The Biblical Way to Care for the Poor

American Thinker ^ | September 23, 2012 | James Arlandson

[paradoxical]

But a decentralized government program, moving away from Washington, D.C., follows the spirit of the old Law of Moses and the new Kingdom of God that Jesus ushered in more closely than a centralized bureaucracy does. If we insist on government bureaucracy doing our charity in our place, then at least it should be local.

Yet, better than any state program, individual citizens, working together, need to step up and not wait for or depend on the government to do their charity work for them. And the poor need to work.

We the people need to participate.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/09/the_biblical_way_to_care_for_the_poor.html#ixzz27mt4wxgo

[paradoxical]

For consideration

[GeronL]

You mean spending 70-75% on overhead and bureaucracy on a multitude of different handouts is not biblical?

Unless its the Big Government Bible I guess

[Servant of the Cross]

It is definitely Biblical for charity and the care for the poor to be voluntary, participatory, faith-based, individual and local.

It is also definitively NOT Constitutional for the Government to do so with all these permanent bureaucratic 'programs'.

It has resulted in a permanent dependency and poverty for the people it supposedly helps. Not only does it create permanent poverty for the poor, it is fiscally unsustainable. Therefore, it will ultimately end, one way or another.

[Marie]

This woman said it the best. Here she is chastising the liberal Church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q4XD0vNxo0&feature=related

[Lazamataz]

Unfortunately, I note that this is in the Religion forum, and because I am much more careful (read: Respectful) here, I cannot comment (at least in my usual fashion).... lol

Tip of the hat and a bow to RMod.

[hosepipe]

The Bibical WAY IS....

Don’t harvest the corners of your fields..
Allow the “poor” to go harvest- thresh- mill- the grain, then cook and eat the corners..
And if they WON’T they can STARVE...

Starving will teach them a lesson and/or maybe clear out the lazy gene pool..
If “society” is lucky.. Brilliant really..

---

The democrat way is feed the lazy, punish or be parasitic to the productive..
Standing the Biblical axiom on its head..

---

Many republicans are like beasts that understand this on the level of a Chimpanzee..

[DannyTN]

The article picks and chooses it's scripture carefully. I noticed none of the scripture directed at kings or rulers was mentioned.

Jer 22:15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest [thyself] in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, [and] then [it was] well with him? Jer 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then [it was] well [with him: was] not this to know me? saith the LORD.

The government that fails to look out for the poor is in danger of being replaced. I see no problem managing that locally as long as local jurisdictions can't shirk their duty, which was a common problem in the colonial states.

Dan 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

[paradoxical]

Danny
thanks for the scriptures

[hosepipe]

[ This woman said it the best. Here she is chastising the liberal Church. ]

Did she say STOP voting for democrats?..
If not, shes just mouthing platitudes..
And YES is clueless..

If she didn’t say that strongly SHE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM..
She knows there is a “problem” but doesn’t KNOW WHAT IT IS..
Its quite simple really.. STOP VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS..

Course she might get herself OSTRACIZED... for saying it..
(Which means cut off, shunned, maybe bitch slapped)..

[Marie]

Did you even look at the video?!?

Her speech was part of a presentation of Exodus Now. It’s a call that began with black pastors and has expanded to other Christian and Jewish organizations.

The WHOLE POINT of Exodus Now is a call to leave the Democrat party! They are saying the the Democrats have rejected G-d and the Bible and that it’s time to leave the Democrats.

Her portion was saying that by putting the care for the poor in the hands of the government, the Church is abdicating their G-d-given responsibilities. That they need to stop expecting the government to save the poor, get off their collective butts and do it themselves.

She was passionately arguing AGAINST the welfare state and liberalism.

[hosepipe]

Yes I watched it......

She was mealy mouthed and pedantic.. not to speak of subtly indirect..
Its quite simple don’t take a lot of words.. just direct action..

The problem was zero hyperbole.. shes talking of a hyperbolic situation in the black community..

ONLY.. I repeat ONLY, hyperbole can hope to even get near to expressing it..
You know, like the prophets in the Bible.. they used hyperbole.. Freely..

She went on, and on and on.. never said STOP VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS, ever for any reason..
All the “issues” everybody already knows of.. there is only ONE solution.. ONE..

She said everything BUT the solution.. STOP VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS..
I add... and be extra careful of which republican you vote for..
Many republicans are Donkeys with an Elephant costume on..

I’m not sure she even KNOWS what the problem is..

[Marie]

Here’s the entire press conference in it’s entirety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEg737ELgbw

The reason she didn’t specifically say, ‘don’t vote democrat’ is because that was the entire purpose for the press conference. It had been said a dozen times before she took the podium.

HER portion was to remind churches what they SHOULD be doing.

As I said, the whole point of Exodus Now is to try to get religious people to leave the Democrat party. They are calling for a mass exodus from the liberals for all people who believe in G-d.

[hosepipe]

[ As I said, the whole point of Exodus Now is to try to get religious people to leave the Democrat party. They are calling for a mass exodus from the liberals for all people who believe in G-d. ]

Ok so be it.. I’ve had it with lengthy verbose platitudinous drivel used to soak up face time and sound bites.. Its all really very simple.. not complicated at all..

BUT the American World seems to be full of over-actors and great swelling words.. multiplying minutia.. from mole hills to mountains..

DON’T VOTE DEMOCRAT it is in fact sedition and probably treason..
In every single case NO EXCEPTIONS.. a conservative democrat is a Liar or Stupid.. or BOTH..

[ravenwolf]

The religious left further tells us that across-the-board budget cuts will hurt the poor. But how do we define the poor, and who gets to define them?

---

The people in government and those connected to the ones in government gets to define them and they define them selves and the other ones as worthless as they are as the poor.

The bible also tells us not to steal but you don,t hear them say anything about that because they are the biggest thieves on this earth.

[Religion Moderator]

Thank you.

[Sloth]

To me, those kinds of scriptures are oriented toward not oppressing or exploiting the poor, and making sure that they are treated fairly in legal matters and so on. The rich can afford better lawyers, bribes, etc., and the poor warrant protection from being rolled over by them. I don’t see it as redistributive charity.

[DannyTN]

I think it’s both. The first scripture I listed has “justice” listed separately in the first verse. And considering the cause of the poor and needy after that.

So what is the cause of the poor and needy, if it is separate than justice? I think it’s basic necessities and perhaps opportunity to move up. Certainly not redistributive with a goal of equality, nor turning a blind eye to special circumstances. A respect for Sanctity of life requires a certain amount of care for those less fortunate. I believe that first verse places responsibility squarely with the King, while not absolving individuals or the church from their equally valid mandate.