Posted on 10/16/2013 12:52:51 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
There are numerous verses in the Bible commanding people to help the poor, but the Christian-based Family Research Council (FRC) claims that doesn't include the government helping the needy.
FRC head Tony Perkins recently told Christian radio host Janet Mefferd that while Christians should be active in politics and government, they cannot support the government helping poor people, noted RightWingWatch.org (audio below).
"I think as Christians we'll be held responsible for the policies adopted by this government because it’s us,” said Perkins.
"Is that saying the government has a responsibility to care for the poor? That’s not what scripture says. The scripture handed that responsibility to you and I as members of the faith, followers of Jesus Christ,” Perkins later added.
"[Jesus] never said to Rome, to the Romans that, 'You guys need to make sure that you're taking out of one person's pocket to give to another.' He said, 'No, you sell all that you have and give to the poor, you take that responsibility,'" stated Perkins.
However, there is not one verse in the Bible that forbids any government from helping the poor.
Perkins, who has not sold all of his possessions to give to the poor, is also incorrect about Jesus, who actually told people to pay their taxes ("taking out of one person's pocket to give to another") to Rome in the Book of Matthew 21:22:
They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Did. The British had them; but I did not find any "poor laws" prior to the constitution. The only "poor law" that I found was one in NY after the Constitution was ratified. But then, how Christian - self governing - is NY? Can you give a specific link to a site?
Read the first link, have to wait till I get home on the second. Needless to say; that first link is VERY interesting (thank you). It should be pointed out that (and appears prominently) the Puritan church was very important in helping to make these laws; you can tell that by how close these laws were to Biblical principles (e.g., worthy, unworthy, etc.). It's a shame that we have gotten away from these Biblical principles and now pay in high taxes to those that are able, unaccountable, and will not work.
I look forward to your response to my other posts/questions.
Agreed, although as one of the articles points out the poor houses that were intended for the unworthy ended up being populated mostly by the worthy.
And our biggest problem right now is the stupid government policies that have offshored our industries and resulted in a dramatic increase in the unemployed.
We need to bring back American industry and put those willing to work back to work. Only then does it make sense to focus on dividing the remainder between those who can work and those who can't.
I do think it makes sense to have some kind of intervention for those that can but won't work. And we need to beef up fraud stings for those that collect benefits but are not illegible.
Indeed; but that does get away from Biblical principles too.
"And our biggest problem right now is the stupid government policies that have offshored our industries and resulted in a dramatic increase in the unemployed."
Though it is a subject of the ways of employment are involved; it is a good topic for another thread.
"I do think it makes sense to have some kind of intervention for those that can but won't work. And we need to beef up fraud stings for those that collect benefits but are not illegible."
I know what you mean; I agree.
I'm doing a bit of research on what the Founders thought of government welfare/poor laws, etc.; they often cited the Bible, or used Biblical principles, in arguing/resolving such issues (as with just about all issues). I think you may find it interesting too. Here is an excerpt from Heritage about Ben Franklin with quotes from him:
"Franklin could be quite strict toward those who turned their back on his exhortations. Despite his affinity with the common man, he had little patience for the folly that led people astray. His reflections on the English poor laws, based upon his years in London, are remarkably harsh by today’s standards. Poor laws, he thought, risked falling into that species of misdirected charity that “tends to flatter our natural indolence, to encourage idleness and prodigality, and thereby to promote and increase poverty.” Legitimate relief is one thing, but in excess, “may it not be found fighting against the order of God and Nature, which perhaps has appointed Want and Misery as the proper Punishments for, and Cautions against as well as necessary consequences of Idleness and Extravagancy.”
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/07/benjamin-franklin-the-sage-of-america
Arlen Sphincter has some Scottish law on that.
also.http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2011/07/what-would-the-founders-do-about-welfare
Leftists “Social Justice”:
“We’re telling you to do what we say Jesus said and having the government make sure you do it”
It's worse than that; they're distorting what Jesus said and telling us He said, "Government is to take your money and give to those who don't want to work to get themselves out of being poor!" It is quoted in the LBV (Liberal Bible Version) Bible; didn't you know that?
(we agree);)
Yes, I do appreciate and enjoy good sarcasm; and yours was enjoyably based on truth. I agreed with what you stated and just thought I would reciprocate with some sarcastic wit against the theology of Liberalism myself. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed yours!
:-)
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