Today’s revolution comes as I participate in the bedrock of our capitalist economy – I am having a garage sale. Things must be priced right because people are buying. Of course I might be underselling myself – no problem there is always a bailout right around the corner.
Today’s question is an interesting one. It asks, “In what ways has the government strayed too far in applying biblical principals of helping those in need?”
We have to start by asking what is the biblical principal of helping those in need. Because I can’t be comprehensive here let me make some foundational statements and then briefly expound.
1. Jesus said the poor will be with us always.
2. Believers are to take care of true widows and orphans.
3. Those who don’t work don’t eat.
4. Believers are to bear one anothers burdens.
5. Everyone is to carry their own load.
It is incumbent of the Christian community to take care of those who are in need first within the church and then if possible those outside the church. There is a fine balance between helping people and enabling people. If the church’s (or the government’s) actions create a culture where people feel they have a right to other people’s resources because they don’t ‘have’ as much then we have not taught them to be self-sufficient to carry their own load.
What has happened in American culture is that what begins as a helping hand turns into an entitled right. After the great depression social security was designed to be a safety net that would assist people in their retired years. From my understanding it was never to be a complete, all encompassing, retirement plan. Yes, it is a safety net, but too many people expect it to be ample enough to carry them to their graves. Social Security has become an entitlement, and in this instance rightly so since the government has taken the money compulsory from the workers paycheck. They are entitled to their money. What they are not entitled to is to have every need taken care of.
With welfare, unemployment, medicare/caid, and now health care the government has become a nanny state seeing as its responsibility the care of those who ‘can’t’ take care of themselves. Is this a bad thing? Yes and no. It is not bad that people in the government want to take care of those who are need. But centralized bureaucracies as big as the US will only create dependency, disillusionment, and an uncaring institutionalized environment. The constitution says the government is to promote the common welfare. However, big government doesn’t promote the welfare of the people but rather creates an environment that is hostile to families, small communities, cities and states. True care comes when individuals in a community band together for the common good of all, helping those in need by standing with them as they are able to stand on their own. At any time if the government promotes another way then, in my humble opinion, it has strayed from biblical principles.
Tomorrow: Someone has asked me to view and comment on videos showing that President Obama is the Anti-Christ.
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