1 John 3:17. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
After posting this blog a few weeks ago
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3451&emailView=1
I was told by a friend, a good Christian brother, that he fully supported Chairman Ryan's budget cuts even though two- thirds of the cuts come from programs for lower income Americans. Since that time I have been kicking around an idea and I feel I have to pose this question now. Can I Be A Christian and NOT Help the Poor? Or In tough economic times can I make the hard choices that will hurt the disadvantaged for the sake of the country despite my beliefs?
These a difficult times, faced with mountains of debt, social programs on the verge of insolvency, banking and financial systems going haywire and jobs and sustainable housing at a premium the ground America seems to be standing on seems shaky at best. If we can't tighten our belts now then our glorious country, that "city on a hill" is set for a tumble.
But i was always told that you can't squeeze blood from a stone. So how is it that we plan to balance the budget on the backs of those who have the least? This may seem to be fiscal prudent policy, but is it morally right? How can I stand on the Christian values that The Bible lays down and yet bite the economic bullet and condone cuts to desperately needed social programs? Or to go even deeper, “Am I a Christian first or an American first?”
And just what does the Bible say about helping the poor?
Deut. 15:7. "If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
But what about
Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”
Proverbs 19:15”Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep and an idle person will suffer hunger." and
2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." Aren't these clear cut ordinances that say those who are lazy deserve their lot in life and if they were more industrious they would enjoy the fruits of their labor and not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from? Isn't that what the Bible teaches?
This shows the general misconception i.e...The poor have little money and few resources and depend on the aid of others to make ends meet (charity, Government programs etc...) and lazy people are generally poor so All poor people are lazy. Logically I know most of you realize how spurious an argument this is...Logically. But emotionally....emotionally many people feel there are boatloads of truth in this statement, even though it flies in the face of logic, the face of facts.
Most of the poor are no more content in their situation as an ant is under a magnifying glass on a bright, sunny day. Most of the poor work a hard scrabble existence and do more with little than most should be able to do. Underemployed people, unemployed people who are desperate for work-ANY work (I have seen stiff competition for dishwasher jobs), single mothers, grandmothers raising grandkids on social security and food stamps. Ex Cons who are desperately trying not to fall back into old habits washing cars for tips to keep from going back to jail, people with bachelors and masters degrees unloading trucks and flipping burgers because those were the only jobs out there to get. Are these the lazy, the lay-abouts the sluggards and hobos? So when we ask for a hand UP-for the sake of fiscal responsibility are you to slap it down? Can we do that and with a clear conscious dress up in our Sunday's best and head down to our local tabernacle and worship God with a settled and happy heart?
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