Rejecting Charity By the Sword

Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus gave his followers the Apostolic Commission to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” Many Christian rulers would interpret this as a command to use the power of government to enforce the faith. Imprisonment, banishment, and execution could not compel genuine faith in God, but they could enforce acts of faith such as being baptised or attending Mass. Using the law to enforce acts of faith became known as “conversion by the sword.”

In our own time, many Christians have become increasingly attracted to what might be called “Charity by the sword.” They correctly point out that Scripture calls us to charity and then insist that Christians are bound by Scripture’s call for charity to support various forms of government redistribution. Of course, the law cannot compel genuine charity any more than it can compel genuine faith. But it can compel acts of charity.