Mutual Aid: Brethren Value 5

How does a church respond to the needs surrounding her? How about the needs from within? Some churches extremely claim all money given is only for ministry and nothing else. Other churches go to the other extreme and become a social organization that cares only for the social issues. There are many shades in the middle and the Brethren are no exception. The Brethren, themselves, adopt a both/and approach. The Brethren are very aware of needs within their own local body of faith, within the greater body, and in the community. However, there is the call to be wise and a good steward of the resources God has given to us.

The Brethren were known for their love for their local body. While discipline exists, they were also known for their love and help. The New Testament calls for the believers to give to each other and Brethren, often times, gave to their own hurt. The reality of church discipline never disappeared, but the draw of love was stronger and many became Brethren because of this.

Our times have changed and the response from churches must be changed as well. It was, in the past, common for everyone who could work did. Only extreme cases did someone not and they were cared for by churches or Christian organizations. Only the few VERY lazy were just left as they were, scrounging for whatever they can get.

Today the lazy are rewarded. They do not work and the government provides for everything. The ones who are working are hit with more and higher taxes to keep the governmental social projects afloat. The results have been disasterous. Poverty continues to climb and many have realized it is easier to be lazy and get paid and provided for rather than working for anything.

From this position, there is no appreciation for the money received and it is spent foolishly. When the electric, rent, or groceries, come due, they already spent it on booze, sex, drugs, objects, and cigerretes. What do they do then? They call the local churches with long stories and sad situations, begging for money. Why? They want yet more people to take care of them rather than taking responsability.

When the church doesn't “payup” as expected and demanded, the church becomes the problem. As Brethren, we want to help, but we want to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with. We want to actually help people, not enable. The powerful concept of the Puritan work ethic and the Biblical position of “If you don't work, you don't eat” come into play. How we respond as Brethren.

1) First, we help our local church family. Those connected and involved with our local body are the ones who need and receive care from the local body. They are known, worship, and serve along side the rest of the body. The Bible tells us to care for the widows and orphens in our church family. Churches have also stretched that a little more to include other needs as they come up and as the church can care for them.

2) Second, we help the greater Christian body. This would be the body of believers who are part of the denomination themselves. They share our faith, practice, and roots. We support, work with, and engage with them on many levels. If a local body needs help, the other parts of the body send aid.

1. After these two, then we look at the Christian body in the world. This would be our missions, missionaries, other ministries that we work with and team up with. We balance this uniting with the work they do, the budget the church has, and the doctrine they say they have. This is not necessarily in the order of importance.

2. Finally, we help the community. There are many ways to help and be a good steward. If asked for money, we want to figure out the true need. Usually the needs are those of money. We would ask if they are members of another local body of faith, or if they are connected with us. If no, we connect them to para-church ministires doing the work we cannot do (see #3). They are better equipped to help, and have a better grasp to evaluate of what is going on, than sometimes the church does. We support these groups financially and they, in turn, minister to the individual in the best way possible.

How is the response? Usually angry. Those who are calling for help expect and demand money right now. There is no personal responsability, just personal desires. The church is viewed as a pushover, and these other ministries are shunned because they can and do see through the individual. If the church is pressured in giving several things unfold: 1) The church is enabling the individuals to stay in the situation they are in. There is no appreciation for what was given. In a few days, they will be back asking again. They have not corrected the issues leading to the problems. 2) The church has limited resources. Therefore, desire to be good stewards of all God has given to us. We support groups and ministries that are equipped to better help than we are. 3) Our job is not social programs. There are many of those already. Our job is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After that, then we can help in other ways, not before. We desire to give a hand up, not hand out. 4) Many who call the church do not want anything to do with faith, God, or Christianity. They just want money for their own wants.

How many have asked for money while spending hundreds of dollars on cigerettes? How many demand help for hotel or room rent, but then find money to gamble? How many demand their water and electric be paid, but are able to pull enough out to buy alcohol? How many demand help with car repairs and gas but are able to buy drugs? How many want money to pay for food, but then spend other money on brand new $1K plus phones? See the problem? 4) A church is not always equipped to really aid people in getting out of the mess. When a church just "throws" money at a problem, they can often exascerbate the issue.

It is not that the church does not care. The government has made it too easy, and people are so engrained with an entitlement attitude where they believe they are owed (look at the reparation movement for example). Listen to the Scriptures and even from the history of the United States when the phrase, "You do not work, you do not eat" fits in. In our culture, that would be grounds for being accused to be racist, bigoted, hateful and spiteful. How dare we expect people to work. The system is rigged only for white people. I agree the system is rigged. It is rigged against ANYONE who works, regardless of what color you are. And more speicifically, it is rigged against those who are Americans. If we allowed those who do not work to starve it would be amazing how much would change. If someone had to work, or they would not be eat, we would be amazed at how many destructive habits would be beaten. How many would be motivated to get a job? How many would actually use work as a method to get what is needed?

This would free up a lot of money and resources for the last group I wish to talk about: those who really cannot work and need help. There are those who cannot work. Please, do not tell me about the back aches, or the neck aches. Those are not qualifying ailments. This does not mean that pain is not real, but many work without arms or legs, and even being blind! Back pain holds very little water.

For those who really cannot work due to a physical defect, or mental disability, the resources available should go to help here. This only works when it is not abused. Even better, all social programs SHOULD be turned over to non profits and faith based groups, if they have shown themselves worthy of such trust. At least they bring a propensity for care and love which the government never can or does, at least not without being twisted. This would weed out many issues today. For those who are not able to work, they should be cared for. This is the duty of those who wish to live godly.

The Brethren gave Mutual Aid. It was always done with the mindset of helping those who received with getting out of the issue rather than staying in the mire. A picture was once seen, on the internet, of a homeless man who had about a half dozen buckets or so. He had a sign that said, "Who cares more for the poor?". On the buckets were the names of the major religions of the world. On one hand, it is an ingenious ploy. On the other hand, a true Christian, and Christianity will never win. Christianity is not designed to be focused on the social gospel, and this man with the buckets, if what has been witnessed before is true, is not willing to actually improve or work to improve his situation. Christianity would put a few dollars in, but desire to help the man up and away from the streets. The desire is to set him up to make it on his own so he WOULD NOT have to beg in the first place. Sadly many do not want to work but want to have everything done for them.

Could the Brethren help society fix the ship? Yes. Unfortunately, what will work and is required is rejected by society. But in the body of faith, the Brethren have mutual aid for one another, helping and lifting each other up. Walking as the body of Christ with the hands and feet of Jesus to all we come into contact with.