Explain how the bible and the teaching of the church should help a roman catholic in there understanding of the need to support Christian charities.

tradition to continue the work of Jesus by helping others and trying

to show people the importance of helping others. The church throughout

the ages has followed the policy of helping the poor.

In Vatican II the church instructed Christians to remember God's

Saying, `feed the man dying of hunger, for if you do not feed him, you

are killing him'. This statement encourages Christians to help the

problem of hunger because if they are not part of the solution they

are part of the problem.

There where three points set out by Pope Paul VI by which Christians

can help alleviate the problems of poverty. He said that Christians

let social justice be real in their hearts. He said that their

consciences must be awakened to the principles of justice and take a

stand against unjust institutions and structures. He also said that

Christians must not be carried away seeking material possessions and

try to follow the gospel principle of simplicity. Finally he said that

Christians must share goods and not keep selfishly what they don't

need. In the parable of the rich man Jesus says, `It is easier for a

camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter

the kingdom of God'.

There are many ways in the scriptures in which Jesus tells and shows

us by example that we should give to the poor. One way in which he

shows us is in the parable of the feeding of the 5000 is the attitude

of Jesus in giving assistance and fullness of live to those who need

it. In Luke 4:18 it says:

The spirit of the lord is on me, because he has anointed me to

preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for

the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the

oppressed.

The most famous and well know story from the scriptures in relation to

giving to the poor is the story of the sheep and the goats. This story

talks about two different types of people those who feed Jesus when he

was hungry; give him water when he was thirsty; invite him in when he

was a stranger; clothe him when he was naked or look after him when he

was sick and in prison and those who did nothing for Jesus. When the

people wondered when they had seen Jesus in such a condition and did

not help Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did

not do for the least of my brothers, you did not do for me.'

Works of charity and kindness given to people in need reflect just

where people stand in relation to the kingdom of God, and to Jesus

himself.