Michael Wolfe

Who’s duty is it to feed the poor? If you listen to the popular political chatter on Washington and ever more frequently on main street  it is the duty of the government to provide all things for the poor (by their own arbitrary definitions). What is the Christian stance on such programs? What does the Bible say regarding the poor? Giving?

Judas knew, and he tried to use it a pretext for theft:

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. (John 12:4-6)

Ananias and Sapphira knew, however, their motives were wicked and were judged quickly:

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
(Acts 5:1-4)

God comes out and says it in James:

pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(James 1:27)

Care for the poor is a religious obligation. Therefore, it is the duty of the Christians to uphold, both to provide opportunity to testify to the poor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to honor their Father in heaven. The Bible testifies that, “God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Government redistribution programs have some serious Biblical problems:

They usurp God’s mandate from the church.

They separate financial well being from the moral and spiritual, encouraging dependency on government and with restrictions designed to prevent marriage and encourage abortions. Effectively, these programs help to propagate and prolong subsistence poverty, as well as a locked in voting bloc for any unscrupulous politicians willing to spend other people’s hard earned money to get some cheap votes.

They steal money from those who are working, and give it to other people.

The ironic thing is that, for all the liberal complaints about greedy, capitalist conservatives, it is conservatives who give the most to charity, and the effects of private charity can impact lives and families in the way no government program ever can: they can address the whole problem: body, mind and soul, and can truly minister to individuals in need.

Giving is a personal mandate from God, not a mandate for the government to forcibly take and redistribute others. God loves a cheerful giver, and it is to be given to further God’s work, whether in evangelism or clothing and feeding the poor. All things are to be done for the glory of God.

Who gets the glory for “government programs?” Check out the following conversation that took place in a line of thousands waiting in line for a share of “obama money” SOURCE:

here’s a portion of Ken Rogulski reporting on WJR in Michigan, two people here in line for Obama cash.

ROGULSKI: Why are you here?

WOMAN #1: To get some money.

ROGULSKI: What kind of money?

WOMAN #1: Obama money.

ROGULSKI: Where’s it coming from?

WOMAN #1: Obama.

ROGULSKI: And where did Obama get it?

WOMAN #1: I don’t know, his stash. I don’t know. (laughter) I don’t know where he got it from, but he givin’ it to us, to help us.

WOMAN #2: And we love him.

WOMAN #1: We love him. That’s why we voted for him!

WOMEN: (chanting) Obama! Obama! Obama! (laughing)

Massive government giveaway programs usurp the glory of God, make people think charity is “the government’s duty” and not their personal responsibility, encourage immoral and dangerous lifestyles, and make people dependent on the government for all their needs. Especially in this day in age, where the government is increasingly ignorant of morality, the government is not morally or ethically capable of making medical decisions* or supplying assistance* to the sick and needy. These programs exploit and enslave the poor to the “all sufficient provider,” the giver of health, the  “god-State.” Also, as the above quoted conversation demonstrates, it fosters ignorance and dumb worship. People have no idea that the money, and services provided to them gratis actually do COST someone a whole lot of money. Ignorance in this capacity will help destroy the fabric of society. It is best when individuals and private organizations directly aid the poor instead of faceless government bureaucrats. Personal interactions not only provide for needs, but allow the opportunity to impact people’s lives and let them know that people care, and that God cares.

In whatever capacity you can, do your part and encourage your church to do its part to reach out to the community. It is not the government’s responsibility, it is ours. It is not coercing everyone to pay into amoral or immoral government programs, it is the individual demonstrating their love to God and their fellow man by either directly assisting or supporting organizations that truly care for the poor or needy or sick.

Jesus said,

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
(Matthew 25:34-40)
(Mar 9:41)

* This is beside the lack of Constitutional, legal authority to do so.