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Writer's pictureBible Brian

Preaching the Gospel is spiritual charity


One thing that really annoys me is when you're discussing theology, and suddenly a heretic decides "you know what? Theology doesn't matter. All that matters is we feed the hungry, clothe the naked..." etc. And that's just the nice ones. The number of times heretics like that have turned around and demanded to know the good works I do while bragging about their own is far higher than it ought to be. I can't be alone here, right?

Now, first of all, the Bible itself tells us not to talk about our charitable deeds. The second you start boasting about the good things you do, Jesus says you've received your reward for them in full (Matthew 6:1-4). So basically, I'm not going to tell you what good deeds I do, and you shouldn't be telling me about yours either, not only because you now won't be rewarded for them, but because it's not an excuse for bad theology!

Second, your soul is at stake. Obviously, we don't need to be right about everything to be saved. We'd all be doomed if we did. But there are some things you do have to be right about in order to be saved. And so I'd say this is actually quite a pressing matter. See, spiritually speaking, you are poor, and hungry, and thirsty, and naked, and sick, and in prison etc. So should I not tend to you?


You are spiritually hungry, but Jesus says "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). You are spiritually naked, but "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness (...)" (Isaiah 61:10), and He can do the same for you. Sin is the greatest sickness, yet by His wounds, you can be greatly healed (1 Peter 2:24). Satan has you captive to do his will, yet I know the God who can set you free, and so I profess Him to you (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

And so I ask, can charity and good theology not co-exist? That very question shows that they must! Every time you say that God would want us to do charitable deeds, you are doing theology! But when you do so in order to excuse error, you are doing it very wrong, and so you are in need of spiritual charity, because at the end of the day, scripture says the flesh profits nothing. No charitable deed can bring you eternal life, but through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can still have that. Therefore, come to Him, and believe in Him. Otherwise, even with all the good deeds you do, He will declare "depart from me, you workers of iniquity, for I never knew you". (Matthew 7:22-23). This, my friends, is not what anyone wants, neither is it what Christians want for you. Therefore, do the wise thing: Study theology, and listen to those who do when they earnestly rebuke you. Only a fool cares more about expressing his opinion than about understanding the truth (Proverbs 18:2).

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