​Charity played an important role in the early Church. Justin Martyr (100-165 A D) gives a description of an early church service in his apology, and it is noted that an offering was taken that was then distributed to orphans, widows, those in sickness, those in bonds, to strangers and to all in need. The Church did not invent public charity. Rome cities had many temples, baths, libraries, statues and arches that had been donated by wealthy families; the gifts, however, were for general civic purposes and the givers were prominently recognized (in modern parlance, there were naming opportunities). The Old Testament gives Jews a responsibility to care for widows and others, but this was usually for those in the Jewish community. We think of a Mitzvah as a good deed, but the word actually means commandment. As in the story of widow’s mite, the scribes prominently made their donations. In contrast, the giving of the early church members was entirely voluntary, and the gifts were made by believers of all economic levels. Since the gifts were distributed corporately, there was no personal glory involved in giving. Finally, the purpose was to alleviate identified needs, regardless of whether they arose inside the Church or not. I believe that this disinterested early Christian charity played an important role in spreading the Gospel. Let me give a couple of examples.

​The Greek historian Eusebius (260 – 339 A D) wrote one of the first histories of the Church. He relates the following. The town of Caesarea was hit by the plague and many townspeople fled the city. He states that during the plague “All day long some of them [the Christians] tended to the dying and to their burial, countless numbers with no one to care for them. Others gathered together from all parts of the city a multitude of those withered from famine and distributed bread to them.” He later goes on to say that because of this their “deeds were on everyone’s lips, and they glorified the God of the Christians. Such actions convinced them that they alone were pious and truly reverent to God.”

​Here is a second example. Julian the Apostate, the last pagan emperor (361 – 363 AD) acknowledged that Christian charity and compassion was one reason that the movement had grown from a very small group into one of cultural importance. Here is a quote from a letter he wrote to a pagan priest urging him to imitate the Christians. “When it came about that the poor were neglected and overlooked by the [pagan] priests, then I think the impious Galileans [Christians] observed this fact and devoted themselves to philanthropy. They support not only their poor, but ours as well, all men see that our people lack aid from us.”

​As time went by the Church continued its charitable programs. Christians established hospitals during the time of Constantine, and by the middle ages, a time when a large portion of the population was destitute, essentially all aid for the poor came from the Church. This Christian charitable obligation continues today and is an important part of our witness. For some of the Biblical guidance read Hebrews 13:1-3 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

​Jim