'Serving the needy' named as Christianity's top contribution

The Rev. Howard Chapman, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Marion is beginning to write a sermon series based on the Bible's book of Matthew, which lays out what people need to do to get into heaven.

“The criteria of final judgment is: did you do the right thing, did you practice the right liturgy and did you help the poor,” he said.

So, Chapman and other area pastors said this week they were “not surprised” by results of a recent survey indicating that Americans believe serving the needy has been Christianity's biggest contribution to society.

“I'm kind of glad to hear that,” said the Rev. Mel Schlachter of Trinity Episcopal Church, 320 E. College St., Iowa City.

In a recent survey conducted by the Barna Research Group, researchers asked participants what they thought Christianity's biggest contribution to American society has been throughout history.

One out of five, or 19 percent, mentioned how American Christians have helped the poor or underprivileged.

The second most popular response was related to evangelism - or advancing society's belief in God. Sixteen percent of respondents felt that was the biggest contribution to society. Shaping and protecting American values and morals was mentioned by 14 percent of survey participants.

“There are those organizations that go out and strictly preach,” said Chapman of First Presbyterian, 802 12th St., Marion. “Most mission organizations ... go and start hospitals, start schools, work in the worst poverty-stricken areas. That earns credibility (that) ... we truly are followers of Jesus Christ.”

Schlachter agrees and points out that though Jesus told his followers to display how faith affected them, he otherwise wasn't an advocate of evangelism or shaping society's values and morals.

“He seemed to care more about crossing over social boundaries, meeting with people who, one group or another, would find themselves as outcasts or social pariahs, getting people together who, on the face it, wouldn't get together,” Schlachter said.