Charity, Christianity, and Welfare

I may have talked about this before, but it something that irritates me.  It common to hear people talk about compassion and how we should care for the poor and those who cannot care for themselves.  Being generous and helping others, whether members of one's family, friends, neighbors, fellow church members, or those devastated by some natural disaster is a virtue.  It is a virtue encouraged and endorsed by none other than Jesus the Son of God Himself.

As a virtue, I have practiced it.  Despite my Scot surname, I am somewhat generous by nature.  I was taught as a child to be willing to share.  Anybody that ever walked through our kitchen door -- and everybody came in through the kitchen, was fed if they were willing to eat and sometimes if they weren't.

People don't want to eat much of my cooking, but I've bought food, fuel, and clothing for those who were short, and I've given cash to those who were wanting.  The world can be a tough place, and we all have needed or will need help from time to time.

Asking for help is acceptable.  Demanding help, or getting someone else, say, a government, to demand help at gunpoint, is not the same thing.  In the long run, welfare is always detrimental which is why any charitable assistance needs to be of limited duration.

Sloth is a sin -- one of the seven deadly sins, as they are called.  Theft is also a sin, whether one does the stealing hands-on or through a third party.   Retribution of wealth is a nice name for forcing those who work and have resources to pay a percentage to the mob government to hand over to those who will continue to vote for those who give them money.  Voting is the job of the welfare class. 

When we strip away the pleasant-sounding names, we should be able to see quite plainly that welfare has nothing to do with Christianity and everything to do with empowering government and politicians.  It does not matter to me, by the way, whether it is Democrats giving to black baby-makers in the inner city or Democrats and Republicans giving to white corporate fat cats on Wall Street.  Like the preacher and sin, I am ag'in it.

Christianity, on the other hand, is about personal responsibility and accountability as well as forgiveness and restoration.  The early church held their resources in common, it is true, but they held each person accountable for his or her honesty, integrity and behavior.  Those who would take advantage of others were chastened, as when Paul said those who should not work should not eat, either.  Even more telling about God's attitude were the consequences to Ananias and Sapphira when they tried to game the system.  Note that Peter did not condemn the couple for not giving one hundred percent but for trying to deceive God.  He is more interested in warm hearts than cold cash. 

Through welfare, we are creating the a breeding ground of indolence, victimhood, dependence and crime.  Those rich people like Buffet and Gates who are so concerned that they do not pay enough taxes are free to fund private charities that assist those in need much more efficiently than the vast government programs with their layers of money-absorbing bureaucrats.  Of course, Gates, Buffet, Soros and the rest favor and profit from the existing fascist system and simply use the welfare-bought votes of the parasites to keep it in place and expand its power.  

Christianity not only has nothing to do with the welfare state, it is at war with the mindset behind it.