Home > Bible Talk > Archives > 2008 > February > 05 > Entry
Is It Government’s Responsibility To Help The Poor?
Today’s blog entry is a follow-up to Ted Nugent’s {better known to us as the Texas Wildman} recent article. In this past Sunday’s article, he told us he was “INCENSED” at the Bush/Pelosi $150 billion dollar economic stimulus package and proceeded to tell us we should be too! Using his normal witty and sometimes funny articulation, he stated: “Sending us a check for a couple hundred bucks is a pandering joke-an economic slap in the face!” He also accused the government of: “Giving you some of your money back in hopes that you would spend it on Bling-Bling, big screen televisions, and other indulgent garbage!”
Nugent’s comments should make us ponder what kind of government we want from a biblical worldview? What do we do with Jesus words: “When you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me.” Doesn’t that almost sound like Jesus is telling us to make sure that the poor and widows are to be taken care of? But then you look at the New Testament church in the book of Acts, and you see where the people who had, sold what they had to make sure everyone’s needs were met. They didn’t need the government to supply the people’s needs, the church met them all!
Ahh- but that is where our view of Government comes in. In my humble view, I believe that God never intended for our Government to take care of the ills of our society. I believe he intended us, his church to meet those needs. The problem is that somewhere, somebody thought the government could do a better job with our money that we could! If Christians weren’t taxed so much by local, state, and national governmental bodies, we would have more to donate to local churches and Non- profits who historically have been able to get more bang for each buck donated compared to government run programs.
So tell me, what do you believe the bible says about the type of government we should have? Should we be supporting government run programs, or keeping more of our money so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus in helping the poor?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By KDF
February 5, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
I believe (as the Hippocratic oath states), that anyone who needs medical care should get it, government paid if need be. I was blessed with my post-navy insurance, and now medicare. I am mostly conservative, but being sick or terribly ill and not being able to afford coverage is scary. Some folks do not have the facalties to make enough money to support having medical care.
Yes, the church should do far and away more, but I believe it is a Christian right to have care without having the headaches of getting it (no pun intended).
As for Mr. Nugent, I don’t know him, but he is included in our devotions. His words of God, and living by God’s standards did not jive with what I heard him sing and speak at his concert. He also says that smokers, drinkers, and druggies are weak people. At the concert I saw, he was obviously making his money playing at a bar, making his money off smokers, drinkers and druggies. He is bright, and probably could put together an answer that sounds good, but I don’t believe even the “Nuge” can fool our Lord. His personality is very strong and would help Christianity tremendously with the actions of his words. Bless you “Nuge”!!! <><
By Nathan
February 6, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Yes, Joe, we would have more money to give to the church to help the poor, but would we? What percentage of members in your church actually tithe? What percentage give more than a tithe?
And how many churches would use the extra revenue to improve their multimedia equipment or build a new sanctuary or raise the pastor’s salary.
Yes, the government is doing a lousy job with the poor. But in the current world, I’m not convinced the church would do much better.
By Neill
February 7, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
I agree with Pastor Carbajal on this point. I also believe the church needs to end its practice of using the tax exempt status. This act gives the Government control over what the church can say politically from the pulpit. As to Nathan’s comments about the church and giving, yes it is true that only about 10% of the church gives, and from that 10% we have ministries like Caritas, The Care Center, The Feast, Salvation Army, and Compassion Ministries. These ministries not only feed, clothe, and shelter the needy, but also teach them how to be responsible citizens instead of sitting around waiting for a hand out. So, yes, Nathan, the 10% would give more. As for the 90% that don’t. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, In what have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering! You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, the nation, all of it. Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. And test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, to see if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you, and pour out a blessing for you, until there is not enough room. (Malachi 3:8-10)” (MKJV) This verse is a reference to Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up inside your gates. And the Levite, because he has no part nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are inside your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied, so that Jehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)” (MKJV) The storehouse is for caring for the needy, not carpeting sanctuaries, building buildings, etc. So I would encourage all to read the truth about hilarious, joyful giving in Deuteronomy 14. Celebrate, and be blessed.
By the reader
February 8, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this
WE THE PEOPLE OF THE…………………..
By LARRYE
February 8, 2008 6:12 AM | Link to this
AS PASTOR OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IT IS THE NOT ONLY THE CIVIL MINDED ENTITY OUR GOVERNMENT AS WE SAY THOSE PEOPLE AS WELL ARE AFFECTED BY POVERTY, WE WILL ALLWAYS HAVE THE POOR WITH US.AS A PASTOR MY DECISION IS TO OPEN A SOUP KITCHEN IN EAST WACO 1300 FAULKNER LANE ON MONDAYS AS SOON AS ALL THE PAPER WORK IS DONE AND THE PURPOSE BEING TO GIVE A CUP OF SOUP OR COLD DRINK AND OF COURSE OUR INTENT IS TO HELP THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SURVIVE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSULTS TO THE MIND WITH MUCH LEVERAGE AND THE AID OF HIS SPIRIT WE WILL FULFILL OUR COMMISSION.