In honor of the current government shutdown:
"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" Proverbs 14:31
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people , eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" 1 Timothy 6:10
When did we start demonizing the poor? Not all of us, but a good part of the population. Even good Christian friends of mine I have seen bash poor people or those on welfare. I've seen things posted online along the lines of "Why should my tax money go to pay for others?" or "My kids are going to work multiple jobs to pay for all these welfare cheats". Now, I know no system is perfect and there can be some fraud - but these are blanket statements covering a segment of the population.
The funny part is I never hear these same people complain about their tax money being used for defense spending (by the way, we spend more than the next 11 countries combined), subsidies for oil companies and corporate farms, or wasting legislative time with the same issues over and over to score political points (maybe 42 times). There is no outrage over tax loopholes or shelters where corporations hide their wealth. They argue about rampant spending but only when their party is not in power.
Sorry, my Republican friends, your party is not fiscally conservative. Between 2001-2009, they raised the debt ceiling multiple times (by the way, that's to pay bills already authorized, not new spending), had two wars which were unfunded, a prescription plan also unfunded, as well as temporary tax breaks also unfunded. This helped to bring down the economy and increase the debt. To be fair, I remember my Republican friends being upset and vocal about that reckless spending. Oh, wait that was the sound of crickets.
I don't mean to bash on the Republicans so much - but they cloak themselves in the bible and patriotism when their actions fall so very short. When they talk about cutting spending - its always welfare, Medicare and Medicaid, education, unions that are to blame. They never say hey we are spending so much on defense, or we should close those tax loopholes. If Republicans love their bible so much, they should read Ezekiel 34 to see what God thinks of the government's role.
To be honest, both parties engage in reckless spending. But, lets not be hypocrites to ignore what "our" side is doing.
But, back to the poor people on welfare. Most of the time, I hear the stories of how people are cheating welfare. It's based on how they dress, the car they drive, and what they are purchasing. I am sure there is some corruption (as there is with all things) - but I do not think it is as over the top as some media portrays it.
My question is: What do you accept as being a legitimate poor person? Is there some outfit they must wear? Tatters perhaps? Should they smell like they haven't bathed in weeks? Should their car look like it will fall apart with the next breeze? Seriously - I would like to know. What does a poor person look like so I know who I should and shouldn't help? I want to be able to judge who is worthy of my help. Not what the bible says, but what you think is valid. The bible talks a lot about how we are to handle the poor and needy in our midst.
When someone goes on welfare, should they sell their possessions (cell phone and clothing)? How do we know when they bought the stuff they own or if someone bought it for them to help them out? Should they eat only healthy items (even though fast food and unhealthy snacks are cheaper)? Or, should they only be allowed bread, water, peanut butter, and maybe some bologna to get by? These are questions I would like answered.
I'm just glad Jesus didn't demand these things when feeding the poor or healing the sick (that's socialism you know). He didn't question if they were deserving of his help or not. He helped people that I am fairly certain didn't follow him afterwards. When feeding the 5,000 he didn't call them lazy and deny them help.
Part of the issue is that in this country we worship wealth and affluence. We feel if someone is rich, they are blessed - while if they are poor they must have done something to deserve it. We look at things like welfare, food stamps and Medicare as "unworthies" taking our hard earned tax money. When those who are rich, get to keep more we feel they earned their wealth and how dare we take it from them. God blesses us with our money and possessions. We are then to turn around and bless others not to hoard. If people are on welfare or are cheating the system, we need to speak into that - not vilify them. There are deep issues of people needing the loving grace of God, and God allows us to speak into those situations.
We are a culture obsessed with our material possessions. I fall into the same trap, being dependent on my wealth to see me through. Worried that others and circumstances of life might take it away. James 5:1-6 and Jesus discusses it in Matthew 25: 37-40. I worry that we don't have the same love shown by the disciples in Acts 2: 43-45 in that they gave to all who are in need. Paul notes in Acts 20:35 that Jesus says "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
I worry for us as a nation when we raise up those who are rich and shun those who are needy. That our possessions are our stability and foundation. That we even twist scripture to justify this behavior. A feeling that we deserve everything we get in this life because we are good or Christian. As I said, I also fall into this trap.
The fact is that the United States is not a Christian nation nor was it founded as one (check what the founding fathers said about religion).We are also not God's chosen people because we live in the United States and dictate to others. And if we are, we don't do a very good job of it when we vilify the poor, cut food stamps, cut head start but worry that national parks are not open. Where are our priorities? We act more like the Pharisees rather than seeking the heart of Jesus for the people around us. I pray for this country that God will speak and show us the hearts and eyes of Jesus. Loving people no matter what their situation is. vilify the poor, cut food stamps, cut head start but worry that national parks are not open. Where are our priorities? We act more like the Pharisees rather than seeking the heart of Jesus for the people around us. I pray for this country that God will speak and show us the hearts and eyes of Jesus. Loving people no matter what their situation is.
I really hope this does not come off as judgmental nor do I hope I blanket covered any group of people. My issue that I am presenting is that I hope that we don't vilify people because of what others or what media tells us to vilify. But, rather we would see this world with Jesus' eyes and love every person even those we disagree with politically or people we think are cheating the system. Everyone needs Jesus and its our job to speak truth into the world rather than anger and bitterness.
"Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God" Proverbs 14:31
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people , eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" 1 Timothy 6:10
When did we start demonizing the poor? Not all of us, but a good part of the population. Even good Christian friends of mine I have seen bash poor people or those on welfare. I've seen things posted online along the lines of "Why should my tax money go to pay for others?" or "My kids are going to work multiple jobs to pay for all these welfare cheats". Now, I know no system is perfect and there can be some fraud - but these are blanket statements covering a segment of the population.
The funny part is I never hear these same people complain about their tax money being used for defense spending (by the way, we spend more than the next 11 countries combined), subsidies for oil companies and corporate farms, or wasting legislative time with the same issues over and over to score political points (maybe 42 times). There is no outrage over tax loopholes or shelters where corporations hide their wealth. They argue about rampant spending but only when their party is not in power.
Sorry, my Republican friends, your party is not fiscally conservative. Between 2001-2009, they raised the debt ceiling multiple times (by the way, that's to pay bills already authorized, not new spending), had two wars which were unfunded, a prescription plan also unfunded, as well as temporary tax breaks also unfunded. This helped to bring down the economy and increase the debt. To be fair, I remember my Republican friends being upset and vocal about that reckless spending. Oh, wait that was the sound of crickets.
I don't mean to bash on the Republicans so much - but they cloak themselves in the bible and patriotism when their actions fall so very short. When they talk about cutting spending - its always welfare, Medicare and Medicaid, education, unions that are to blame. They never say hey we are spending so much on defense, or we should close those tax loopholes. If Republicans love their bible so much, they should read Ezekiel 34 to see what God thinks of the government's role.
To be honest, both parties engage in reckless spending. But, lets not be hypocrites to ignore what "our" side is doing.
But, back to the poor people on welfare. Most of the time, I hear the stories of how people are cheating welfare. It's based on how they dress, the car they drive, and what they are purchasing. I am sure there is some corruption (as there is with all things) - but I do not think it is as over the top as some media portrays it.
My question is: What do you accept as being a legitimate poor person? Is there some outfit they must wear? Tatters perhaps? Should they smell like they haven't bathed in weeks? Should their car look like it will fall apart with the next breeze? Seriously - I would like to know. What does a poor person look like so I know who I should and shouldn't help? I want to be able to judge who is worthy of my help. Not what the bible says, but what you think is valid. The bible talks a lot about how we are to handle the poor and needy in our midst.
When someone goes on welfare, should they sell their possessions (cell phone and clothing)? How do we know when they bought the stuff they own or if someone bought it for them to help them out? Should they eat only healthy items (even though fast food and unhealthy snacks are cheaper)? Or, should they only be allowed bread, water, peanut butter, and maybe some bologna to get by? These are questions I would like answered.
I'm just glad Jesus didn't demand these things when feeding the poor or healing the sick (that's socialism you know). He didn't question if they were deserving of his help or not. He helped people that I am fairly certain didn't follow him afterwards. When feeding the 5,000 he didn't call them lazy and deny them help.
Part of the issue is that in this country we worship wealth and affluence. We feel if someone is rich, they are blessed - while if they are poor they must have done something to deserve it. We look at things like welfare, food stamps and Medicare as "unworthies" taking our hard earned tax money. When those who are rich, get to keep more we feel they earned their wealth and how dare we take it from them. God blesses us with our money and possessions. We are then to turn around and bless others not to hoard. If people are on welfare or are cheating the system, we need to speak into that - not vilify them. There are deep issues of people needing the loving grace of God, and God allows us to speak into those situations.
We are a culture obsessed with our material possessions. I fall into the same trap, being dependent on my wealth to see me through. Worried that others and circumstances of life might take it away. James 5:1-6 and Jesus discusses it in Matthew 25: 37-40. I worry that we don't have the same love shown by the disciples in Acts 2: 43-45 in that they gave to all who are in need. Paul notes in Acts 20:35 that Jesus says "it is more blessed to give than to receive".
I worry for us as a nation when we raise up those who are rich and shun those who are needy. That our possessions are our stability and foundation. That we even twist scripture to justify this behavior. A feeling that we deserve everything we get in this life because we are good or Christian. As I said, I also fall into this trap.
The fact is that the United States is not a Christian nation nor was it founded as one (check what the founding fathers said about religion).We are also not God's chosen people because we live in the United States and dictate to others. And if we are, we don't do a very good job of it when we vilify the poor, cut food stamps, cut head start but worry that national parks are not open. Where are our priorities? We act more like the Pharisees rather than seeking the heart of Jesus for the people around us. I pray for this country that God will speak and show us the hearts and eyes of Jesus. Loving people no matter what their situation is. vilify the poor, cut food stamps, cut head start but worry that national parks are not open. Where are our priorities? We act more like the Pharisees rather than seeking the heart of Jesus for the people around us. I pray for this country that God will speak and show us the hearts and eyes of Jesus. Loving people no matter what their situation is.
I really hope this does not come off as judgmental nor do I hope I blanket covered any group of people. My issue that I am presenting is that I hope that we don't vilify people because of what others or what media tells us to vilify. But, rather we would see this world with Jesus' eyes and love every person even those we disagree with politically or people we think are cheating the system. Everyone needs Jesus and its our job to speak truth into the world rather than anger and bitterness.
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