Saturday, December 18, 2021

Tovia Singer, "Charity Atones for Sin"

  

Charity Atones for sin

 

Although the Hebrew Scriptures explicitly state that feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and giving charity to the poor wipes away sins, parishioners are unaware of this central biblical principle. While Christians are encouraged to give charity, they are not taught that feeding the hungry atones for iniquity.

 

Hosea 6:6 and Provers 21:3 state explicitly that it is preferable to God that one gives charity rather than rely on a sacrifice. Why don’t Christian ministers teach that giving alms to the poor wash away sin? After all, this is a core Biblical teaching. The answer is simple: there would be little need for churchgoers to believe in Jesus if they were convinced that God would forgive their sins if they gave charity.

 

Judaism teaches that charity money was never yours to begin with. Rather, it always belongs to God, who merely entrusts you with it so that you may use it properly. Hence, it is your obligation to ensure that it is received by those deserving of it. Charity is considered to be one of the main acts that can annul a less than favorable Heavenly decree. According to Jewish tradition, therefore, the spiritual benefit of giving to the poor is so great that a beggar actually does the giver a favor by giving a person the opportunity to give charity. (Tovia Singer, Let’s Get Biblical: Why Doesn’t Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah? 2 vols. [Forest Hills, N.Y.: Outreach Judaism, 2014], 1:79)

 

The following table of Scriptures is listed in ibid.:

 

Proverbs 10:2

Treasures of wickedness will not avail, but charity will save from death.

 

Proverbs 11:4

Riches will not avail on the day of wrath, but charity will save from death.

 

Proverbs 16:6

With loving-kindness and truth will iniquity be expiated, and through fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

 

Proverbs 21:3

Performing charity and justice is preferred by God to a sacrifice.

 

Hosea 6:6

For I desire loving-kindness, and not sacrifices, and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

 

Daniel 4:24 (4:27 in a Christian Bible)

Nevertheless, O king, let my advice be agreeable to you. Redeem your error with charity, and your sin through kindness to the poor, so that your tranquillity will be prolonged.