It is fair to ask

Many Christians are calling for an end to government support for those in need. That is an interesting idea. Before we do that, it is fair to ask a few questions.

Question 1: Are we to ignore this (Deuteronomy 15:11):

For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kinsman in your land."

and this (Matthew 25:44-46):

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ”

and too many other instructions to care for the poor in scripture. Are we not to interpret these passages literally?

If we don't care for the poor, we would be guilty of the sin of Sodom (Ezekiel 14:49-50):

“‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me."

If we do too little for those in need, Christ will count us with Sodomites. That would suck.

Question 2: Since some Christians are convinced that government programs can be eliminated and the body of Christ will provide all the care for those in need, please show us your plan. You do have a plan, right? 

The poverty rate in America is nearly 16%. That means that one in six Americans are vulnerable to hunger, disease, homelessness, and hopelessness. That is about 50 million people. Where is your plan to systematically address those needs. If too many fall through the cracks, you are guilty of not doing enough to help the poor and needy, being haughty, and disobedient to the commandments to care for them as you are promising.

If you do not have a plan, then you seem to be telling God to figure it out. Your decisions will hurt people but you arrogantly assume you will not be held accountable for those very decisions. It would also be arrogant to promise what you know you cannot deliver. It would be callous to know that people in need would suffer from slashing the government safety net and barely lift a finger.

One reason I want to see a plan is because cutting government spending as being proposed will require every congregation come up with an additional $50,000 to pick up the slack.

Each church in the United States would have to find an extra $50,000 to replace the $133 billion in nutrition funding for the poor cut by the House of Representatives, according to Sister Margaret Mary Kimmins, a Franciscan Sister of Allegany, N.Y., and Bread for the World's associate for Catholic Church relations.

The House cut does not include an additional $33 billion proposed by the House Agriculture Committee, Sister Margaret Mary added during an April 26 conference call with reporters.

For some large and affluent congregations, that is pocket change. For small congregations, particularly those filled with people of limited means, it is going to be impossible. Those are the very congregations filled with those most in need of help. So what is your plan to get affluent congregations to help less fortunate congregations? If church and religious charities are going to pick up the slack, then there has to be plan get resources where are they needed most. And while you are at it, you might have to give those rich folks a pep talk because they give a smaller proportion of their income than the rest of us.

Question 3: Most of the charitable giving by religious people goes to their church and they only give about 1% of their income to other organizations. How are you going to increase that generosity? The religious are the only hope since the Ayn Rand worshippers are not going to cough up another dime for people they call the takers.

Question 4: Are you going to stop making disparaging comments about the poor? Those kind of comments fail to love others as Jesus commanded and make Christians less likely to be generous.

You have head the comments. The poor are lazy. The poor are not starving. The poor can get medical care if they really want to get it. They are not contributing to our society. And those comments come from politicians, pundits, political activists, and even people calling themselves Christians. So whom do you serve? God or the Mammon of wealth and power?

Question 5: Will you give generously to help those in need who are not Christians? Do you intend to neglect poor Muslims or atheists? I have a hard time believing that you are going to be doing outreach to poor homosexuals. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe you do really hate them as much as your hostile rhetoric suggests. Then again, when you blame innocent people for natural or man-made disasters, maybe you think scapegoating people is acceptable to Christ. Guess again.

Question 6: If politicians cut government programs for those in need and provide no replacement, are you as a citizen absolved of responsibility. I presume you trust politicians not to lie about waste in government programs. If they lie, do you think your hands are clean, especially when you voted for them and did not criticize their actions?

Here is an extra credit question. I am involved in programs to help those in need in my church and community. We are already stretched rather thin and not in any position to make up for massive cuts to the social safety net. So what should I tell the people we have to turn away because the shelter is full, the food bank shelves are empty, and there are no jobs to offer? Should I tell them that I have done everything in my power so my hands are clean? Should I tell them to go in peace and God will be with them?

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

-- James 2:14-17

One final question. If you slash the safety net and people I care for and care about get hurt, do I have to forgive you? The Lord said I just have to call it to your attention and then I can wash my hands of you if you ignore me. That works for me.