Quote:
Originally Posted by Pressing-On
There's a difference is helping the needy and making lazy people dependent on the Government for their survival. Don't you think?
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In the Bible God commands Israel,
Deuteronomy 15:11
For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
In every society there will be those who are chronically poor. This may be due to disability, psychological/emotional issues, abandonment, being elderly and needing care, and yes…laziness. In the ancient East all in the nation were entitled to basic survival. This was to preserve the nation and the culture. This is why laws like gleaning laws and the third year’s poor tithe are mentioned in the Bible. Anthropological researchers have found that such measures were common I ancient agricultural societies, especially in the Middle East. It was the duty of the entire society to provide the social safety net needed to ensure Social Justice. The book of Amos is an extensive rebuke for the nation’s failure to fulfill it’s obligation to the most needy in their society.
I’m sure that there were some who gleaned the fields who may have been capable of doing work of their own. However, the Bible doesn’t appear to address them. Paul does address MEN who are able to work who don’t. Generally the classes that were entitled to Social Justice were the poor (those who's work didn't provide enough to live by), needy (disabled), fatherless (abandoned mother’s and children), widows (elderly), and strangers (immigrants). All were entitled to glean…oh…and also the Levite. The Levite and the religious classes were also entitled to glean because they were not allowed to own land of their own. This is why Jesus, an able bodied man, gleaned the corn fields with his disciples when accused by the Pharisees for eating with unwashed hands. So there have always been requirements for assistance. America would do well to consider the Biblical requirements of social justice in distribution of welfare.
Welfare, or Social Justice, is commented on throughout the Bible as my reference above presents.
God bless.
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