Contrarian View From the Pew: How Would Jesus Want to be Treated?

After making a compelling case for why, in most cases, it is better for believers to spend money rather than give money to charity, Teresa leaves a comment claiming she would like to someday give away 90% because she believes it is what Jesus would do. [Big Sigh!] Obviously, I have work to do. Let’s try again.

It is impossible to know exactly what Jesus would do since there is no record of Jesus ever spending money, or giving money away, or even ever having his own money. Almost certainly he had his own money and he spent and gave, but we just don’t know. However, it is clear from what he taught, we are expected to be good stewards of everything we possess, including money, and we are expected to treat the poor as if they were Jesus himself. Therefore, the question we need to answer is: How would Jesus want us to treat him? HWJWTBT? Did Jesus ever take without giving? Would Jesus want to receive something for doing nothing?

We could also look at the type of charitable behavior Jesus modeled? On the cross, Jesus gave us what we could not earn. This is the ultimate model of charity. No amount of brilliance or effort on our part will lead to salvation. Jesus also performed miracles by healing many sick people. He never healed anyone who could have been healed using the medicine or medical techniques of his day. He only healed those who had no other alternative. We don’t have salvation or healing to offer, but we can and should be careful to preserve the dignity of recipients of charity by allowing them to do for themselves what they can do for themselves.

As I pointed out in my previous post, every time we pass money to someone else, either through giving or spending, we reward and encourage certain behaviors. Perhaps, I wasn’t as clear about when we reward and encourage some behaviors, how we also penalize and discourage other behaviors. Giving money and time to a charity could be, and I believe often is, much more selfish than spending money. Would Jesus want to receive the rewards of the work of others while at the same time making life more difficult for others who are poor?

Habitat for Humanity is an example of a well meaning, but misguided, charitable organization. Anyone who donates time or money to Habitat for Humanity is doing more harm than good to the poor; especially in places like southern California where the price of a home is based on the supply of homes and lots that are listed for sale. Every time Habitat for Humanity builds a house, the supply of available houses goes down, and the cost of available houses goes up. Poor families working to earn a house are penalized while a poor family that didn’t work to earn a house is rewarded. Carpenters who earn a living by building houses have one less house to build and earn a living. Those who donated time and money to this cause may selfishly feel good about themselves, but what they have done is rob a certain amount of dignity from one family and made life more difficult for many more families. Sadly, most charities are in the very same business of making donors feel good at the expense of the poor.

I don’t believe for a second this is what Jesus would do. I think if Jesus had to choose between buying fish and giving money to charity, he would buy fish from the fisherman who was willing to get up early and stay out late in order to provide for himself and his family. I also think Jesus would be the one to get up early and stay out late in order to provide the fish as a food supply for his village. Obviously, I am projecting on to Jesus what I would do without really knowing what HE would do, but how is that any different from thinking Jesus would want anyone to give 90% to charity?