Community Chest Giving Is Wrong
It is my firm conviction that the Christian should be a good citizen of his community and work for its betterment. I believe that a Christian has an obligation to support the gospel and the Lord's church. I believe also that he is to help sustain his government. (Rom. 13:6.) I also believe that it is right for a Christian to work for the betterment of his community. One of the ways we are being urged today to help our community is by giving to Community Chest. This, I cannot conscientiously do for the following reasons:
1. Last year in the city of San Diego, California, of the money contributed to Community Chest, Catholic agencies received $40,036, or more than 3% of all contributed. Salvation Army agencies received $89,775, or a little under 7% of the total contributed. Jewish groups received $14,525. All these were religious institutions.
2. In St. Louis, Missouri, 30 Catholic organizations received $1,168,508, or more than 19% of the total contributions. Jewish organizations received $636,998, and Salvation Army received $189,979.
3. This year, in the tentative budget of the Chest in Ontario, California, $7,300 will be earmarked for Salvation Army, a religious group just like the Catholics, and the Seventh Day Adventists are religious groups.
I like to help my community. I want to see it prosper, but I cannot — I WILL NOT — contribute to Community Chest any more than I would contribute to the Catholic Church, Salvation Army or any other of the so-called churches. I WILL NOT SUPPORT WITH MY MONEY, THAT WHICH I CANNOT SUPPORT WITH MY HEART. If Community Chest were operated as a community betterment organization; I would work diligently for it.
If someone complains that Salvation Army is not a church and religious institution, I would like the opportunity of proving that it is. If you think Salvation Army is not a church and religious institution, call your nearest Salvation Army commander and ask him. He will prove it to you, and save me the trouble!