In a guest editorial in The Baptist Standard, Southern Baptist Sunday School teacher and President of The Gathering, a faith-based philanthropic endeavor, Fred Smith penned a post entitled, What Can Wash Away My Sin?
The article cites “church fathers” as acknowledging the value of acts of charity as penance for sin. However, just because a church father believed, taught, or wrote a thing does not make that thing “Gospel.” We always, always, always turn to Scripture as the final source of truth. We must be Berean.
Smith goes on to suggest that the need for absolution of sin is the reason Christians should be charitable. This, though, is a fundamental Roman Catholic teaching of works for forgiveness.