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Acts 3:1-10 – No Money for the Poor?
Did Peter and John lie? A good argument that the church treasury is for saints only might come from a passage that isn’t normally used. In Acts 2 and 4, even 5, we have several scriptures detailing the treasury being used for saints. In Acts 3 when a poor person, an unbeliever, asks for alms, Peter said he didn’t have any. Wait. What about all the possessions, goods, and such the Christians shared with poor Christians so that there wasn’t a needy person among them (Acts 4:34)? Did the apostles lie? Nope. That money was to help needy Christians; not anyone else. When I get calls from non-saints asking for money I use the same thinking Peter used: “We don’t have any funds for that.”
I recognize this mentality of some saints in Christ as it is voiced by Perry. The same is voiced in the secular arena by those same saints plus other saints who would not see this or say this concerning funds for the needy in the body of believers but who will rail against their “tax money” being spent by government on the needs of the poor.
They are oblivious to the reality that despite its secular nature government (a minister of God, Romans (13:4) is the world’s notion of what the saints call a holy people doing good for the glory of God; including caring for the needs of the poor.
Yes, Paul and Barnabas were commended to their work with the admonition from the apostles to remember the poor. (Galatians 2:10) Their first collection of funds was delivered to THE SAINTS in Jerusalem. (Acts 11″29. 30 & Galatians.
Does the teaching of Perry, which is not unique to him, by which some saints and other saints as well as nonbeliever Americans can call for a tightened purse on any funds for the poor absolve them of that responsibility? towards their brother? towards their neighbor? The teaching of Perry flies in the face of God’s constant, strong admonition to Israel to care for the poor and foreigners in their midst. Jesus did not exact conversion or discipleship from those who heard his message as a condition for them to receive fish and bread. It flies in the face of Luke 13 and implements a survey questioner mentality on the needy to determine whether they are indeed saints in Christ.
(as posted on Facebook)
Gil, I appreciate your response. Please do not think my post was intended to absolve me or others of our personal responsibility to help the poor. For example, I have adopted two children; and who is poorer than abandoned children? The purpose was to both separate and sharpen responsibilities. The church is responsible for helping needing saints, and the individual is responsible for helping needy saint, non-saints and their families (1 Tim.5).