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Christine Watson
Yesterday I read one asking if a Christian could be a Socialist and today if a person could collect welfare. I am Canadian and here these are not even questions a Christian would ask. The answer would be "Of course" to both. Our welfare system was created by a Christian minister and we consider helping people in need our Christian duty. The Bible is full of admonitions to help the poor and nowhere do I see anything about checking political affiliation or worthiness. You just help, period. In fact, no one ever could be deemed worthy. Without Jesus, we are all as filthy rags.
David Whitley
First, Christians are to labor, not to live off of others labor. Second, Christians are told it is better to give than to receive. And lastly, ALL admonitions for Christians to do for others are "PERSONAL" not collective. There is not a single instance where Christians are told to do anything under the umbrella of government or politics. A Christian cannot "love his neighbor" by allowing others "especially government" to do the good on his/her behalf. Our example is always personal, always a relationship, always through the non-coercive Christ driven free will of the church and never through another entity. Government is power not charity. Rendering unto Caesar the command to "love your neighbor" is one of the most perverse actions any Christian can take.
Dan Rivers
We are supposed to care for the disadvantaged, the poor, the sick, the elderly... The early believers shared everything, Acts 4:32, so that there would be no needy people among them, Acts 4:34, in Matt 25:43 Jesus says, "I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'...All throughout the Gospel Jesus healed the sick... Here the Word says, Luk 14:13 NIV - But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, Luk 14:21 NIV - "... 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' Mat 5:3 NIV - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:42 NIV - Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Mat 11:5 NIV - The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 1Ti 5:3 NLT - Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. Having quoted the above scripture, I do agree that if someone is able to work but doesn't want to provide for him/herself or their family, they definitely should not live off others...and... 1Ti 5:8 NLT - But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers. We should always LOVE others as Jesus LOVED us John 13:34. If you're in doubt as to whether they are or are not moochers, help them...If they are smoochers then leave it in the Lord's hands...
Natalie Capaldi
Well I'm on Welfare as a matter of fact I'm on a Disability Pension here in Australia & my son is my Carer who gets his Carer's Pension 4 looking after me. That dosen't mean I'm lazy not wanting 2 work. There is no work here in Australia even if I was looking 4 part-time to help me & my son with paying our bills but we both get by with the will of our Heavenly Father. We both have placed our jobs with The Lord & are waiting in the Lord's timing. That is why my son & I don't worry what MAN thinks I would do more the things of my Lord such as Saving Souls 4 Salvation & helping people who need me as we are the examples as born again Christians to show our LIGHT of Christ in us thru Christ in us to the DARK WORLD. Matthew 6:34 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Nancy Ingalls
We are to personally help the poor on a voluntary basis and out of love. No where does the Bible say that government should forcibly take our money and then redistribute it to whoever they see fit. We should not depend on the government to "love our neighbor" for us.
Mary Jane Daigle
My opinion is that social welfare today has been planned to weaken the nation. Jobs have been taken away from our nation - homes have been taken from us, etc. We soon will be a 3rd world country, which has been planned for us.
Sharon Young
The "government" is merely representing the people who are being governed. That includes the needy and the greedy. Too many Christians, and others have misjudged those who cannot work and consider them unworthy of meager necessities, so the money that individuals refuse to spend to support those who cannot fend for themselves is taken from their taxes. It has little to do with the government "loving our neighbor"; but more to do with providing for people who may one day provide for themselves AND provide for others because someone else made it possible for them to get to that point in life. Just like there are Christians who cheat on their taxes, there are those who cheat on government assistance programs. So, would you rather that disabled people sit on street corners begging for alms; pay for "poor houses" where they live in Dickensian squalor, becoming sicker, resorting to breaking into Christian homes to feed themselves? Government assistance to the poor, elderly, and infirmed came about after the Great Depression because Christians (There was only 25% unemployment at that time. People had money, working class and robber barrons alike) watched as men, women, children, and people who were mentally and physically disabled starve to death, and die of the diseases that resulted in malnutrition, in tenements, doorways, and alleys. So before we denigrate a social system for taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves, take a look at what you are doing to show your Christian love. The government would not have to provide Christian charity if Christians would do it voluntarily. Jesus said that the poor would be with us always. If He saw how the poor are looked down upon today - What Would Jesus Do?
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