It is sad that articles such as this need to be written, and that such elementary principles as we will be discussing must be taught to those who are supposed to be students of the Scriptures. It is not uncommon to find a group of people who are in error on some biblical issue taking some Scripture or Scripture group out of the written context wherein it is listed. This article deals with one area of God's word that is often taken out of its context. We are limited in length, but you should be able to understand the lesson being taught. It would be great to find someone who misapplies this specific verse and who would be willing to meet in public discussion. However, as the old saying goes, "don't hold your breath." On this specific error, if you held your breath, you would soon begin to resemble a Smurf. Let us get to our topic of this article.
Many appeal to Galatians 6:10 in attempting to argue that a local church can supply, from its treasury, such things as money, food, clothing, housing, etc., to both saints and sinners (Galatians 1:2). They believe this verse supports collective provision, from the local-church treasury, for saints and sinners alike. I am writing to refute these claims, and I am suggesting to those who read this article that brethren who appeal to Galatians 6:10 do so to justify-rather than to authorize--their actions. You might ask what difference it makes. The difference is that one who reads Galatians 6 and studies it in its context would never see authority for collective provision, from the local church treasury, for both saints and sinners. However, when we search for authority for a thing we are already practicing, I suppose we can see anything, in any context, to justify unscriptural practices. (In the past, I also misapplied this verse.)
Answering the It's-Written-to-the-Churches-of-Galatia Argument
We all agree that Paul wrote the book of Galatians to the "churches of Galatia" (Galatians 1:2). However, suggesting that a thing written to the collective (the churches of Galatia) means that everything in the letter applies to everyone in every church is a faulty hermeneutic. Paul wrote the epistle known as Galatians to multiple congregations in the area of Galatia. He wrote the letter to individuals who had put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:27); baptism is an individual action. Paul addressed the churches and dealt with such issues as circumcision, showing that it was not binding on saints living under Christ's Law (Galatians 5:2,3; 6:12,13). This in itself shows that everything in this epistle does not apply to everyone in every church. The ladies could not be circumcised, and the church would not be furnishing anything wherein circumcision could be provided as a work of the church.
Suggesting that everything written to the churches of Galatia means that collective provision can be made for those things is not only a faulty hermeneutic, it is an uninformed suggestion. For example, Paul addressed letters to the church at Corinth in much the same language as he did the churches in Galatia (1 Corinthians 1:2). However, no one argues that the church has authority to provide from her treasury that which will support a man rendering due benevolence to his wife or the wife to the husband (1 Corinthians 7:3). If one argues that since the book of Galatians is addressing the churches of Galatia, and that authorizes collective provision for all in need, consistency demands that benevolence includes giving money for hotel rooms and babysitters so that a husband and wife can fulfill the commands given in 1 Corinthians 7:3, if they cannot afford these things and privacy is not possible for them in their homes. After all, the physical relationship between a husband and a wife is a biblically authorized relationship. Clearly, the New Testament separates individual action from collective action (cf. Matthew. 18:15-17).
Finally, if we realize that Paul addressed the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2 and 2 Corinthians 1:1) as he did the churches of Galatia, we can see some other things that help clarify this issue.
- Paul discussed marriage in 1 Corinthians 7. Is marriage a work of the church?
- Paul said a man is to examine himself (1 Corinthians 11:28; 1 Corinthians 13:5). How can a collective body examine "himself?"
- Paul addressed his letters to the church at Corinth, but the individual members will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 5: 10). Where do the Scriptures speak of a local church standing together before Christ on Judgment Day?
- Paul addressed the church at Corinth, and the churches of Galatia, regarding the individual sins of fornication, adultery, covetousness, etc. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21). How can a church collectively engage in physical fornication?
Can anyone claim that since Paul addressed these letters to the church, all things within those letters apply to the work of the church, thereby authorizing collective provision for all the needy? NO!
Answering the All-Men Argument from Galatians 6:10
In Galatians 6:10, we read, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Some contend that this verse authorizes local churches to provide, from their treasuries, financial aid to all men, especially those of the household of faith (Christians). However, having the term "good" authorize use of the local-church treasury requires a good imagination, for the context is silent in this regard.
As a Christian, I am to love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 19:19; 22:39, etc.). As a Christian, I am to love my brethren (John 13:34,35). I am to do good to saint and sinner alike (Matthew 5:43-47; Galatians 6:2). That is all that Paul instructed in Galatians 6:10. He wrote to Christians about their individual responsibilities. In chapter 5, Paul wrote concerning the differences between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19ff). In chapter 6, he went on to write about the works Christians are to do.
The context singles out individuals and lays no responsibility on the church as a whole. Note: Galatians 6:1 gives a responsibility to "ye which are spiritual." Verse 2 says: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Verse 3 continues: "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." We also find in this context that a man will "prove his own work" (v. 4).
We find that a man will reap what he sows (v. 6-7). Then there is a verse that ties this context to the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit. Verse 8 reads: "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Finally, Paul concluded this context by showing his brethren how they can "sow to the Spirit." In this, we see his use of plural terms such as "us" and "we."
We (those reading this article who may or may not be Christians) need to realize some things. Paul was not a member of a congregation in Galatia, but he included himself in the "us" and "we." What tied Paul to the brethren in Galatia was his Christianity. That identifies those to whom this context applies-Christians. To argue that the context allows for collective provision, from the church treasury, for needy saints and sinners would lead to activation of a universal-church concept, which is foreign to the Scriptures.
The fact that Paul used plural terms does not mean he gave instructions for a work of the local church. Paul used the same terms when he addressed the brethren in Rome regarding baptism (Romans 6:3-4), but baptism is not a collective action. Individuals submit to the command to be baptized (John 3:5; Acts10:47-48). Galatians 6:10 applies to individuals, though that is a minor issue, for the premise that this context deals at all with money is baseless.
Conclusion
Paul's instruction to do good unto all men (Galatians 6:10 was given to individuals. However, the church collectively is to do good unto all men by bringing them the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9). The Bible does not delegate the feeding and care of the homeless and the world's afflicted, along with all other good works, to the local church. The local church has a limited benevolent role (1 Timothy 5:1-16; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). If God wanted the church to do such things, He would have supplied the Scriptures to authorize it (Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and 2 Peter 1:3).
As a Christian, I am responsible for helping the needy with whom I have contact (Luke 10:30-37). There are plenty of passages to prove that Christ's followers are to help those in genuine need (i.e., Matthew 25:31-46). However, when we find examples of the local church aiding the needy from the treasury, we find that it helped needy saints, and only needy saints. For example, the church in Corinth helped the churches in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1; 9:1-2) and other brethren as well (2 Corinthians 9:12-14; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3). The churches of Macedonia are the "them" and the other saints are the "all" in 2 Corinthians 9:13.
It is easy to prove that the church helped Christians. The lack of even one Scripture that shows a local church helping alien sinners speaks volumes (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; 2 Samuel 7:1-7; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18,19). Let us do good works but, only in the ways that are authorized!
Brother Yeager has done a thorough job of correctly explaining Galatians 6:10. How sad that there is division among our brethren on this subject. May God give us all open hearts to see the truth. (KMG)