Christianity and Humanitarian Work

左營聖經聖潔會牧師 Pastor Byron Manners
  

Many people may not be aware that much of the work that humanitarian organizations do is the result of Christianity. What I mean by that statement is that humanitarian concerns have roots in Christian teaching. Jesus taught that one ought to love his neighbor as himself, and to treat other people as we want them to treat us. While that sounds simple, no other religious or ethical system looks at human relations in this way. Because of the foundation of Jesus' teachings, Christians have engaged in much humanitarian work in order to obey Jesus' command to love our neighbors. Let me give several examples, using Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia, as reference to specific events.

  John Howard was a British citizen and a Christian who lived in the 18th century. While on a trip to Portugal in 1755, he was captured and imprisoned by the French. After he was exchanged for a French prisoner, he began to be interested in the conditions in prisons. He visited hundreds of prisons in England, Wales, Scotland, and continental Europe. He testified before a committee in the British Parliament about conditions in prisons, fighting to better conditions for prisoners. He made several proposals to improve the physical and mental health of prisoners. 80 years after his death, the organization that was later to become the Howard League for Penal Reform was founded. Today this organization is the largest group in Great Britain working for penal reform.

  Another Christian, Henry Dunant of Switzerland, founded the International Committee of the Red Cross. While in Italy in 1859, he saw the results of the Battle of Solferino. 38,000 soldiers lay on the battlefield, and no one was trying to care for the wounded. Durant organized the women and girls of the local area to provide care for the wounded of both sides. He later published a book about his experiences, which led in February of 1863 to the first meeting the International Committee of the Red Cross.

   Another Christian in Great Britain by the name of William Wilberforce championed the fight against the slave trade in the British Empire at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries. Although there were Christians already involved in the fight against slavery, Wilberforce was a Member of Parliament, and thus was in a position to introduce legislation to ban the slave trade. He motive was to put Christian principles into action. Finally after a struggle of 26 years, in 1807 the slave trade was banned in the British Empire. He remained a Member of Parliament until 1826, leading in the fight to abolish slavery in the British Empire. Three days before he died in 1833, he heard that the Slavery Abolition Act was certain to pass and abolish slavery in most of the British Empire.

  Let me give one more example of Christians being involved in a different kind of humanitarian work. Protestant Christians have always been very interested in education. This is because we want everyone to be able to read and understand the Bible. Many of the great modern universities were founded as schools to train men to become pastors. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton in America were all founded for this specific reason. Missionaries have founded many schools that later became great universities. In China alone, Central China University, Fujian Normal University, Hangchow University, Lingnan University, Shanghai University, Nanking Union University, University of Nanking, Soochow University, and Yenching University all have Christian roots, with many others that could be added to the list. Some of these universities were founded again in Taiwan after 1949. Other missionaries established new educational facilities in Taiwan that later became national universities; Chung Yuan University in Chung-li is one such example.

  Many more examples of Christians spearheading humanitarian work could be given. Christians have led in the struggle for liberty and freedom, starting in America with the American Revolution. The modern rules of warfare between countries are a result of Christians fighting against the worst abuses of war. The idea of one day off during the week comes from the Bible. Many hospitals and other health facilities have been founded by Christians in order to care for the poor and sick.

  The main goal of Christianity has been to preach the message of salvation from sin. But in countries where the spiritual message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus has not taken root, many of the humanitarian benefits of Christianity have taken root. Taiwan and China are two examples of such countries. In fact, the areas of the world that are the most miserable and stand in the greatest need of humanitarian aid are the very places Christianity have had the least impact. The Muslim countries in particular have been very unwelcoming of Christianity, and those countries are some of the most backward countries in the world. Is there a connection? I believe so. Jesus teaching to love our neighbors as we love self has been and continues to be a powerful motivator of humanitarian work. Many of the great humanitarian organizations in our world today were originally founded and supported by Christians seeking to do good to their neighbors in need. As long as there are real Christians that follow the teachings of Jesus, the world will always be blessed by humanitarian work.