# Evangelical/Fundamentalist/non-denominational Christians and no commitments to helping others. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 7, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203 "2017-02-07T01:47:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/1 "2017-02-07T01:47:48Z")
While they are not always perfect about it the various types of Christianity I have been exposed to in childhood typically have strong commitments to helping others in their canon. I am mostly familiar with the Episcopal, Catholic, United Methodist, and LDS churches. These churches typically tend to strongly support refugees and other humanitarian causes. Even if there is a risk for their members. While I realize there is not the central control it seems that Evangelical/Fundamentalist/non-denominational churches are far more likely to teach protection of one’s own family/group more often. With my above noted ignorance I cannot figure out how they ignore passages like Matthew 25:35, Matthew 16:25, James 2:15-17 etc… Is there a name for this doctrine, or a common way that this is thought or is it just like every church where they pick and choose the parts they/we choose to adhere to? ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/2 "2017-02-07T01:59:44Z")
For more context here is a statement from the church I was raised in. > [@](#): > > As Christians, welcoming the alien and stranger is a fundamental feature of our faith. Hebrew Scripture over and over underscores the importance of treating the alien with hospitality and justice. “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21) “Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow of justice.” (Deuteronomy 27:19) We recall that our Lord and Savior was a refugee, fleeing with his mother and father into Egypt to escape persecution and death. (Matthew 2:13-15) And Jesus reminds us that in welcoming the stranger, we are welcoming Christ himself into our midst. (Matthew: 25:31-4) And so I find a stance that doesn’t support this concept as foreign, and would love to know the difference between this stance and others. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/3 "2017-02-07T02:03:11Z")
I don’t know that there is a particular name for what you are describing. I have seen churches that assist in various community service ministries. It may not always be ministries that are readily visible. And, of course, there are churches that do not seem to direct charitable work outward, finding an abundance of need in their own congregation. One church chooses to open a food pantry or homeless shelter. Another chooses to devote resources to missionary work and clean water development in the third world. The former may seem outwardly more visibly charitable than the latter. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/4 "2017-02-07T02:10:03Z")
Some churches choose to commit their resources only to those who share their most essential beliefs. Not sure if there’s a specific name for such a practice, though. Tends to be strong amongst those credos who fear contamination by improper beliefs, and work to isolate themselves from those with differing opinions. I’ve heard the term “purity of practice” bandied about, but googling doesn’t link that up with any particular denomination that I can find. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/5 "2017-02-07T07:42:21Z")
Members, or even whole communities/parishes, of all denominations have probably fallen short of ideal concepts of Christian charity/lovingkindness at different times, and have usually found some way of rationalising it or pointing to some other sort of (in their eyes) “good works” they consider more important or unique to them, even if everyone else thinks them trivial, self-serving or in their own way cruel (e.g., the ways traditional Catholic communities or the Scottish Presbyterian kirk chose to “help” unmarried mothers). I’m not sure that any have actually formalised a specific “thou shalt not help” of theological principle. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/6 "2017-02-07T08:32:38Z")
Fundamentalists are inherently under attack from their own community. While their beliefs are probably no more divorced from the original text than other sects and denominations, simply being in the minority and widely condemned is going to make them naturally insular and hateful. The continuation of their beliefs requires maintaining a firm wall between their believers and everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/7 "2017-02-07T08:48:50Z")
Some early monastic communities, before 1000 AD at the least — not to mention eremitics, particularly those of the Stylites persuasion — emphasized attaining inward grace far more than conversion or charity to others: particularly in Ireland, which must have been difficult when some of the monks in a monastery were bishops, controlling dioceses, as happened. On the other hand, Ireland had no towns, which would have made it easier not to interact with locals. I wouldn’t say every branch or order of the RC church has exactly the same commitment to charity, or even to doctrine. Some are more giving, or less judging, than others. For instance, again in Ireland, the late Magdalen Laundries were run on different principles to St. Francis’s ideals. As to protties, I have never heard the tiny puritan cults such as the Plymouth Brethren are devoted to good works, although I have no doubt at all they may be _extremely_ generous, in purse if not in spirit. Not quite as much as the Salvation Army though. In America Millerite-derivative religions may find the terrifying doom of the fast approaching apocalypse deserves more attention than the bellies of those who probably won’t be saved anyway. I do find Freemasons and Mormons are prone to boasting of the enormous giving they do, hidden under a bushel. It would be impolite to doubt this. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/8 "2017-02-07T10:15:44Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > In America Millerite-derivative religions may find the terrifying doom of the fast approaching apocalypse deserves more attention than the bellies of those who probably won’t be saved anyway. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church operates a [large](http://www.sdahealthcare.org) [network](https://boards.straightdope.com/wiki/List_of_Seventh-day_Adventist_hospitals) of hospitals worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/9 "2017-02-07T13:56:28Z")
I was raised in the extremely fundamentalist “Churches of Christ”, and most people I knew were quite willing to help others, regardless of belief. They could be a bit judgmental about a lot of things, though… ---
**Author:** ![Jefferson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@Jefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/10 "2017-02-07T15:07:09Z")
There is a worrying amount of Christianophobia around these days. We still have such a long way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/11 "2017-02-07T15:29:06Z")
Contrasting different Christian sects is Christianophobia? Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/12 "2017-02-07T15:47:32Z")
> [@Jefferson](#): > > There is a worrying amount of Christianophobia around these days. We still have such a long way to go. This made me laugh. I’m going to steal the sweet response from someone smarter than me. > [@Jon Stewart](#): > > Yes, the long war on Christianity. I pray that one day we may live in an America where Christians can worship freely! In broad daylight! Openly wearing the symbols of their religion… perhaps around their necks? And maybe – dare I dream it? – maybe one day there can be an openly Christian President. Or, perhaps, 43 of them. Consecutively. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/13 "2017-02-07T16:00:08Z")
> [@Jefferson](#): > > There is a worrying amount of Christianophobia around these days. We still have such a long way to go. Welcome to the SDMB … **Jefferson** … looks like you’ll be a great addition to our community … ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/14 "2017-02-07T16:49:19Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > For more context here is a statement from the church I was raised in. > > And so I find a stance that doesn’t support this concept as foreign, and would love to know the difference between this stance and others. There is a difference between the personal and the political. For instance Christ said to turn the other cheek if someone slaps you on one. That does not mean churches are obliged to lobby the government to decriminalize assault. In this case one can help out refugees as individuals without thinking that it is best for our country to take in every refugee in the world or do away with borders. Obviously people of goodwill can have different opinions as to the number and types of refugees can safely be taken in. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/15 "2017-02-07T18:48:35Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > There is a difference between the personal and the political. For instance Christ said to turn the other cheek if someone slaps you on one. That does not mean churches are obliged to lobby the government to decriminalize assault. > In this case one can help out refugees as individuals without thinking that it is best for our country to take in every refugee in the world or do away with borders. Obviously people of goodwill can have different opinions as to the number and types of refugees can safely be taken in. This is why I tried to frame the original question asking about the churches positions. Most of the denominations (and some fundamentalist, churches too, but I was trying to keep from attacking one church) I can find have very clearly stated policies around “Welcoming the Stranger” To clarify I think that it is difficult for people to see as most institutionalized social injustice does not really provide concrete benefits to groups but instead throws others under the bus. But I should have added in some old testament, too. > [@](#): > > You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9 NLT) > [@](#): > > When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 19:33-34 ESV) In at least the faiths I grew up in this is not optional, and thus my ask for information from others who didn’t have as much emphasis placed on this particular portion of the bible. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/16 "2017-02-07T20:58:27Z")
I wonder if you could clarify how you think churches are mistreating people so the replies could be more specific. Are you specifically meaning some people’s attitudes toward the US taking more refugees or is it something else? When interpreting the Old Testament it is necessary to know that the civic law was given for that place in time. It is not for us to try to recreate the government of biblical Israel in our own country but rather to find the moral lessons of those laws and apply them to our lives. Because of the difficulty of travel there were not really large scale immigration except to Israel but there were people who lived for a time in other lands with the permission of the ruler of those lands. These were called Sojourners and the Bible says to treat them like natives. These can be likened to legal immigrants or temporary legal residents and I know of know Christian church that advocates treated them poorly. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/17 "2017-02-07T21:08:55Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > While I realize there is not the central control it seems that Evangelical/Fundamentalist/non-denominational churches are far more likely to teach protection of one’s own family/group more often. > > With my above noted ignorance I cannot figure out how they ignore passages like Matthew 25:35, Matthew 16:25, James 2:15-17 etc… > > Is there a name for this doctrine, or a common way that this is thought or is it just like every church where they pick and choose the parts they/we choose to adhere to? My guess is that most of those churches espouse something known as “[Prosperity Theology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosperity_theology)”, which in essence teaches that followers are rewarded in the present with material goods, rather than in the afterlife. As you can imagine, this is about as heretical as things get with respect to mainstream Christian thought of the past two millennia. So if you’re a member of one of these churches, the whole message is a rather self-centered one, as opposed to the more mainline belief and message that probably one of the biggest things for Christians to engage in, outside of the personal faith aspects, are to do good works for the poor, downtrodden, sick, orphaned, etc… With that in mind, it’s not surprising that there’s very little emphasis on charity in some of them, as their whole message is that faith = material wealth, and by extension, little material wealth probably means something is lacking in the faith department. ---
**Author:** ![Jefferson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@Jefferson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jefferson)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/18 "2017-02-07T21:14:21Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Welcome to the SDMB … **Jefferson** … looks like you’ll be a great addition to our community … Thanks for making me feel welcome, Mr Wolf. I won’t let you down. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/19 "2017-02-07T22:23:45Z")
Not always. The Dream Center (formerly Queen of Angels Hospital, near downtown LA) is the local charity arm of the Assemblies of God, and they seem to be doing some seriously good works, focussing on helping the homeless (both on day-to-day survival and longterm levels), helping trafficked women escape prostitution, helping kids who are aging out of foster care get started on their adult lives, etc. I can’t agree with their theology, but it does seem to be motivating them to do good stuff. > **[Residential Programs](https://www.dreamcenter.org/residential/)** > > Our Residential Programs freely provide personalized care, mentorship and guidance to each resident on campus. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2017, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203/20 "2017-02-07T23:26:41Z")
> [@rat\_avatar](#): > > While they are not always perfect about it the various types of Christianity I have been exposed to in childhood typically have strong commitments to helping others in their canon. > > I am mostly familiar with the Episcopal, Catholic, United Methodist, and LDS churches. These churches typically tend to strongly support refugees and other humanitarian causes. Even if there is a risk for their members. > > While I realize there is not the central control it seems that Evangelical/Fundamentalist/non-denominational churches are far more likely to teach protection of one’s own family/group more often. > > With my above noted ignorance I cannot figure out how they ignore passages like Matthew 25:35, Matthew 16:25, James 2:15-17 etc… > > Is there a name for this doctrine, or a common way that this is thought or is it just like every church where they pick and choose the parts they/we choose to adhere to? The churches that you were exposed to evidently didn’t teach you much about the Bible. Matthew 16:25 is talking about eternal life, and therefore has no bearing whatsoever on whether somebody does works of charity. Matthew 25:35 is explained in verse 40– “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Notice that phrase, “My brethren.” Jesus is talking about Christians helping other Christians, not people in general. This is borne out by Romans 8:16, 17– “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” God would never talk about non-Christians being “brethren.” James 2:15-17 is exactly the same. James is also talking about Christians helping other Christians, as shown in the very beginning of that passage where he says, “If a brother or sister. . . .” This usage is still common today, as shown by the song “The Family of God” by Bill Gaither. Part of it goes, “You will notice we say “brother and sister” 'round here- It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near.” Furthermore, denomination very often has little to do with how generous a church is. Size is a vastly better predictor. It has been noted by several people over the years that a small church almost invariably collects a higher per-capita Sunday morning offering than a big church. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evangelical-fundamentalist-non-denominational-christians-and-no-commitments-to-helping-others/779203.md?page=2)