n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 4
Church make a more spiritually discerning charity possible. They enable us
to “do good to everyone according to his quality,” which is important because
“doing good to the evil is doing evil to the good, for thus the evil are given the
means of doing evil to the good.” (Arcana Coelestia 3820)
The mistake so prevalent in the world around us is to make natural
good deeds the all of charity. Natural works of charity (the “benefactions” of
charity – giving to the poor and so on) should be done, but in thoughtful ways
appropriate to the quality and needs of the recipients. To be discriminating
in this way doesn’t indicate a lack of caring; it is because parents love their
children so much that they do not give them everything they ask for.
Because each person’s spirit is clothed with a natural body, so charity
includes material aid. The spiritual law that “there is power in ultimates (or
outmosts)” reinforces this truth. Spiritual charity is not a substitute for natural
charity, but the soul and director of it.
Charity and faith are like two sides of the same coin – or two streams
flowing from the same fountain. This fundamental truth was spoken by the
Lord during His life in the world when He said:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And
the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:38-40)
The whole Word of God is summed up and concentrated in these two
great commandments. And our human relationships with one another are
further linked to our relationship with the Lord in the new commandment He
gave us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34; 15:12)
It is the good in us that the Lord loves and seeks to strengthen; and it is the
good in others that we are to love and seek to strengthen. This is why charity
must be joined with the faith that enables us to see the goodness of the Lord,
for the strengthening of that goodness is the supreme object of charity toward
the neighbor.
Just as the natural sun’s light carries its warmth to earth in it, so true faith
has charity in it. We speak of “doctrines” and “teachings” and “truths,” but
these things are not (or should not be) cold abstractions; genuine doctrine has
life in it, love in it, and its purpose is to guide us in bringing forth the good of
life in practice.
“All genuine truths of doctrine proceed from good, and are
goods.” (Apocalypse Explained 401.25) Doctrines are goods! The soul of
doctrine is warm, life-giving, beautiful. This is why genuine faith (expressed in
doctrines) and charity (love expressing itself in good works) are inseparable.
In the New Jerusalem, the Lord joins together what man has put asunder:
charity and faith.
(WEO)
304