[GunRunner]

Sorry, I don't see helping people in order to appease an innate aversion to suffering as inferior to helping people to appease your responsibility to a theistic God.

Even in your realm, charity helps you personally satisfy your celestial requirements, so there's a selfish aspect to both ways.

You seem to want to go out of your way to make it clear that you take no satisfaction in helping people at all, as that would require no "sacrifice" and helping people to appease your own conscience would only amount to "offering a dirty houseguest a bath because they're stinking up your house".

Your views on charity are almost as creepy as your views on family.

But I want to be clear on this, so read carefully: I feel no shame that helping people makes me feel good.

Also, this absurd idea that I'm broadcasting my charitable acts is ridiculous, since all of my examples have been rhetorical.

I honestly think you need help. I've never heard people express such twisted ideas about family and charity.

[PieterCasparzen]

Oh, you're back trolling.

But I want to be clear on this, so read carefully: I feel no shame that helping people makes me feel good.

That is you posting on the internet the fact that you do charitable acts.

Also, this absurd idea that I'm broadcasting my charitable acts is ridiculous, since all of my examples have been rhetorical.

That is you saying you don't publicize your charitable acts.

[PieterCasparzen]

You seem to want to go out of your way to make it clear that you take no satisfaction in helping people at all, as that would require no "sacrifice" and helping people to appease your own conscience would only amount to "offering a dirty houseguest a bath because they're stinking up your house".

Psalm 41:1 "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."

Proverbs 22:16 "He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."

Many wealthy people are actually greatly profiting from their charitable activities through tax reductions and free publicity. That is oppressing the poor; profiting from their misery. The poor have become an industry, as have the sick. It's disgraceful. Billions of tax dollars are spent on government programs that are rung up as sales for by companies, all in the name of the government "helping the poor". In a recent year, charitable donations, i.e., tax deductions, topped $300 billion. With hundreds of billions flying around, there is no excuse that any person would still be poor. Of course, what is going on in reality is that many of the wealthy are, in fact, profiting off of the "helping the sick and poor" industry to a staggering degree. Cures for diseases are purposely never found, only lifelong costly ways to "live with sickness". The poor are encouraged to never seek taxable income and profitable work for themselves; this then keeps them poor. Often they have off-the-books schemes so in fact they are not poor at all, but have cars, fine clothes, jewelry, etc. It's a corrupt mess.

The believer in Jesus Christ is compelled to live according to the whole counsel of God, given in his Word, as he is bought with a price:

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

So the Christian is exhorted by God's Word, the Bible, in so many verses like Psalm 41, to care for the truly poor and the sick.