The Ethics Of Biblical Charity

Poverty and the ethics of charity are among some of the most controversial topics in politics today, receiving extensive attention from all over the political spectrum.  Rather than analyze or discuss poverty rationally, it is normal for people to posit a purely arbitrary or unverifiable line past which one has morally erred in not giving to the poor.  Conservatives and liberals alike might appeal to ambiguous Biblical passages or verses removed from their contexts in order to persuade others of their stances on poverty, even if it is clear that it is nothing more than an emotionally manipulative tactic.

The actual Biblical prescriptions about how to react to poverty are often ignored, for they tend to deviate from the ideas of both political parties.  Since practically every aspect of Biblical ethics contradicts conservative and liberal tenets on some level, this should hardly be surprising to anyone who is familiar with the Bible and contemporary political thought.  Nonetheless, it is not as if the Bible wholly defies the major current stances on how to address poverty.

On one hand, Mosaic Law and the New Testament epistles demand far more of what moderners might call the "middle" or "upper" classes than superficially benevolent but empty goodwill towards the poor--kind words that are never accompanied by anything more are incomplete at best (James 2:15-16).  On the other hand, forced wealth redistribution in any context other than just compensation to victims of certain crimes (see Exodus 21:18-19 or 22:1-3) is tyrannical by Biblical standards, as no one has the right to coerce people into doing that which is not obligatory.

That the Bible calls for aiding the poor does not mean that every person who is not living in immediate poverty is morally required to give to every poor person or charity they encounter.  In other words, while the Bible is very supportive of giving to and helping the poor, there is no obligation to give to any particular individual or organization.  No one has to give to every single poor person they will ever meet.  The Bible only prescribes several specific actions to take on behalf of the poor, some of which by their very nature could only apply to certain people (for example, see Exodus 22:26-27 and Deuteronomy 24:10-15).

It is not the case that merely refraining from giving to any specific person is sinful; it is true, however, that those with the means to give to the less fortunate without harming their own financial stability sin if they go their entire lives without ever attempting to do anything beneficial to the poor.  While the Biblical obligation to help the poor and affirm their human rights applies to all people, many particular acts of charity are themselves only supererogatory.