No doubt. Given the plethora of philosophies about what Christianity is and what some think that it should be, debates are bound to arise.
Paul gave to us what I see as being a great balance to the entire discussion about the defining foundation of Christianity, as well as the OT scriptures:
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Powerful thought in helping us to keep our priorities in order, and furthermore:
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Ecclesiastes 2:24 [There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
We see, then, that there is no wrong in partaking and being enriched from one's own labors while providing for those without because they have hit upon hard times in life or cannot provide for themselves.
However, here in the West, our government has long since cultivated an entire "race" of parasitic sluggards who feed off the labors of others, all because of the altruistic ethic that, as Ayn Rand stated, they are parasites who talk of the duty of all others to do for others, with all who actually labor being forced into alleged benevolence toward the parasitic sluggards.
Yes, there are genuine needy who got to where they are, some from bad decision-making, others through folly, and others yet out of no fault of their own who cannot function to make their own living. The fine line between godly benevolence and outright altruism to the extent that the elite are using it as a means toward cultural and national socialism, it is wicked to the core, as satanic as the can possibly be understood foundational values, or lack thereof, of that creature.
The imbalances that govern altruism, however, push those who produce into giving even to the vast population of sluggards, thus making the giver into a parasite by living as an enabler of the sluggards, and never asking nor answering the question as to WHY!
MM