Should a Christian help an secular charity or charities that are not Christian or in their own deno?

I follow the Apostle Paul's exhortation: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially the body of Christ" (Galatians 6:10). So, I start with Christian charities/Christians and then to general giving. Peace in Christ.

If that is the cause that you are sure God wants you to support and there is no orthodox [lower case "o"] option to do so.

Look for an orthodox option, first.

I look for the charity that is doing the work I want to support (based on my sense of the values of the reign of God), and I support them. They don't have to be Christian to be doing something worth supporting.

mathinspiration said:

I know Christians who support atheistic charities and non charities like Red Crescent and charities like St. Jude that are not in their denomination?

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So long asthose charities are not actively opposing Christians or discriminating against them.
There is no reason why one shouldn't give to these causes.

As has already been said it is up to you to check out what that charity does, how well it does and whether it is worth supporting or not.

There are Christian charities that will support non-religious organizations. AHEPA (a Greek-American philanthropy) financially supports an organization that trains service dogs for disabled veterans.

mathinspiration said:

I know Christians who support atheistic charities and non charities like Red Crescent and charities like St. Jude that are not in their denomination?

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I see no issue with supporting something like St. Jude. I see an enormous issue with supporting something like the Red Crescent. Do you want to be the guy who Jesus asks why you gave your talent in such a way as to bring glory to the god of Islam?

Sometimes a secular charity is in a much better position to get the aid to where it is needed. This is particularly true in times of disaster. The Red Cross and the Red Crescent are two such. They are about getting help to people in need without promoting a faith. That is the last thing a charity should be about.

Surely the God who sends rain on the just and the unjust is not against people of faith working with organisations doing God's purpose. Who is not against me is for me - no who said that?

I don';t think there is anything wrong with supporting a charity which is secular as long as it is not anti-God (opposed to christian values). i must admit if i want to support cause then i try to look for a Christian orgnaisation that i shelping that cause (eg for wolrd hunger/poverty i might prefer to give to World Vision or Tear Fund than to Oxfam or Save the Children) but some causes have no Christian organisation behind them but are nonetheless good causes eg Guide Dogs for the Blind, Miss tIGGYWINKLE hedgehog Sanctuary, RSPB, RNFLI etc

i also sometimes send donations to my local small animal rescue, (i also help them by adopting some of their guinea pigs- i have 3 rescue sows which i have raised from youth) and it has no particular christian ethos behind it, but at same time is doing a good and worthy work and certainly the principel behind it is christian - good stewardship, a righteous person cares for their animals etc. not saying animals are a higher priority than people, of course, and sharing the gospel andhealing the sick is our great commission and therefore our best work, but givng to animal causes certainly is not antiBiblical either.

i do think though, that when we consider charitable giving, it's best to seek God where He wants it to go. i actaully felt the Lord tell me once to support the RSPB (royal society for the protection of Birds) and although i know God loves birds (He made them after all), i had limited funds so was like "are you sure it wouldn't be better given to church, missions etc" but i really felt He did want me to support them. it benefiited me because i am into wildlife and hvefound much healing emotionally since i started paying more attention to the natural world around me, so it was liek God was saying "I know you care for feathered, furred and prickled things, I do too"....i supported them for a couple months and finances were hard. i asked God if i should stop and felt Him say "I want you to keep giving to them for a few more months." i did. i think God can surprsie us sometimes with how He wants us to give. i used to worry about whether i should give money to someone on the streets who was drinking or smoking, in case they used it to hurt themselves more with their addictions but i read about Adrian Plass, a British christian author and speaker who had the same dilemma until God showed him that how beggars spent the money was up to them, Adrain was just to obey His voice, no arguing! end sure enough, i started hearing God's voice when i went into town and saw beggars, some fo them obviously strung out or drunk and yes, on afew occasions i have felt propmpted by God to give them food or even a fiver or more. the gratitude from so many of these people, to know that someoen cares for them, even if she didnt or couldnt give a lot, touched and humbled ,me deeply. i feel priveleged to be a light in this dark world for hi,m, whether it is helping bumblebees, or misisonaries or addicts

I quit giving money to the homeless. But there are beggars a couple towns away and they get food once in a while. You don’t need to eat if you are drinking or drugging, but everybody needs to eat sometime.

mukk_in said:

I follow the Apostle Paul's exhortation: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people especially the body of Christ" (Galatians 6:10). So, I start with Christian charities/Christians and then to general giving. Peace in Christ.

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The charity I administer is supported by churches from different denominations. As long as it's in the Body of Christ, Christians should feel safe supporting Christian charities across the spectrum.

(Later edit: there is also no reason why a Christian cannot support a secular charity that practices good stewardship in their operations. The stewardship part should apply to the Christian charities as well.)

That's a matter of personal conviction. I support causes near to my heart. They don't have to be Christian. But I must respect the work and leadership. I look for sound business practices and minimal waste. Undisciplined spending, especially on marketing gimmicks is a turn off.

~bella

bèlla said:

That's a matter of personal conviction. I support causes near to my heart. They don't have to be Christian. But I must respect the work and leadership. I look for sound business practices and minimal waste. Undisciplined spending, especially on marketing gimmicks is a turn off.

~bella

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And that is the way it should be! I was focusing on the "not of our denomination" part in my reply. That said, if a secular charity is well-run, etc. there should be NO REASON why a Christian cannot support it.

My answer is "yes." I support some charitable causes in addition to my own church. I have been a large contributor to a charity of another denomination, as well as secular institutions involved in humanitarian causes. I consider it all "God's work." I also consider my contributions to those places as part of my tithe. He didn't tell us just to feed and clothe the Christian hungry or those of our own denomination.

If the charity or institution advocates or undermines Christianity in any way, no.

Junia said:

a righteous person cares for their animals etc.

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I really like the aspca, and with what I see all the greedy pastors doing, I'd rather help animals, they can't speak for themselves, I know people are of more value.
But as you said a righteous man takes care of the needs of his animal, but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
So taking care of the needs of someone else's animal, might also be good, it's not bad.
And Pat Robertson being a Billionaire, why not help animals.

disciple1 said:

I really like the aspca, and with what I see all the greedy pastors doing,...

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Does that describe your pastor? (If you think that s/he is mishandling your church's money, it's time to look for a new church.)

I'm Catholic, but I still support a few Protestant charities that are mostly leftovers from my Protestant years, along with some Catholic charities. The reason is that they usually fit into a particular niche eg. The Leprosy Mission.

I don't support the Fred Hollows Foundation personally (our limited supply of funds only goes so far), but I'd have no issue with someone who did. He was an atheist.

A lot of animal and wildlife charities are not specifically Christian, but they do good work.

Some charities start as Christian organisations, but gradually become secular eg. YMCA.