Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferd
All this "Jesus Asking" business is just plain tiresome.
Fact is, as Christians (not Americans) we are required to help those in need.
Secondly when we as Chirstians support policy that forces the poor into a kind of servitude to the state, we rebel against the Word of God!
help for the poor ought to be in the form of helping them get jobs so they can take care of themselves. And in the cases where they refuese to help themselves, help should be in the form of tuff love that forces them to take care of themsleves.
We will will always have the poor with us. (I have been poor myself on more than one occasion). We should treat them fairly and with respect. we should not build cheep houseing and give them handouts that force them into terrible situations and steal their one personal drive!
What we have done to the poor in America is make them dependant and rob them of their own free will and drive to succeed!
If there is anything that deserves the ire of God, it is this.
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I can respect that Ferd. My mother and I were evicted from our apartment when I was 12 years old and we spent a short time homeless and then landed in emergency housing and then the projects.
I think that in our society today much more is needed for struggling families than charity. I can see the church helping a family with groceries, clothes, etc. in the short term in the event of a job loss or house fire. But most churches can barely pay their light bill and most Christian families are living paycheck to paycheck just paying their bills.
In the OT the third year’s tithe went to stock the storehouse for the poor and needy. From there food and goods were distributed to the poor, needy, fatherless, widows, and strangers of the land. In addition to this the Law of God allowed these individuals to glean from the fields of landowners. This wasn’t just private, voluntary, periodic charity…Israel was a theocracy and this was their social system of entitlements. Many Zionist rabbis have pointed to this to theologically support social services and the current universal health care system in modern Israel. This is also why so many Jews disproportionately identify with liberal Democrats over conservative Republicans in America.
I do agree that America’s system hasn’t delivered. I think that social services should have common sense requirements. Those receiving assistance should be required to work at least part time in community service and attend classes and/or job training to build job skills and experience. I don’t believe one should be allowed to receive benefits without working unless they have children who are not yet old enough to go to school. I also believe in a cap on benefits…none of this having more and more kids to get more and more money.
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