Confronting Western civilisation is the tension of self-sacrifice and the growing individualistic material pursuits of our socio-political systems. At the core intersection of such upheaval is a question underpinning the role of Christian charity in the world today.
A service-centred society breeds cohesiveness, and it is clear that our culture is much devoid of sacrificial love. The growing spiritual vacuum that is mainstream in politics, culture and general society ultimately leaves each person to their own accord without a clear direction of the meaning of life.
It is not uncommon to hear the moans and head-scratching question of “what is this world coming to” regardless of one’s politics or ideological persuasions. Equally common are institutionalised mission statement keywords of “inclusion”, “justice”, “equality”, and “respect”. But seldom if ever do we see notions of self-sacrifice being upheld as a fundamental value.
Our socio-political discourse lacks harmony as it lacks the self-sacrificial love that ultimately finds its roots in Jesus Christ.Christian charity and government welfare while at first appearing to deliver the same outcome but are inherently different at heart. Through Christ, charity is given out of self-sacrifice and love, whereas government actions are done through the wielding of power and control.
Furthermore, the spirit of Christian charity seeks to ultimately enhance the spiritual growth of individuals,particularly those offering their time, effort, resources, and commitment to others. But politically orientated or driven assistance while able to redistribute resources does little if anything at all to nourish a person’s soul.
In discussing the limited scope of government welfare, this is least a call for the removal of the social security networks that play an underpinning role in our society but rather a call to action for Christian charity to lead the way once again in self-sacrifice for the betterment of our communities. When we live our lives not for ourselves but in response to a calling to serve the “other”, it is not only that the “other” receive loving care, but we as Christians continue in demonstrations of our sanctification.
As we grow in our understanding of service of the “other”, we reduce our self-centred pursuits of materialism. Through spirituality that connects people with people, we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our fellow man and not just giving handouts with a goodbye wave. In offering a hand up, we as practitioners of Christian charity can connect with a higher sense of meaning that transcends the mundane routines of the daily.
The Christian faith is not dogmatic on a set religious text of do’s and do not’s but rather it is a practical lifestyle choice that speaks to what is beyond ourselves. Christian charity inspired by the lived example of Jesus Christ’s self-sacrificial love for each one of us places the question of our response as front and centre of our daily lives.
Even for the non-religious laymen, there is no escaping that each person that ever existed is a spiritual being. The deep-seated questions that one ponders even for the faintest moment of our creation, life, death, and the afterlife are at the very core of our spirituality.
Our Western civilisation having triumphed over the second world of Soviet Communism has developed the contemporary socio-political culture where sound economic management and prosperity are the core outcomes sought. The security of one’s possessions is seen as tantamount to a society’s prosperity leaving little and increasingly no room even for discourses of spirituality let alone the Christian faith.
Ultimately, our society and politics without spirituality especially the roots of Christian charity while at first presence appear appealing, will inevitably divulge into ghettos of feigned unity and ultimately barbarism that will see a regression of the world. To move forward, we must hold firm to the Christian faith that inspires and sanctifies us daily.