[Note: This post may seem opposite to “Reclaiming the Gospel” but if you examine both carefully, one is urging us to love in action and not just through donations, while the other is critiquing how as a church we’ve allowed giving rather than the gospel to define who we are to the world.]
We as a Church are suffering from a major love crisis. While it is true we have strong agape love for the Lord, Charitas or Charity is majorly lacking. Contrary to modern notions of charities, charity does not mean a fund to help the needy, nay, Charitas means love in action, love that is felt and seen by others; visiting friend, feeding them, gift giving, praying for them, and more. This was what I believe Jesus meant when He said “.A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Christ surely meant Charitas, because it can be seen by the outside world, while Agape is deep soul love between two individuals. Jesus showed us the ultimate Charitas from the cross, His death was an action that made Agape with Him possible and eternal life available through Him.
Charity (love in action, in deed) is fastly dying, as brothers and sisters in their respective congregations suffer from need while perfect strangers get the focus of charitable work. The apostle James spoke of Charitas when He said, “Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15-18). Most scholars and lay people alike translate love in Bible as Agape, a feeling and soul connection, but many passages use Charitas, showing us that love must be seen through action. In fact, most people cannot be sure of Agape with people, its unseen and is intimacy that only two people can ascertain, but Charity can be seen by strangers who watch us. No one can know our heart or mind, but when we do an action of love (charity) they can see it . Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
” (Luke 18:8, cross ref James 2:15-17) and “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.,” (Matthew 24:12); what did He mean? I believe He spoke of what James said “if you have faith but do nothing for others what faith is that?” (James 2:15-17, paraphrase) and the Apostle Paul said “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.” (2 Timothy 3:1-2). I do not think Jesus or the apostles were talking about Agape only, no, it was Charitas, because Charity is the only love that people can see and be sure is love, Agape is opaque until it joins with Charitas. We should have both agape and charity.
I believe love is growing cold as Christ said and people are becoming lovers of self and money, especially in the church. Charitas is dying, as pastors who earn six figures ignore their flock who have broken down cars and debts sinking them into financial oblivion. People in pews preferring to send money to Uganda or Nigeria over knowing one another and showing charity among themselves. The Apostle Peter said, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17) and the Lord says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19). I believe the Lord Trinity is judging His household first, because we were suppose to love (Charitas) one another as He commanded (John 13:35-35), and instead love in the church has grown cold as He predicted (Matthew 24:12). I will give a personal example. I know two pastors who have known me since I was a child, even mentored me, and they know I live in a car and do nothing about ir. Instead they focus on paying for a church building and tech when there is my predicament, and others, widows, in their tiny congregation who live on pennies. The Apostle James said, “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27). True religion is dying because people’s hearts are hardening like the priest and levite who pasted the man who was robbed and beaten, “In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30-37). Instead a Samaritan had to help, which by the way a Samaritan was a heretic (John 4:22) and dog (Matthew 15:24-27), and the same is happening today, people of the world are showing more care and concern than the church which focuses on paying for a building and programs rather than helping their needy congregants (not just with money) and loving people. We are being shamed by the world brothers and sisters! The worldly people (Neo-Samaritans) are showing better charitas, better love in action! Just as we were to provoke the Jew to jealousy, “Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.” (Romans 11:11), I fear God is using the unsaved to provoke us, for woe unto us Church, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.” (Romans 11:17-22). To be clear I am not saying the world is better off, good works will not get the worldly into heaven (Matthew 7:22, Ephesians 2:8-9), only faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God gives us eternal life (John 3:16-18, John 6:40, Philippians 3:9, Acts 15:11, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 4:10-12). What I am saying is that the world right now is provoking us, outshining us in general care for people and our Lord is using it to wake us up so that we may show charity, love on action again.
Jesus tells us Charitas, charity (love im action) is massively important, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46). Christ makes Charitas a eternal matter! Be warned O Church! Ask the Lord to resurrect your love in action before it is too late! Do not shirk from showing love lest you become slowly a goat. We must rekindle love in action as Jesus says, “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” (Revelation 2:4-5 NLT). Amen.
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