Would Jesus Plead For The Support Of Benevolent Societies?
"If Jesus were here he would plead for support of orphan children in homes provided for them." This statement was made by a liberal preacher on a local radio program January 12, 1964, in his attack upon those who oppose churches contributing to human benevolent societies. Incidentally, he forgot to cite the scripture which supports his statement. Now all of us know that Jesus was and is in sympathy with needy children. But to assert that Jesus would plead for the support of orphan children "in homes provided for them." then make the application to such homes as Southern Christian Home, Morrilton, Ark., is downright deceitful, as well as being a false doctrine.
I asked the preacher the following questions:
I. Which homes would Jesus plead for support of, those under a board of directors? or, those under the elders of one church?
2. Would Jesus plead for the Baptist Orphan Homes, or the Catholic Orphan Homes? After all these homes are provided for children.
3. Do you plead for the support of the Baptist Homes, or the Catholic Homes? You say, Jesus would plead for them, but you neither support them nor plead for their support. Are you one of those "nasty ole orphan haters" I have heard about?
As I expected, the liberal preacher has not answered these questions. He cannot answer.
"The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Cor. 2:11, 12) Thus, we know the will of God only as He has revealed it unto men by the Holy Spirit. Now where is the passage which teaches that Jesus would plead for churches to support the Benevolent Societies, such as Southern Christian Homes? This is what the liberal preacher needs, for this is what he contends for, and says he is glad to be associated with a church that supports Southern Christian Homes. Since there is no scripture which teaches such, how can Preston Porter know that Jesus would plead for such? Of course he cannot know, yet he assumes and asserts such as fact.
If Jesus had intended that his church build and maintain human benevolent societies, then he would have instructed it to build such. In the absence of such instruction it is only folly to conclude that Jesus would plead for such. Men will pervert scripture and make bold assertions, but all need to be impressed with the fact that we must give answer to God for the way we handle the word.
— Capps Road, Harrison, Ark.