Posted on 09/25/2016 7:26:05 AM PDT by Salvation
Monsignor Pope Ping!
Define “poor”.
Are we talking destitute, downtrodden, oppressed, incapable, lazy, or manipulative?
"And who is my neighbor?"
Creating a structure where the poor can get themselves out of their situation is a blessing.
Handing money to the poor in the absence of such a structure is a sin.
You raise a very good point. I’ve said for a long time that the most damaging thing about a welfare state is that it completely distorts the human understanding of what it means to be poor.
Rich.
Now what to make of it?
More Mere (True) Christianity from Msgr Charles Pope! Note that this is not a “works” doctrine. As James wrote in his letter, our works confirm the belief in our hearts.
Bingo! I think a good litmus test is “workfare” that has been used in Europe. Anyone on public assistance and can still fog a mirror must show up each morning and help cleaning and taking care of public buildings...cleaning toilets, washing windows...whatever needs to be done. Those with young children placed them in gov’t daycare, but had a charge deducted from their paycheck. Evidently, people seem to think that, if I have to work anyway, I may as well get a better job.
Our system of giving them everything from welfare and food stamps to free cell phones makes absolutely no sense to me. The politicians are simply using our tax dollars to buy themselves a job. Time to clean house and start over.
“What to make of it” is that this parable and other teachings of Jesus emphasize that we are to help those in need. We might even say that an eagerness to help those in need is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God. Prudent judgment is to be employed in determining, as far as possible, which means are genuinely helpful and beneficial.
What she said! Anyone whom you come across in your life that you can help is “the poor” and your neighbor. We had a blowout on our RV that put us in a rest stop on I25. The next morning a trucker came over and asked if we had any paper towels. I asked him what he needed them for and he said to make coffee. I said that a number one coffee filter would do better and gave him a box. Abba Father takes care of our smallest needs, but one has to be alert to when one is being used as the instrument of His Grace.
Oh, well said!
I would have assumed the trucker wanted to wipe up a spill and just given him the paper towels ;-).
BookMark
We actually do a great deal to help the “poor”. Every person and family that receives government benefits are being helped. This money did not fall from the sky, it was provided by (taken from) every person in this country considered to have an “excess” of wealth.
I don’t think anyone should have to see their children starve, or lack shelter, or medical attention when needed, etc., if there are means available to help. With that said, once that is accomplished I don’t think there is any further obligation to help. Once the basic necessities are provided it is up to each individual to help themselves if they desire more. I see no moral imperative to see that everyone dies with the same amount of wealth (or lack thereof).
Based on the Bible and the teaching from Jesus, helping the poor is voluntary and not mandated by the government.
It is not just giving money, but helping them in many ways including treating them with respect, yet not necessarily respecting their sins or way of life.
Romans 3:23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of God's glory
Titus 3:5 He saved us, NOT on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
No one sin is more "damnable" than the next, for everyone has sinned to one extent or the other, and that sin seperates us from God. Also, NO MATTER how much, or what good things we do, we cannot earn our way to heaven.
Feeding or not feeding the poor, neither sends us to hell or merits our entering heaven.
“Define “poor”.”
Its like the difference between porn and art. You know it when you see it.
“Prudent judgment is to be employed in determining,”
Exactly. Use prudent judgment, don’t be a judging prude.
It is not “have to” help others: it is “get to” help others ... just as it is not “have to go to church” but “get to go to church.”
LOL!
It seems like you could do both, although not, perhaps, simultaneously ...
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