Editing Alms (section)

== Christianity ==
[[File:Codex Tennenbach 4 017r.jpg|thumb|[[Clare of Assisi|St. Clare]] distributes alms; Tennenbach Codex 4, illustrated before {{circa|1492}}]]
In Christianity, the giving of alms is viewed as an act of [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alms and Almsgiving (in the Bible) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alms-and-almsgiving-bible|access-date=2021-09-18|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> In the [[Apostolic age]], [[Christians]] were taught that giving alms was an expression of love. Such care for the poor was to be understood as love for God, who, in the person of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], sacrificed himself for the salvation of believers.{{efn|[[Epistle of James|James]] 1:27 (NIV) "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."}}

In nearly all Christian denominations, money is donated to support the church's financial needs and its ministry to the less fortunate. In some churches, the alms are placed near to the [[altar]] to symbolize that the offering belongs to God and to represent the unity of the congregation.{{efn|Compare with {{bibleverse|Matthew|5:23–24|KJV}}.}}

=== In Western Christianity ===
[[File:Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk by John Phillip YORAG 384.jpg|thumb|''Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk'' by [[John Phillip]]]]
The [[offertory]] is the traditional moment in the [[Mass (Catholic Church)|Roman Catholic Mass]], [[Divine Service (Lutheran)|Lutheran Divine Service]], and [[Anglican eucharistic theology|Anglican Eucharist]], when alms are collected. [[Baptist]]s and Methodists, among other denominations, collect [[tithe]]s and offerings (alms) during the offertory in church services. A tithe, the first tenth of one's income, is seen as what is owed to God, while an offering (alms) includes anything contributed beyond that.<ref name="Prince2011">{{cite book |last1=Prince |first1=Derek |title=The Promise of Provision: Living and Giving from God's Abundant Supply |date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-1-4412-6328-5 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="ClaydonClarke2010">{{cite book |last1=Claydon |first1=Tony |last2=Clarke |first2=Peter Bernard |title=God's Bounty?: Papers Read at the 2008 Summer Meeting and the 2009 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society |date=2010 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-9546809-6-1 |language=English}}</ref> Some fellowships practice regular giving for special purposes called "love offerings" for the poor, destitute or victims of catastrophic loss such as home fires or medical expenses. Traditionally, deacons and deaconesses are responsible for distributing these gifts among [[widow]]s, orphans, and others in need. Many Christians support a plethora of charitable organizations, not all of which claim a Christian religious affiliation. Many American educational and medical institutions were founded by Christian fellowships giving alms.

=== In Eastern Christianity ===
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], the collection of alms and tithes has not been formally united to the offertory in any liturgical action. However, either having a collection plate in the [[narthex]] or passing it unobtrusively during the service is not uncommon. In [[Eastern Orthodox theology]], almsgiving is an important part of the spiritual life, and [[fasting]] should always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kallistos (Ware) |first1=Bishop |author-link=Timothy Ware |last2=Mary |first2=Mother |year=1978 |publication-date=2002 |title=The Lenten Triodion |pages=35ff |location=South Canaan PA |publisher=St. Tikhon's Seminary Press |isbn=1-878997-51-3}}</ref> Almsgiving in the name of the deceased also frequently accompanies [[prayer for the dead]]. Those whose financial circumstances do not permit the giving of monetary alms may give alms in other ways, such as [[intercessory prayer]] and [[Works of Mercy|acts of mercy]] such as visiting people in prison, clothing the poor or volunteering in soup kitchens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matthew 25:36 - The Sheep and the Goats |url=https://biblehub.com/matthew/25-36.htm |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Bible Hub}}</ref>

=== In the New Testament ===
In addition, private acts of charity are a duty and considered virtuous only if not done for others to admire:
{{Blockquote|Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.|{{bibleverse||Matthew|6:1}}}}

Jesus places the primary focus on the motives behind the outward and inward giving of alms, which should be love:
{{Blockquote|Rather, give as alms what is inside, and then everything will be clean for you!|{{bibleverse||Luke|11:41}}}}

[[File:Gospel of Luke Chapter 21-4 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg|thumb|Jesus commends this poor but generous woman in {{bibleverse||Luke|21:1–4}}.]]
Jesus contrasts the giving of the rich and the poor:
{{Blockquote|He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.'|{{bibleverse||Luke|21:1–4}}}}

Giving should be out of love and not out of duty:
{{blockquote|He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'|{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:45}}}}


Sharing possessions was practised in the church:

{{Blockquote|text=Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.|multiline=true|source=Acts 4:32}}
{{Blockquote|text=..there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.|source=Acts 4:34-37|multiline=true}}