CHARITY AS A SINE QUA NON FOR AN AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY

The Bible passage to refer to, is Matthew 25:31-46. The key sentence there is "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, that you have done for me". My

dear friends, it is an imperative to talk about charity as a requisite for an authentic Christianity.

Charity is best defined as love in action. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul said that 3 things last; faith, hope and love, but love is the greatest of them. I would also like to establish our working definition of love to be "Looking for the welfare of another person without seeking for benefit". Love is sacrificial, just like Jesus gave himself up for us without any benefit. It is on this bases, that love is concretized in reality otherwise love is an abstract term.

Christianity is a religion of love. Jesus established it with the foundation of love. One cannot claim to be a Christian, if he does not love. Love is not well accomplished if it is not charitable. Charity as a concept, looks directly to the other person to know what to do for him to be happy and fulfilled as a creation of God. Any act which increases the happy attitude of your brother is charitable, a smile, a godly advise, a mentality of understanding another person are all charitable ventures. The Church related this charitable attitude as works of mercy, both corporal and spiritual. Take a look at these works of mercy:

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless

5. Comfort the imprisoned

6. Visit the sick

7. Bury the dead

8. Admonish sinners

9. Instruct the uninformed

10. Counsel the doubtful

11. Comfort the sorrowful.

12.  Be patient with those in error

13. Forgive offenses

14. Pray for the living and the dead.

Definitely, the works of charitable offer alot to our spiritual growth. It helps to UPHOLD HUMAN DIGNITY. Man who is fully alive is the glory of God. Therefore, in human dignity, man assumes the images of God. Charity helps to promote the dignity of man through relieving man from shackles of sickness, sin and death and promotion of human resources available. 

Charity is also a veritable way of EVANGELISATION. The impact of the Catholic missionaries can testify to this. They came much later than the CMS, but they impacted more in the life of the people through charity program such as building schools, hospitals and developing the mentality of the people. People were happy to join them in their own religion because of their charity.

In all, God will judge us according to the much we are charitable in a genuine way.

CHARITY COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN.

We should also be careful not to do charity so that people will praise us. The Bible says, "you have received your reward already", but let our works be for glory of God. If we are not careful, our charitable works will not be fruitful in these ways:

1. If you give to someone, so that you feel superior to the person.

2. If we give only when we are praised, or to receive praise from people.

3. If we give because we aspire for a certain benefits from that person or relatives

4. If we give because of a seeming fraternal duty.

5. If we give because you have no option not to give.

With all these, one must purify his intention of giving so that God's love is assumed. 

This is the reason why this group "IN THE FAITH OF CATHOLIC CHURCH" has proposed an opportunity to do a work of charity in a genuine manner. It is arranged in such a way that our works are for the love of God.