For a few years when I was young I was poor. My family had no car and we lived in the “projects.” We didn’t have food stamps in those days, but I remember getting “surplus commodities.” Things like cheese and butter. It was helpful to have government provided shelter and food. But what our family really needed was a good job for my dad. My dad went through a period where he couldn’t get a decent job, but he never gave up. Eventually he got a job offshore as a galley hand. He worked hard and worked his way up and eventually became a clerk, a very good paying job. Years later, he was hurt on the job and the last few years of his working life, he “drew disability.”
It’s good that our government provides a “safety net” for the poor. Supplying basic food, and housing and some income for those who can’t work is a good thing. I don’t believe most folks, liberal or conservative have a problem with that. But being generous with someone else’s money isn’t a Christian virtue and isn’t what makes us a Christian nation.
Mr. Carter had some good qualities. He was not ashamed to be called “Christian.” His work with Habitat for Humanities is well known. Sometimes, however, he was just wrong and is remembered as not being our greatest president. What our government does is not what makes us Christian. Our government should allow us to exercise our faith and perform those works of charity that our faiths honor. Providing an environment for good jobs is a work of government, works of charity are for the church.
We are now in a chicken or the egg situation. We have gotten to the point where most look to government for things that really should be provided by the church. For that reason, many in the church have backed off of charitable works and the “social gospel.” We need to recognize that concern for the poor, widows, orphans and prisoners has always been part of Jesus’ vision for His church. Maybe if the church will get back to that we can get the government out of it. They really don’t do a great job at it. Do they? And if folks will start seeing us as loving and caring, maybe they will be better able to hear about Jesus.
Be blessed.
Nick
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