To be a Christian is to acknowledge that you are needy. It’s one of the marks we read about in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). To follow Jesus, you must acknowledge you are spiritually bankrupt and incapable of saving yourself.
A church, then, is a gathering of needy people. Every member recognizes his or her need for the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:20), for God’s grace (Eph. 2:5), and for forgiveness (Col. 1:13-14).
That said, our physical needs will vary. We may be on the same sea, but we’re not in the same boat. Some of our boats have holes, some lack paddles. A church’s benevolence ministry begins here: showing each other mercy amidst our different physical needs.
In other words, benevolence is not only about giving people money to help solve their problems. It’s about showing others the mercy and love we’ve been shown. This understanding will both guard against a “savior complex” and keep us from trampling upon one another’s God-given dignity.
Here are several principles to keep in mind as you begin to develop your own policy.
