Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16)
Do good, share what you have, such sacrifices are pleasing to God, the Bible says. Yet, it seems that this verse is nowhere to be found in Evangelical Bibles. Oh, the verse is there, but it is marginalized, reinterpreted, or dismissed. Many Evangelicals live as if this verse doesn’t exist. Their right-wing political beliefs and overwhelming support of Donald Trump suggest that Evangelicals aren’t that interested in nor do they care about the least of these; those different from them. Six weeks out of each year, Evangelicals will “show” they care about the poor by handing out food baskets and gift certificates, but the other forty-six weeks of the year? Evangelicals support Republican politicians and policies that materially harm the sick, poor, and marginalized. They might even operate food pantries and clothing rooms a day or two for a few hours each month. The rest of the time, the needy are expected to figure things out for themselves, even if it means letting their children go hungry or do without.
Faith without works [do good, share what you have] is dead. (James 2:17)
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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