tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post1598835371686268727..comments2024-03-24T07:56:33.811-05:00Comments on Allan R. Bevere: Does the Church Confuse Mission with Charity?Allan R. Beverehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-16421736002059862822008-10-19T02:57:00.000-05:002008-10-19T02:57:00.000-05:00Allan - I've always thought we've mistreated the w...Allan - I've always thought we've mistreated the word "charity" by narrowing its meaning to money. "Charity" comes from the Latin word for agape/love - "caritas". The KJV captures this in its translation of agape in 1 Cor 13, "if I have not charity." <BR/><BR/>I think, in fact, "caritas" is a better word than "missio" for the grace filled encounter you described. In my view, the mission of the church is to make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them. Caritas is one of the things the church teaches the baptized to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-83580963752082151882008-10-18T12:28:00.000-05:002008-10-18T12:28:00.000-05:00Clix:Thanks for your thoughts.You make a great poi...Clix:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>You make a great point in reference to how many people view justice. What I wonder about is if we have unintentionally reinforced that dichotomy with the justice/social justice distinction.<BR/><BR/>I'm just thinking out loud here. I haven't worked through the implications.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-59178878700239725472008-10-18T08:52:00.000-05:002008-10-18T08:52:00.000-05:00While I agree with you, Allan, I think in our cult...While I agree with you, Allan, I think in our culture, a lot of people see justice as personal - "getting what I deserve" - rather than social.<BR/><BR/>Also: amazing post. As a teacher, this really reflects what I see among my students - what happens at home shows up in the classroom.Clixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04460380696875928585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-64855223414427787662008-10-17T15:15:00.000-05:002008-10-17T15:15:00.000-05:00Thanks for the comments one and all.Crevo:I think ...Thanks for the comments one and all.<BR/><BR/>Crevo:<BR/><BR/>I think you are absolutely right. That does not mean that government does not have a role to play in securing social justice, but for Christians the primary role is located in the church precisely because of the redemptive nature of justice.<BR/><BR/>I think most Christians in the U.S. have it backward. They believe government should play the major role while the church assists. But that is simply economic and social Constantinianism, which leaves the state at the center.<BR/><BR/>By the way, I do not like the adjective "social" attached to "justice." It mutes the truth that all justice is social in nature.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-91957449409934257582008-10-17T14:55:00.000-05:002008-10-17T14:55:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this..very stirring!This story ...Thanks for posting this..very stirring!<BR/><BR/>This story reminds me of the urgency of being His even in situations like this. How tragic that a person - a human being is no longer heard or even seen. <BR/><BR/>May our eyes and ears be truly open.CeLiNehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15467253499932571476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-62828566746925209352008-10-17T02:50:00.000-05:002008-10-17T02:50:00.000-05:00I love this post! Sometime we let our charity be...I love this post! Sometime we let our charity be Jesus for the poor/ those in need but as you said it will never be replaced by us being his very presence to them.Tremontihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07864105513148857028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-22035757059481186102008-10-16T22:05:00.000-05:002008-10-16T22:05:00.000-05:00Sounds like a Best of MethoBlogosphere to me.Sounds like a Best of MethoBlogosphere to me.Richard Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04787755397416393855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-80863665777765043762008-10-16T21:26:00.000-05:002008-10-16T21:26:00.000-05:00I'm sure this isn't quite where you are wanting to...I'm sure this isn't quite where you are wanting to take this post, but alongside this is <A HREF="http://www.bartlettpublishing.com/site/bartpub/blog/2/entry/111" REL="nofollow">the political implications</A> of truly looking at the work of Jesus as Christian mission work and not just charity. Basically, if Christian Social Justice does in fact include Christ, then allowing the government to handle it removes what is truly redeeming about it.crevohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01454165271895308641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-62539098083785063052008-10-16T20:33:00.000-05:002008-10-16T20:33:00.000-05:00Really nice post, Allan. Great story.Really nice post, Allan. Great story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-40904383575150850912008-10-16T12:05:00.000-05:002008-10-16T12:05:00.000-05:00I totally agree with what you have shared and I do...I totally agree with what you have shared and I do believe that we believing in Jesus means us having relationship with people around us. To make time for others would be as vital as offering our money and help. Thanks for the sharing. Im blessed by it.mShachihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11611468706132163829noreply@blogger.com