The earliest recorded account of the church in Acts reveals her ministry of compassion to provide assistance for those in need.  Afterall, she was mindful of the indictment in the words spoken by Jesus, "The poor you always have with you".  While the offering taken up in the assemby of the saints has long been a sore point among non-believers, and even some believers, the church does so per the example of the first century church.  Giving was not in a set amount, but was to be freely and cheerfully as each had purposed in their heart.  Anyone who would give a large or small amount and did so without a glad heart would do just as well to keep it for themselves because, Paul said, God loves a cheerful giver.  Christians, for the most part, understand and accept the practice of giving of their means by which the church can aid those in need as they are instructed in scripture whether or not they are in the Lord without conditions for terms of repayment.

It's interesting to observe Christians take up viewpoints and slogans of the world with a biblical-like ring to appear . . . biblical, if not Bible.  Although charges of socialism between rival political parties and candidates have been exchanged in recent presidential elections they had never reached the fever pitch as in the current time.  Christians clamor with childlike glee to flash their denominational spiritspeak as much as their political buttons.  They join in the charge crying socialism by government as something akin to stealing and supporting slothfulness among the undeserving.  What escapes Christians is government can and may do no different than the church, that is, to provide for those in need.  Government, unlike church, does not ask us how much we wish to give.  It tells us what we are to render unto Caesar with or without a cheerful heart and it does not ask how we would like our portion utilized.  What we give government we do so under compulsion.

Certainly, in a democracy Americans have the right to vote to change, unlike the church, whatever they do not like in their government.  However, while it is for Americans and Christians, in our democratic system, lawful to do is it, for Christians particularly, expedient?  What is at heart when disciples protest alabaster boxes or aid by government to the needy?  Lest we say such aid is supporting slothfulness is there a church which would testify she has never seen both saint and non-believer misuse the aid they received?  Would we conclude aiding the needy is wrong on that basis or that both doctrine and church are wrong for having done so?

Is it not the same Spirit who speaks to us to live faithfully outside the four walls where gather for worship on Sunday who speaks to our giving whether in compassion or under compulsion for the common good of the needy?  I believe many, if not most, of those rally cries disiples join in is at best their ignorance of Bible doctrine and at worse a troubled heart.