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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Few would argue with the statement, “…if we are authentic Christians, we are always on the side of the poor, the marginalized, the least, the last and the lost.”1 Where disagreements do tend to surface is when the discussion turns to identifying who the poor and marginalized really are and how best to address their legitimate needs.
For instance, there are 47 million Americans receiving food stamps today. (Only one of several forms of government assistance that is vital to some, abused by others.) Many of these people do not want to be on public assistance, they need and want a job. Some, however, feel they have a “right” to these expensive “entitlements.” (A term I hate because it’s often wielded as a weapon against the truly needy as well as those who could – and should – provide for themselves.) The question being: How do we as a nation or individual Christians, come to the rescue of the needy without enabling a negative lifestyle? Do we forgive and forget, even when no one is seeking redemption, or in good conscience pay the bills and provide food for those who are making minimal effort to care for themselves?
In a book titled, How Should Christians Vote?2, Tony Evans writes: “Government assistance for able-bodied citizens should be temporary and not designed to produce long-term dependency… There should be accountability tied to the assistance so that the person receiving the assistance has to perform some sort of work or volunteerism that is connected to what they receive.” Which doesn’t sound unreasonable. But some argue otherwise, believing poor relief should be offered with no strings attached. I personally would go one step further and drug test people on public assistance to assure that the public trust is not used to support drug addiction and/or alcoholism. (How churches would do that is more problematic, but making the best use of limited resources is a must. Compounding this issue is when we seek to help a family with desperately needy children, but hand the money, food, clothes, etc. over to irresponsible adults. The whole issue being fraught with nuanced difficulties.)
Nowhere in the Bible does it call for an unending supply of aid to those who refuse to help themselves, although we are called to be compassionate, helpful and responsive to the needy; actually mirroring Christ’s “mind” or “attitude”, “…look(ing) not only to (our) own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3,5-8) Thus the response of the “King” to his dutiful followers recorded in Matthew 25, “…whatever you did for one of the least of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 (Or conversely, did not do. Matthew 25:45)
In fact, scripture doesn’t specifically instruct the government to do anything for anybody, merely characterizing, “…the authorities (as) God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.” Romans 13:6 But if we Christians, who make much of the idea of our government being based on Christian “ideals” and claim to want to return to the practices of a “Christian nation,” then surely we can support it in its endeavors to legitimately help those who are hungry, strangers, without adequate clothing, sick and in prison. (Matthew 25:35,36)
And yes, scripture does state, “If a man will not work, he shall no eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 But the practice of the early church was such that it is plain that a distinction was made between those who would not work and those who could not work. (See Acts 2:44,45 & 4:32,34,35) The obvious problem being, if a man won’t work, offering him assistance through a benevolent church or a government agency would – in effect – be rewarding laziness and irresponsibility. Again, the difficulty is in trying to identify incompetence or incapacity, refusing aid to those capable of helping themselves – punishing those in the household who can’t. The question recast as: Do we err on the side of caution or compassion?
Charity is personal giving; either directly, through the church or – I would suggest – even through taxes that support charitable help to those in need. It is an act of love; of God and our fellow man, enlightening, enriching and elevating both parties of a charitable act.
Mr. Evans paraphrases Romans 13 in defining the duties of civil government as, “…promot(ing) the conditions for the well-being of the citizenry for good, while protecting the citizenry against the proliferation of evil… creat(ing) an environment for compassion to flourish,…”; not necessarily from the state but from the individual or organization of individuals as they see fit. Otherwise, “…the state becomes an all-encompassing promoter of federal economic dependency (that leads) to illegitimate and irresponsible personal and corporate welfare.” One major problem in addressing this issue being the scale of help needed. Even discounting those who are indeed bilking the system, there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people who – at one point or another need help. No single church or cooperative of para-church organizations can effectively meet all the needs of a nation as big and diverse as ours. (Especially when experiencing the kind of deep recession such as the one we just came through, let alone a full blown depression such as was endured in our past.) The only institution big enough to countenance such a responsibility being the government, even if it struggles to do that job equitably and well. The key being that we devise a, “…safety net specifically and intentionally designed to produce self-sufficiency and not long-term dependence,...” A hand up, not a hand out.
Would even that system be abused? Sure. That’s a major part of the problem now, if the systems present abuse and fraud were conscientiously cleaned up, I’m convinced we wouldn’t be discussing its possible demise now. But in reality, some abuse is inevitable, as no one individual or organization can police every single action of every person seeking help. That, however, should not discourage our efforts to do so. (After all, not everyone we witness to about God’s saving grace responds appropriately to our message, but we don’t stop being the church of second chances – do we?) Our effort, and their appreciative acceptance of aid – or cynical misuse of it – will be rewarded appropriately by God.
Christ spoke graphically of our need to minister to what he termed “the least of these.” Basing, in part, his response to our need of heaven on how we treat the hungry and thirsty, the alien or stranger, the homeless and sick, the sparsely clothed and prisoner. James later pointedly questioning the sincerity of our profession of faith, “…if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds.” James 2:14-26 (Specifically referencing the ill-clothed and hungry) The writer of Proverbs warning, “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” Proverbs 21:13
1From an op-ed piece appearing the Terre Haute Tribune Star
2Founder and President of The Urban Alternative as well as the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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