Just the other day I was treated to a 10 minute lecture on how Democrats, (specifically President O'Bama), were turning our country into a welfare state. We work hard so all the lazy people can sit at home and collect paychecks from the government.
All of this came from a man I hold in high esteem. A man who to me embodies many virtues that are sadly lacking in a lot of men today. He's honest in business and his personal life, he's honorable, he's generous, he's always willing to help or lend a hand and he's a man people go to for advice or help. To hear these things coming from his mouth seemed blasphemous.
And yet, not wholly unexpected.
He's a die-hard Republican. I'm talking church going, Limbaugh listening, old school party liner Republican. He's so old fashioned in his ways, I don't know if he's even heard of "critical thinking".
Even so, that doesn't excuse him from towing this party line.
As I've thought about this topic, I've read many articles and opinions online. There are so many theories about why Republicans hate welfare it's impossible to name them all. And in truth, I don't care why.
What I do know is he believes what he does because he's so indoctrinated into believing Democrats are the enemy he eats up anything Republicans tell him as the absolute truth. He quotes Rush Limbaugh like the man was a prophet. His words are scripture truth and fact. But it's not just right wing media that foster these perceptions... He hears them from others who follow the same beliefs just as blindly at church. That reinforces his views. Assures his righteous anger and fuels his faith.
Even if you presented him with a factual accounting of an opposing point of view that disproved something he'd heard in church or from Rush, he's been groomed to ignore truth and evidence, dig in deeper and cling to his irrational beliefs.
But when it comes to what he's hearing on the subject of welfare and charity...
That's not what Jesus taught. Nor what Jesus would do.
Americans live with some crazy notion that this is the country God favors above all others. We are "One nation, under God". As if that somehow magically justifies our actions on a global scale or makes our politicians right. But if God were running our country today, where do you think our tax dollars would be spent? Just think about that. Really think about it. If you gave Jesus billions of dollars, what would he spend it on?
I think he would immediately find people in need and use it to help them. In whatever form. His concern would be charitable.
Are there people who abuse the welfare system? Of course. I remember working in a store in Vegas when a man with a thick wad of hundred dollar bills and over $250 worth of useless junk souvenirs asked if he could pay with food stamps. But that's not the point.
The real point is charitable giving or even welfare isn't about making sure the recipient is worthy of the gift... It's about the spirit of the giver. If you give someone money to buy food and they buy drugs or booze instead, does that diminish your actions? Destroy your good deed? No. Once given, the receiver becomes the owner. Their choice is theirs and doesn't reflect on you.
Why would you even worry about it? If you are Christian, your reward for being a good and charitable person will come in heaven. Don't believe me? Read these Bible verses on charity I found on Knowing-Jesus.com.
http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Charity
Wouldn't it be better if you did it or supported it because it was morally right rather than for a reward in heaven? Wouldn't it be so much better if you did it because you genuinely loved other people and wanted their lives to improve?
It seems foolish to me that anyone would feel helping others was a bad thing.
Wake up! Stop moaning and groaning. Stop begrudging anyone help. Supporting any group or organization speaking out against charity/welfare/whatever...
...is not the path of Christ.
