“Christians astounded the ancients with their charity. Although Romans were noted for their largess, they gave expecting a return in kind, at least in honor and friendship. Stoic sages regularly cautioned them to single out the deserving. Social aid, therefore, seldom reached the most needy, those belonging to the very dregs of society. It was precisely these whom Christians sought to help, regularly exhorting their constituency to openhanded and openhearted giving.”
E. Glenn Hinson, The Early Church: Origins to the Dawn of the Middle Ages (Nashville: Abingdon, 1994) 64.
In researching almsgiving in the early church in anticipation of Lent, I am moved at how countercultural Christian charity appears. Christians overturned the rules of reciprocity, which dictated that charity only be directed to the deserving, and of course, a return was always expected. Alternatively, Christian generosity is openhanded and imitates God’s openhearted grace: it is offered freely to everyone. May our giving stir such a renown and response.
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