Stove notes: “That is, it [dangerous benevolence] is proposed to
bring about the happiness of others, not by changing them, but by changing
their circumstances: by giving them money, for example, or better surroundings,
or legal rights which they did not have before.”
This, too, is a dominant feature of the benevolence practiced by the state. There is a belief that the difficulties that an individual faces are primarily caused and solved by lack of or access to financial resources.
The benevolence characterized by these features
produces a culture in which individuals are dependent upon the aid of others. I think Stove is on to something here and it
highlights why the church is such an effective means for practicing benevolence.
The benevolence the church practices is not universal. God's call for the church is to meet the needs of the receptive disenfranchised.
The benevolence the church practices is not disinterested. The church deals with individuals with whom it has a vested interest in bringing in to the community of faith. Within that community comes help that transcends the immediate physical needs.
The benevolence the church practices is not focused on externals. The church seeks total life-transformation of those it helps.
The church should not be discouraged from its benevolence efforts by the state. Rather, it should have renewed gospel-centered focus on continuing to meet the needs of the least of these for the glory of our Heavenly Father.
1 comment:
I am in complete agreement with you on how the church should practice benevolence. I saw firsthand, when I worked as a nurse in Public Health, how welfare, in all its forms, only destroys the families it was intended to help. And the generational effects of state "benevolance" are sobering, because very few families, once they are fully enmeshed in the welfare labrynth, ever fully regain autonomy and indepenence in their lives. And because that never happens, the welfare becomes a permanent part of their lives, going on from generation to generation, destroying their lives in the process. I was young at the time I worked in public health, and had a tender heart, and thought that I could do something that would "help" these families. But you soon quickly learn that there is generally NOTHING you can do, within the context of this type of welfare and benevolence, that actually makes the lives and futures of these people better. It is a very sad commentary on the spiritual state of our nation that so few people really understand what TRUE aid,help,charity and welfare look like.
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