How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

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Odysseusa
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How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

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http://www.jewfaq.org/tzedakah.htm


"Giving to the poor is an obligation in Judaism, a duty that cannot be forsaken even by those who are themselves in need. Some sages have said that tzedakah is the highest of all commandments, equal to all of them combined, and that a person who does not perform tzedakah is equivalent to an idol worshipper. This is probably hyperbole, but it illustrates the importance of tzedakah in Jewish thought. Tzedakah is one of the three acts that gain us forgiveness from our sins. The High Holiday liturgy repeatedly states that G-d has inscribed a judgment against all who have sinned, but teshuvah (repentance), tefilah (prayer) and tzedakah (charity) can alleviate the decree. See Days of Awe."



Levels of Tzedakah

Certain kinds of tzedakah are considered more meritorious than others. The Talmud describes these different levels of tzedakah, and Rambam organized them into a list. The levels of charity, from the least meritorious to the most meritorious, are:


1.Giving begrudgingly
2.Giving less that you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3.Giving after being asked
4.Giving before being asked
5.Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6.Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7.Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant



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Last edited by Odysseusa on Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

Post by MediumTex »

That looks pretty complicated to me.

I wonder if God really slices it that finely when it comes to charity. 

OTOH, maybe those are just some guidelines that a rabbi came up with when he was in an especially analytical mood.

When we are talking about acts of charity, I am a little uneasy assigning most and least meritorious tags.  If someone is in the frame of mind of seeking the most meritorious treatment of a certain act of charity, I wonder whether it is really an act of charity, as opposed to a calculated move to gain what is perceived to be God's favor.

When I have been moved to act on a charitable impulse, I think I would have felt silly pausing to apply this checklist.

The fact that the material is copyrighted apparently means that the author doesn't take a charitable approach to his guidelines on being charitable.

Although I hate to take such a worldly approach to things, I really think that when it comes to providing a persuasive rationale for doing things that help to pay the clergy's salary, I think that members of the clergy ought to recuse themselves from making pronouncements regarding God's will, since the potential for a conflict of interest is so overwhelming. 

What would be very refreshing would be to hear a priest, pastor or rabbi say: "I have talked to God about giving to the church and he said that in order to eliminate the appearance of a conflict of interest his messages in this area will be delivered through a different mouthpiece than me from now on."  Instead, what you normally get is something along the lines of: "Well, I talked to God, and he said to give generously, preferably to this church, and preferably today."

Putting together a rationale for charity that will undoubtedly benefit the church in the form of increased contributions in exchange for assurances that the forgiveness of the giver's sins will be more swift, efficient or long-lasting seems a little shallow to me.

I think that people should certainly perform acts of charity, but not as part of some kind of bargain with God for expedited sin forgiveness, but rather because acts of charity are intrinsically fulfilling and require no incentive, explanation, checklist or meritorious rankings.
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

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MediumTex wrote: That looks pretty complicated to me.

I wonder if God really slices it that finely when it comes to charity.  

OTOH, maybe those are just some guidelines that a rabbi came up with when he was in an especially analytical mood.

When we are talking about acts of charity, I am a little uneasy assigning most and least meritorious tags.  If someone is in the frame of mind of seeking the most meritorious treatment of a certain act of charity, I wonder whether it is really an act of charity, as opposed to a calculated move to gain what is perceived to be God's favor.

When I have been moved to act on a charitable impulse, I think I would have felt silly pausing to apply this checklist.

The fact that the material is copyrighted apparently means that the author doesn't take a charitable approach to his guidelines on being charitable.

Although I hate to take such a worldly approach to things, I really think that when it comes to providing a persuasive rationale for doing things that help to pay the clergy's salary, I think that members of the clergy ought to recuse themselves from making pronouncements regarding God's will, since the potential for a conflict of interest is so overwhelming.  

What would be very refreshing would be to hear a priest, pastor or rabbi say: "I have talked to God about giving to the church and he said that in order to eliminate the appearance of a conflict of interest his messages in this area will be delivered through a different mouthpiece than me from now on."  Instead, what you normally get is something along the lines of: "Well, I talked to God, and he said to give generously, preferably to this church, and preferably today."

Putting together a rationale for charity that will undoubtedly benefit the church in the form of increased contributions in exchange for assurances that the forgiveness of the giver's sins will be more swift, efficient or long-lasting seems a little shallow to me.

I think that people should certainly perform acts of charity, but not as part of some kind of bargain with God for expedited sin forgiveness, but rather because acts of charity are intrinsically fulfilling and require no incentive, explanation, checklist or meritorious rankings.
The rabbinical tradition was more based on logical analysis over faith, with a view to establish guidelines for moral behavior.  So, that's an excellent, rabbinical, counter analysis, MT.   :D 
Last edited by lazyboy on Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

Post by craigr »

Well looks like we're at #8 already:

"8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant"

That's what helping people save and invest for themselves is.  ;D
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

Post by foglifter »

This is an interesting and very important for many topic, I'm glad to have found it on this forum. With no intention to start theological discussions I just wanted to humbly offer my opinion:
If I wanted to keep the number of acts and still add the one that I felt was missing in the subject then I would merge Repentance and Prayer - they naturally go together, and added Belief. Although this really turns it into 2 primary acts (Repentance in Prayer and Belief) and one secondary (Charity).

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.... But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the prophets bear witness to it -- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:20-24)
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

Post by lazyboy »

craigr wrote: Well looks like we're at #8 already:

"8.Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant"

That's what helping people save and invest for themselves is.  ;D
Thank you, craigr, I truly appreciate that gift. :D
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Re: How can we gain forgiveness from our sins? 3 acts = repentance, prayer, charity

Post by MediumTex »

foglifter wrote: This is an interesting and very important for many topic, I'm glad to have found it on this forum. With no intention to start theological discussions I just wanted to humbly offer my opinion:
If I wanted to keep the number of acts and still add the one that I felt was missing in the subject then I would merge Repentance and Prayer - they naturally go together, and added Belief. Although this really turns it into 2 primary acts (Repentance in Prayer and Belief) and one secondary (Charity).

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.... But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the prophets bear witness to it -- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:20-24)
Thanks foglifter.  That's good stuff.
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