Should we give
When and where should we give?
We get requests for help all the time from people who get access to us through the internet.
There are also people that hear about us or read about us for years but do not join a congregation.
Even when they need help their first requests is for aid or assistance rather than a desire to join a congregation to aid others. To gather in the name of Christ is to gather for his purposes.
http://www.preparingyou.com/wiki/Why_we_gather
But can we or should we help those who choose not to gather with us?
Of course we know that there is always the sacrifice of the Red Heifer which was for those who did not gather with us but where do we draw the line?
The way many of these missions work is that the money donated goes to care for the missionaries and their families who can live relatively cheap in Africa but it also is used to build a fund based on the MISSIONARY WORKING AGREEMENT FUND that will provide the missionary with a good retirement. We have seen the same thing in companies like the American Missionary Fellowship.
Some of the funds also go to the home office to support them. I am not saying that poor people are not helped but they also provide great photo ops so that raising funds becomes easier.
There is also the ego treasury where a person gets great mental satisfaction from being the savior of the "poor poor people".
What do the poor really need?
There are lots of articles and books about how charity in many of these countries is not a good thing.
https://etherzone.com/the-futility-of-throwing-money-at-africa/
http://thediplomat.com/2013/11/the-dark-side-of-foreign-aid/
How is the war on poverty working out here in America?
Are missionaries in Africa and other third world countries doing any better?
Are these so called Christian ministers really preaching the kingdom of God?