BEN F. VICK, JR.
Usually, the United Way makes a big push for financial support at this time of the year. Employers and celebrities are encouraging people to contribute. It may be that some companies encourage 100 percent participation of their employees in the United Way’s annual drive. The question then comes: Should I give to the United Way?
There is no question that the United Way does many good works. They help Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boys Club Associations, Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire, Inc., Cancer Society, Little Red Door, etc.; these are some of the good organizations which the United Way supports.
However, you may not know when one donates to the United Way, a certain percentage goes to the Catholic Social Services, Catholic Youth Organization, Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Jewish Community Center Association, Jewish Family Services, Inc., Lutheran Child and Family Services, The Salvation Army, etc. A Christian should not give to these organizations.
The Bible teaches, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Cor. 16:1-2.) We are to give as we have prospered on the first day of the week into the Lord’s treasury. Christians on the Lord’s Day do not forget to give as they have been prospered. It is wrong to give beyond what we have prospered to good works. Paul wrote, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10.) If a person chooses to give to a worthy cause beyond what he has prospered, he does not sin.
Christians should not give to the United Way where the money is spent to support false doctrine (2 John 9-11; Eph. 5:11).
WHAT ABOUT PUTTING MONEY INTO THE RED KETTLES?
The red kettles have been out for several weeks now. The Salvation Army puts them out. The money goes to support the poor and disenfranchised. Some going into a store or leaving it may feel almost forced to drop some change or even dollars into these kettles. However, The Salvation Army is a false religion. A Christian should not give a dime to this begging organization.
William and Catherine Booth in 1865 began to work in London helping the poor. Their organization was at first called The Christian Mission, but in 1878 the name was changed to The Salvation Army. Booth came out of the Methodist Church. He set up the polity was set up as an army. He became the General. Their declaration of faith was called the “Articles of War.” Mission stations became corps; members became soldiers; evangelists were called officers, and converts were referred to as seekers. In 1878 the first brass band introduced music and arts to the Army.
The Salvation Army has a creed book called Handbook of Doctrine, which teaches that repentance is the first condition of salvation and faith is the second and final condition of salvation. Their creed says, “It is a mistake to say, ‘Only believe’ to unrepentant sinners, because they do not always understand that repentance must come before saving faith.” It mentions that “the jailer was already truly repentant when Paul and Silas said to him, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’ (Acts 16:31).”
The jailer was indeed sorry for what had happened to Paul and Silas, but he could not repent until he first had faith. A careful reading of the text (Acts 16:25-34) will show that the jailer had to have faith before he repented. He asked the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The answer given was, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Then, they spoke unto him the word of the Lord. After they had spoken to him the word of the Lord, he washed their stripes and was baptized. He knew nothing about the Lord Jesus; so, he had to be taught. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Repentance is a change of the mind. How could he have a change of mind toward Jesus Christ if he knew nothing about him? Faith always precedes repentance. The washing of their stripes indicated his repentance. He and his household were baptized the same hour of the night. They did not put off baptism until a later time. This shows the necessity of baptism. In The Salvation Army’s creed book under the “Conditions of Salvation,” they are as silent as the tomb about baptism. The Salvation Army does not believe baptism is necessary to be saved.
So, one should not donate to the red kettles.